$106,131? Flintridge Center Sets Eyebrow-Raising Fundraising Goal

In a move to highlight the high cost of incarceration in California, the local non-profit Flintridge Center announced a new fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $106,131. That amount, the Center’s Executive Director explained, represents the annual cost to incarcerate a single adult in the state. 

The campaign aims to shed light on what Flintridge Center’s Executive Director Josh McCurry said is the disproportionate allocation of funds within the justice system, with a mere 3% being invested in rehabilitation programs. 

McCurry cited this lack of investment in education and supportive services as a key factor in the state’s high recidivism rates. 

“In breaking down this figure, we see that only 3% of this cost is invested in ‘Rehabilitation Programs,’” Josh McCurry, Executive Director of Flintridge Center, said. 

“This low level of investment in education, supportive services, and vocational training is a contributing factor to the high rates of recidivism, as nearly half of all CA state prisoners are re-incarcerated, or recidivate, within three years of release.” 

McCurry said other factors that contribute to the high recidivism rates include restrictions on housing, employment, and public benefits for previously incarcerated community members, and stigmatization and discrimination.” 

By addressing these critical areas, Flintridge Center aims to break the cycle of recidivism and create a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals impacted by the justice system.

McCurry said by raising $106,131, the organization hopes to continue advocating for restorative programs and partnerships that can help reimagine Pasadena’s justice system. 

The amount will be used to train 20 community members for transformative careers, prevent 85 youth from entering the justice system through the Youth of Promise Program, and provide case management for 100 adults returning home from incarceration, the Flintridge Center said. 

Flintridge Center also runs an Apprenticeship Preparation Program (APP) that helps previously incarcerated individuals reintegrate into the community. 

“We focus on union construction because these careers pay a livable wage with opportunities for economic advancement,” McCurry said. “Unions provide comprehensive benefits, including pensions, for members and their families. And importantly, construction unions do not discriminate against individuals based on their backgrounds.”

The Apprenticeship Preparation Program is a 10-week, 240-hour program provided in close partnership with the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council. Some of the program’s  components include certification in the union-developed Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3), trauma-informed life skills provided by partner agency 2nd Call, employment development, including  resume writing, mock interviews, and elevator speeches; and financial literacy workshops.

McCurry told the story of some of the beneficiaries of the APP. 

“Earlier this summer, a graduate of our Apprenticeship Preparation Program (APP) shared with me that he had just put a down payment on a home,” he recalled in an interview. “He is a union electrician, a family man, and a mentor to current program participants. His home ownership comes less than three years after his release from 41 years of incarceration.” 

The fundraising campaign begins on Oct. 8 with an event featuring a virtual auction in Pasadena. Supporters are encouraged to donate, fundraise, or participate in the event to help reach the ambitious fundraising target. 

For more information about Flintridge Center’s fundraising campaign or to get involved, visit www.flintridgecenter.org.