St. Louis Alliance for Reentry

The city of St. Louis was still asleep as the sun broke the horizon of a muggy and early April 10 morning. Not a vehicle or person was in sight down Russell Boulevard, except for a Humanitri bus waiting to depart to a state prison. The passengers eagerly waiting inside did not care that it was 6:15 in the morning, or that they had to start their weekend earlier than most. They were happy to be on their way to see their family members who are in prison.

“I have two sons locked up. I am the only one who ever goes to see them,” said one woman, as she excitedly tapped her foot in anticipation. “One comes out next year, and the other comes out in less than two. I let them know I love them, and I am starting to see positive changes because one just got his G.E.D. and wants to go to school when he gets out.”

STAR Summit

Above: The STAR Summit welcomed many speakers, including from left, Missouri Department of Corrections Director George Lombardi, ARCHS' Chief Executive Officer Wendell E. Kimbrough, St. Louis County Police Chief Col. Timothy Fitch and City of St. Louis Police Chief Col. Daniel Isom.The St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR) Summit welcomed nearly 300 people to its kickoff on March 23. Missouri Department of Corrections Director George Lombardi served as the keynote speaker, and addresses to the crowd were also given by ARCHS' Chief Executive Officer Wendell E. Kimbrough, City of St. Louis Police Chief Col. Daniel Isom, St. Louis County Police Chief Col. Timothy Fitch, St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, St. Louis Mayor's Chief of Staff Jeff Rainford, Missouri Department of Corrections Regional Administrator Nancy McCarthy, Rev. Lynn Mims, City of St. Louis Department of Health representative Dale Wrigley and St. Louis Community College President Dr. Marcia Pfeiffer.

Funder Spotlight: Lutheran Foundation

[b]Above:[/b] Ann L. Vasquez, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis. The Foundation is one of ARCHS' public, private and faith-based funding partners.

Above: Ann L. Vasquez, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis. The Foundation is one of ARCHS' public, private and faith-based funding partners.Perhaps the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis' commitment to helping the ex-offender population can best be summed up by the Hebrews Scripture it displays on its web site: "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

Or, maybe it is the Foundation's beliefs combined with a $12,000 grant it awarded to ARCHS to help support the recently expanded St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR). The grant provides strategic management support to STAR as it connects reentry individuals to agencies working in coordination to strengthen the delivery of ex-offender services.