Bridgeport, CT - Family ReEntry, a nonprofit leader supporting families affected by the criminal justice system throughout Connecticut, today announced that Blue Coupe will headline its Spring Fundraising Event, to be held at The Warehouse at Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC WAREHOUSE), on Thursday, April 13th, 6:30 pm.
Proceeds from the concert will help fund Family ReEntry's expanded advocacy efforts for criminal justice reform, and programs that restore dignity and renew families that have been impacted by incarceration and the justice system.
Jeff Grant, Executive Director of Family ReEntry, explained, "We are thrilled and grateful that Blue Coupe will headline our Spring event. The funds raised from this concert will enable Family ReEntry to advocate for a more fair, responsive and empathetic justice system and to offer more support through programs that help the over ten thousand individuals, and their families, who will be released from correctional facilities (in CT) this year alone."
In 2017, Family ReEntry continues to support, not just the individuals who are reentering society after incarceration, but the families and friends of those individuals as they transition. Family ReEntry provides vital services to help individuals and families in the areas of prevention, intervention, diversion, in-prison and reentry.
"The situation can seem overwhelming to those most affected, but there is help," Grant explained. "Men and woman and their families who come through Family ReEntry are succeeding in making positive contributions and improving their lives. While national averages show a large percentage of this population returning to prison, we are seeing that Family ReEntry's work is significantly lowering that percentage."
Currently, there are over 2.3 million people incarcerated in the United States and over 70 million with criminal records. "It is vital that we reach these individuals at critical junctures in their lives and provide them with enough support so that they can have every opportunity to achieve, learn and grow as citizens who are not forced to return to the kind of activity that caused them to be incarcerated in the first place," said Grant, a man who knows very well of the difficulties that formerly incarcerated individuals can face. He served almost 14 months in Federal prison for a white-collar crime he committed in 2001 when he was a lawyer. Grant said. “As the first person in the country formerly incarcerated for a white-collar crime to be appointed as Executive Director of a major criminal justice nonprofit, I try to be a role model that there is hope after prison."
According to Fred Hodges, Family ReEntry’s Director of Community Affairs, “I owe Family ReEntry my fresh start after prison; I am deeply grateful for the faith and confidence they have in me. I pay it forward every day by helping others going through criminal justice difficulties.”
Tickets for the Blue Coupe concert are available now online at the Warehouse at Fairfield Theatre Company (FTC WAREHOUSE) box office, 70 Sanford Street in Fairfield, CT.
Blue Coupe, the band formed by former members of Blue Oyster Cult and Alice Cooper band, will perform tracks from their upcoming new album as well as mix in some hits from Blue Oyster Cult and the Alice Cooper Band that may include Don't Fear the Reaper, Burning for You, Godzilla, School's Out, Billion Dollar Babies, No More Mr. Nice Guy, or others.
Opening act for Blue Coupe is Fairfield's own School of Rock.
Proceeds from the concert benefit Family ReEntry, a 501c3 nonprofit, which was founded in 1984 as a reentry support group for men at the Isaiah House in Bridgeport. It has since grown to include policy advocacy, and intervention, prevention, in-prison, reentry, fatherhood and youth & family programs. Over the past 33 years, effective advocacy efforts and community-based programs developed by Family ReEntry have significantly reduced the likelihood that clients will re-offend, be re-arrested, or be re-incarcerated. Its programs provide a spectrum of services designed to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of incarceration. Family ReEntry addresses the specific needs of each client and their families through individualized case management and support services. It works to create a positive social network for each client, helping make their transition from prison back into the community a successful, self-sufficient one, while strengthening their families and the community. Family ReEntry operates its programs in strategic locations that encompass eight municipal regions and judicial geographic areas, two parole districts and five prisons. Approximately, sixty-percent of those served by Family ReEntry are from greater Bridgeport – Connecticut’s largest city. The organization has offices in Bridgeport, Norwalk and New Haven, CT. Programs are also held in Stamford, Waterbury, Derby, New London and Norwich, CT. More information is available at www.familyreentry.org and on its social media including, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram and YouTube.