ABW Mentee, Gerald graduated with his Bachelor of Political Science from Eastern Michigan University (EMU). Gerald is the first "Returning Citizen Fellowship" participant to go through the program! We were finally able to celebrate his great accomplishment this past week!!! Now Gerald is working on his Masters of Social Work at EMU focusing on the aging population. Congratulations Gerald! We are so proud and happy to see you continue your educational journey!

A Brighter Way and EMU@Engage Office partnered with EMU Federal Credit Union to host a financial literacy course. We learned all about credit, building credit, budgeting and many tools to be financially responsible. The mentees really enjoyed the workshop!

ABW was at the Ann Arbor Art Fair July 15-17 2021. We were able to exchange donated PCAP art for a donation in the Washtenaw Non-Profit section of the art fair. Thank you PCAP for the donation of art. A huge thank you to volunteers who were right by our side, advocating for people formerly incarcerated and ABW. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and donated. The event was a huge success!

ABW attended a Juneteenth Pop Up event at the Ypsi Freighthouse on June 19th. The event was great and great community building opportunity. Loved supporting local Black Owned Businesses! 

Mentee Lawanda is the owner of "The Chow Hall" and is also a college student attending Eastern Michigan University for a bachelors degree! Recently she has had two interviews with Fox 47 & Every Damn Day.

Click the links below to learn about her upcoming moves and learn more about her business plans as well as where you might find her next!
Every Damn Day - Lawanda Hollister - Chow Hall - YouTube

Resource fair brings together groups that help people released from prison make a smooth transition (fox47news.com)

Click the Link below to check out our latest newsletter!
       ABW June 2021 Newsletter! (mailchi.mp)

#ABW attended two awesome community events this past weekend!

We were at Ypsi Pride Vendor Fair Friday evening! Great performances by local artists, lots of vendors supporting the queer and trans community, and an amazing atmosphere. It was so great to get out into the community. #PRIDE

Then on Juneteenth (June 19), we were at Juneteenth Pop up Shop at Ypsi Freighthouse. The event was all Black owned local businesses and vendors. There was lots of amazing businesses to support. We loved the energy and always supporting Black work. This event was organized by The Myraid Collection and Break Bread Movement.
​#BuyBlack #Juneteenth

Buy art from people who are currently and formerly incarcerated.
Use the link below for the art database 
http://pcapdatabase.lsa.umich.edu/collection.php

Use this link to purchase a book of poems!

https://www.literatibookstore.com/book/9781607857259

We were able to hire our first ever full time program coordinator. Her name is Grace Sekulidis (she/her) and she came to us from the University of Michigan. Sekulidis has her Master of Social Work with a focus on community organization and social systems. And is working towards her social work-macro full license. She is super excited to join the ABW team. She did her undergrad at Michigan State University (Go Green!), where she participated in the InsideOut program and attended a class in the Parnell Correctional facility. A fun fact about Sekulidis is she has been a vegetarian since she was 10 years old and enjoys fishing.  Sekulidis will be focusing on all things programs and volunteers, as well as many other things along the way. Welcome Grace, we are super excited to have you!!!