The Alliance for CHANGE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to building safer and more just communities through the full and successful reintegration of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated. The Alliance for CHANGE is a multilayered collaboration between a dedicated group of incarcerated men, volunteers, and the San Quentin staff, as well as organizations, agencies, and programs
within and beyond the walls of San Quentin State Prison. The Alliance for CHANGE offers a unique, innovative, and holistic approach to reducing recidivism by successfully preparing incarcerated men for reintegration into mainstream society upon parole. The current societal emphasis on punishment rather than rehabilitation often leads to unrealistic expectations for individuals who face many obstacles upon release, such as financial instability, addiction, and the stigma of incarceration. In partnership with the San Quentin administration, the Alliance for CHANGE is committed to increasing public safety by ensuring that incarcerated individuals are responsible, reflective, and skilled when they return to society. The vision of the Alliance for CHANGE goes beyond the traditional definition of successful re-socialization of incarcerated individuals, by offering realistic and pragmatic alternatives to re-offending. As a long-term goal, the Alliance for CHANGE envisions the development of an innovative and successful model for reintegration, reduced recidivism and crime reduction - including an Alliance for CHANGE transitional community - whose effectiveness is systematically evaluated, empirically tracked and measured, and that can eventually be replicated and applied to all California prisons.
