Marion County Re-entry Coalition

10/12/2026

This November, Indiana voters will decide Public Question #1, a proposed constitutional amendment that would expand judges' authority to deny bail before trial.

While framed as a public safety measure, the amendment could lead to more Hoosiers being jailed before conviction, more jail overcrowding, and greater burdens on families and communities.

We believe we can prioritize public safety without expanding the government's power to hold people in jail before they have been convicted of a crime.

Help educate your community about what's at stake. Visit our website to learn more about Public Question #1 and download our social media toolkit, complete with ready-to-share graphics, messages, and resources: https://www.marioncountyreentrycoalition.org/bail-on-the-ballot

09/17/2026

🎬 We're proud to partner with Heartland Film to share Beyond at the 35th Annual Heartland Film Festival!

At one of the country’s most notorious maximum security prisons, a group of incarcerated men prepare for a TED-style event that showcases their personal narratives along with ideas for changing the prison system and healing their communities. With immersive access to Sing Sing prison, the film follows the speakers’ journeys from auditions to their climactic moments on stage, highlighting themes of vulnerability, healing and redemption.

📅 Screening Dates

October 10 | 7:45 PM
🔗 Tickets: https://tickets.heartlandfilmfestival.org/schedule/6a90449fc9f39a537d113832

October 11 | 4:45 PM
🔗 Tickets: https://tickets.heartlandfilmfestival.org/schedule/6a9044a5c9f39a537d113a69

October 14 | 7:15 PM
🔗 Tickets: https://tickets.heartlandfilmfestival.org/schedule/6a9044b2c9f39a537d113bcd

🎟️ Use code HFF35MCRC at checkout to receive 50% off your tickets to Beyond.

Discover Beyond and other transformative films this October 8-18 at six Indy locations! Tickets are available at HeartlandFilmFestival.org

08/21/2026

Join us for the next Reentry ECHO!📣

We’re excited to welcome Rob Bartlett to join us to discuss the Hamilton County T.O.W.E.R (Transitioning Opportunities for Work, Education, & Reality) Re-Entry Program.

🗓️ Tuesday, August 25
🕒 9:00 AM ET
🔗 Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reentry-echo-tickets-433540821267?aff=oddtdtcreator

08/19/2026

📣 Bail is on the Ballot: What Indiana Voters Need to Know This November

Hosted by the Marion County Reentry Coalition, this webinar will help Indiana voters better understand the bail-related public question that will appear on the ballot in November, which proposes a change to the Indiana Constitution that would allow more people accused of a crime to be held in jail without bail while their cases move through the courts.

During this session, policy experts will break down the details of the public question, explain the fundamentals of constitutional amendments to the right to bail, examine similar measures in other states, and provide broader context on the proposed amendment.

📅 August 27
⏰ 12:00-1:00 PM ET
🔗 Register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bail-in-on-the-ballot-what-indiana-voters-need-to-know-this-november-tickets-1997569984597

Featured speakers from The Bail Project
• Erin George, National Director of Policy
• Levi Gonzalez, Policy Associate

Whether you're just hearing about this issue or have been following it closely, this session will help you better prepare for Election Day.

08/06/2026

🚨 Save the New Date! 🚨

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Marion County Conference on Reentry will now take place on Friday, October 16, at the Ivy Tech Culinary and Conference Center.

Already registered? ✅ Your registration remains valid and will transfer automatically.

📅 October 16
📍 Ivy Tech Conference Center
🔗 Register: https://www.marioncountyreentrycoalition.org/2026-conference

We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you there!

07/20/2026

Don’t miss this collaborative learning experience, created with the MCRC to deepen your understanding of local housing challenges and spark meaningful conversations about solutions. Register today to participate!

Join the Indianapolis Urban League on Friday, August 7, 2026 for an immersive Housing Access Experience that challenges participants to navigate the realities of obtaining and maintaining stable housing. Through interactive activities, guided discussion, and reflection, participants will explore the difficult decisions individuals and families face when resources are limited and examine how systemic barriers shape outcomes. See you at the Madam Walker Legacy Center (617 Indiana Avenue) at 9:00 a.m.

Whether you work in housing, education, healthcare, government, business, nonprofit organizations, or simply care about strengthening our community, this experience will deepen your understanding of housing challenges and inspire meaningful conversations about collaborative, community-driven solution.

Lunch will be provided. Must register by Saturday, August 1, 2026.
Space is limited. Register: https://ow.ly/s7FQ50Zowro

07/15/2026

🎬 Don’t Miss The Second Life of Freddie Nole at the Heartland Film Festival!

When Freddie Nole drives to meet a man walking out of prison, he’s not just offering a ride, he’s offering hope, dignity, and a path to permanent freedom. As this vérité road trip unfolds, we come to learn the remarkable story behind Freddie’s mission, a staggering mistake that cost him 50 years of freedom but ultimately brings him right back to the prison door.

▶️ Watch the trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo8bOz03yX8

Following the screening, attendees will have a special opportunity to hear Freddie Nole speak about his lived experience, his reentry journey, and the mission that continues to drive his work today.

We’re partnering with the filmmakers to help promote this incredible event within our incredible Marion County reentry community. We’d love to fill the theater and show our support for Freddie and the important conversations this film inspires.

🎟️ Discounted tickets are available for the in-person and virtual screenings:
https://tickets.indyshorts.org/schedule/6a270898385b37d60a0be733

50% off Discount code: MCRCSWEET26

NOTE: The film is in the Community film screening group.

📅 Screening Dates
• Wednesday, July 22 | 7:30 PM
📍 Living Room Theaters – Theater 3
• Friday, July 24 | 4:30 PM
📍 Living Room Theaters – Theater 7

🎥 Produced by Sweet World Films and directed by Dana Nachman

07/02/2026

🎉 She’s back! 🎉

We’re thrilled to announce that Ashley C. Ford will return as our 2026 Conference Keynote Speaker after delivering a powerful and memorable opening session in 2024.

A New York Times bestselling author, acclaimed journalist, educator, and storyteller, Ashley’s voice, insight, and authenticity resonated deeply with attendees, and we’re honored to welcome her back to the stage.

Ashley is the author of Somebody’s Daughter, former co-host of HBO’s Lovecraft Country Radio, and current host of Ben & Jerry’s Into The Mix. Her work has appeared in publications including The New York Times and ELLE, and she currently serves as the Women & Girls Reporter for Mirror Indy.

🔗 Stay up to date about the 2026 conference on our website: https://www.marioncountyreentrycoalition.org/2026-conference

06/22/2026

🚨 Job Opportunity: Peer Housing Navigator 🚨

Step-Up is hiring a Peer Housing Navigator to support the Housing Navigation Initiative! This role uses lived experience with the criminal legal system and reentry, to help justice-involved individuals secure stable housing and connect with community resources.

As a Peer Housing Navigator, you’ll work with people preparing for release from the Indiana Department of Correction, those recently released within the last 18 months, individuals exiting the Adult Detention Center, and others navigating reentry. You’ll help participants set housing goals, understand their options, overcome barriers, gather documentation, and access vital supports. This initiative is in partnership with the Marion County Reentry Coalition and Step-Up Inc .

📄 Learn more and apply using the links below to access the job description and application.

Housing Navigation Job Description: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FWGFuYd1CxN7NTIgBlbEmZLTmLUKnjlV/view?usp=sharing

Housing Navigation Peer Contractor Application: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DH4oVvYoTQFo4fSwcb2okov29KL6paMB/view?usp=sharing

05/25/2026

Join us for the Reentry ECHO tomorrow, featuring Seeds of Hope!📣

We’re excited to welcome Patricia Vandervort, Executive Director of Seeds of Hope, to present at this Reentry ECHO.

The mission of Seeds of Hope is to provide transitional, residential recovery housing for women overcoming addiction. In this ECHO, they’ll share about Seeds of Hope’s Recovery Housing Model, what makes it different, and why it works – including challenges and opportunities.

🗓️ Tuesday, May 26
🕒 9:00 AM ET
🔗 Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reentry-echo-tickets-433540821267?aff=oddtdtcreator