IAHR is setting out to build formal reentry partnerships this year in DC, Maryland, & Virginia. 

Ending solitary confinement is only half of IAHR's work. The other half is making sure that when someone comes home, they land somewhere that can actually hold them. That's the thinking behind a new goal this year: "covenant partnerships" with reentry programs, in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

What does a covenant partnership actually look like? This summer gave us a preview. On June 28 and July 19, Voices Unbarred (the programming arm of Ally Theatre Company) held "Poetry & Panel" events at John Wesley A.M.E. Zion Church, featuring original poetry and panel discussions led by people with lived experience of solitary confinement. Voices Unbarred uses Theatre of the Oppressed techniques with currently and formerly incarcerated individuals, giving people a structured way to turn their own story into something an audience can sit with. IAHR board member Maurice Dixon serves as one of the program's Community Advocates, and Pastor Zacharias spoke at both events.

That's the model: IAHR doesn't try to run every kind of reentry program itself. Instead, we find organizations already doing excellent, specific work (theatre, housing, job placement, mentorship) and build formal relationships that connect the people we serve to the support that fits them. A covenant partnership isn't a one-time collaboration; it's a standing commitment, the kind that lets someone coming home know there's a specific door to knock on, not just a general recommendation to "seek services."

If your congregation, workplace, or network includes an organization doing reentry work in DC, Maryland, or Virginia, such as a job training program, a transitional housing provider, or a mentorship network, IAHR wants to hear about it. Warm introductions from people who already trust both sides are how partnerships like this actually get built. Message us on Facebook or email [email protected]