JCOD November 2025 Newsletter

JCOD Hosts 2025 Together We Thrive Summit & Festival

JCOD welcomed approximately 2000 guests to the second annual Together We Thrive Summit & Festival on November 19 at WePlay Studios in Inglewood. The event highlighted the growing momentum behind JCOD’s work and the expanding network of partners, community leaders and justice-impacted individuals who are helping shape a more supportive Los Angeles County.

Building on the success of the inaugural 2024 event, this year’s Summit introduced interactive activations, hands-on learning opportunities and three dynamic programming zones that kept the venue energized from morning through evening.

Native American dancer in traditional regalia performing on stage in front of a city skyline.

The day opened with a cultural performance by RedBoy Productions, featuring traditional Native American song and dance. KIIS FM host EJ then welcomed guests and guided the morning program, followed by remarks from Inglewood Mayor James Butts and JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.), who emphasized community collaboration and the power of shared purpose.

Hero Hall hosted a series of panels and the featured event, From Vision to Victory: The JCOD Incubation Academy Pitch Competition, where graduates of JCOD’s Incubation Academy presented their work to a panel of judges. Awards included $4,000 for first place (Generation Coffee), $2,000 for second place (PLQ’s Performing Arts Center), and $1,000 for third place (Paco’s Leadership Collective). Tena and Foundation Christian Ministries each received $500, and LQ’s Performing Arts Center earned an additional $500 as the Audience Choice award winner.

The stage also featured The Road to Safer Communities, a cross-sector conversation with Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, Judge Yvette Verastegui, Sheriff Robert Luna, District Attorney Nathan Hochman, and Public Defender Ricardo García. Moderated by journalist Robert Greene, the panel examined the crucial role the State Legislature, Superior Court, County departments, and community partners play in strengthening prevention, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts to build safer, healthier communities.

Later in the day, The Intersection of Arts, Entertainment and Social Justice brought together Danny Trejo, YG, and Scott Budnick for a discussion moderated by JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.). Panelists shared their own experiences with the justice system and how artists and creative leaders influence social justice through storytelling, culture, and advocacy and how their platforms amplify marginalized voices and drive meaningful change.

Action Arena

The Action Arena featured panels, performances and screenings throughout the day. A key session, California at the Crossroads: The Fight for Housing Justice,moderated by Treehouse CEO and Co-Founder Prophet Walker, brought together Gita O’Neill, Interim CEO of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority; Molly Rysman,Director of Policy and Planning for LA County’s Department of Homeless Services and Housing; Alex Visotzky, Senior California Policy Fellow with the National Alliance to End Homelessness; and Jim Zenner, Director of the LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The panel examined systemic barriers to affordable housing, rising displacement and community-driven solutions that affirm housing as a fundamental human need.

The space also hosted CFCI Recipients’ Stories, where organizations that received funding through the Care First Community Investment program shared how JCOD’s investment has strengthened their capacity and expanded their ability to serve their communities. Participants heard firsthand how these groups are addressing urgent needs, driving innovation and building more equitable communities.

In Alternatives to Incarceration: Career Pathways Edition, panelists highlighted workforce development and career training models that provide justice-impacted individuals with pathways to stability and long-term success. Speakers discussed employer partnerships and systems-change efforts that prioritize healing over punishment and support safer, more resilient communities.

Together We Thrive Stage

The outdoor Together We Thrive Stage kept the plaza energized with live performances, DJ sets, art installations and wellness activities. Guests joined community fitness sessions, dance workshops and cultural performances that celebrated creativity and movement. County departments and community-based organizations provided resources throughout the day and attendees enjoyed complimentary wellness treatments, and haircuts.

The area also featured a virtual reality trailer hosted by the Made New Foundation, offering an immersive virtual reality experience designed to support system-impacted individuals through decision-based simulations that teach cognitive behavioral skills, job readiness and practical life tools in an engaging, game-like format.

Community Support and Giveaways

JCOD also collected toys for families in need and partnered with community-based organizations to distribute more than 1,200 grocery bags to attendees. The bags included grocery and gas gift cards, diapers, prenatal vitamins, fresh produce and essential boxed goods to support those who need it most.

“Together We Thrive once again showed the strength and resilience within our communities. When we honor people’s stories, celebrate their pathways forward and surround them with opportunity, we build a Los Angeles where more of us can heal and thrive. I am grateful to every partner and community member who made this gathering a powerful reflection of what we can achieve together,” said JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.).

To close out the evening, Grammy Award–winning band Ozomatli performed in Hero Hall, where guests gathered around the main stage to listen, dance and celebrate the day’s work.

As JCOD marks its third year as a County department, the Summit stood as a powerful reminder of why this work matters and how far-reaching its impact has become. There is no better way to honor this milestone than by standing shoulder to shoulder with community and uplifting the people at the heart of JCOD’s mission.

JCOD offers its deepest thanks to all the panelists and moderators who shared their time with us and to all the partners and sponsors who helped make JCOD’s Together We Thrive Summit & Festival possible.

Silver Tier Sponsors:
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Ally Tier Sponsors:
Accenture, Amity Foundation, iHeart, IBM, LA Metro, LA Councilwoman Heather Hutt, The California Wellness Foundation, Niagara Water, Gainwell Technologies and the Art Laboe Foundation

Program Partners:
LA County Aging and Disabilities Department, LA County Department of Arts and Culture, LA County Department of Economic Opportunity, LA County Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, LA County Department of Public Social Services, LA County Department of Public Works, LA County Office of Education, LA County Public Defender’s Office, LA County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, ANE Foundation, Delete the Divide, The Reality Center, Crystal Stairs, Lost Angels Career Center, Dirtbags California, Made New Foundation, Audacity Global, Healing Los Angeles Together, Inglewood Wrapping Arms Around the Community, Soul Saving Productions, Pathways to Kinship, 5-Eleven Hoops, Reliable Connections, Jail Guitar Doors, Breaking Bread Project, San Fernando Valley Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Dhaboo, iHeart Media and numerous organizations and JCOD CFCI Care Grant recipients.

For videos, photos and full session recaps, visit JCOD’s YouTube channel @LACJCOD. Follow us on Instagram, Threads and Facebook for more photos, interactive content and updates on upcoming events.

If you have a moment, please share your experience and complete the Post-Event Survey here.

JCOD in the Community

At JCOD, being present in the community isn’t just part of our mission, it’s how we live it. We work to meet people where they are, share vital resources and lift up partners and leaders doing transformative work across Los Angeles County. This past month offered powerful reminders of why staying connected matters.

On October 18, JCOD joined tens of thousands of Angelenos at Taste of Soul, California’s largest free one-day street festival. Alongside dozens of LA County departments, our team shared resources and materials, shared smiles, and connected residents with information about our services, from diversion opportunities to reentry support.

Just days later, JCOD Director Judge Songhai Armstead (Ret.) sat down with Big Boy on Big Boy’s Neighborhood at iHeartRadio. Their conversation dug into the heart of our work: why second chances matter, and how opening doors for justice-impacted individuals strengthens entire communities.

On October 27, we hosted our fourth “From Vision to Reality” all-day immersive workshop, our largest yet. More than 60 aspiring community-based organization founders came ready to learn, build and dream. Participants received practical guidance on establishing nonprofits, developing leadership and governance structures, accessing resources and cultivating community support.

On November 2, JCOD Director Judge Armstead (Ret.) joined the 16th Annual Kids in the Spotlight (KITS) Film Awards, where she proudly presented the Gary Burrell Humanitarian Award alongside actor Ty Burrell, Gary Burrell’s son. Since 2009, KITS has been a powerful force for youth impacted by foster care, helping more than 1,000 young people find healing and voice through script-to-screen filmmaking.

As we look back on a busy and meaningful month, we’re grateful for every opportunity to connect, collaborate and champion a more equitable justice system. JCOD is proud to stand alongside the individuals, partners and organizations working every day for safer, stronger communities.

JCOD Staff Spotlight

Amber Aldredge – Justice Program Analyst

Amber Aldredge joined JCOD in 2023 as part of the Justice Connect Support Center, where she spent her days fielding calls and guiding justice-impacted individuals to the services they needed. Less than a year later, her dedication and natural talent for connecting with people helped her transition from contractor to full-time County employee.

Today, Amber is a Justice Program Analyst supporting JCOD’s Incubation Academy, where she helps facilitate trainings for community-based organizations and manages everything related to alumni engagement.

Landing on JCOD’s Team was an unexpected but welcome twist in her career path. Amber enjoys being in the community at JCOD events and supporting the execution of this year’s Together We Thrive Summit & Festival. “JCOD does great work in the community, and it aligns with my personal outlook and professional aspirations,” she shared.

With the Incubation Academy now in its 10th cohort and more than 200 organizations graduated, Amber has had the chance to build relationships with many of the participants. “Learning new things and getting to know the people representing their organizations has been really fulfilling,” she said.

Amber holds a BA in Sociology from the University of Miami and a Master of Public Administration from Texas Southern University. She grew up in Rancho Cucamonga and is a proud mom to a 4-year-old daughter. When she’s off the clock, you can usually find her sewing, baking, dancing or attending a concert.

Org Spotlight

Pathway to Kinship

The story of Pathway to Kinship begins with a book. Founder and Executive Director Marc Vahanian read Tattoos on the Heart by Father Greg Boyle, Founder of Homeboy Industries a moment that sparked his commitment to reentry work. Inspired by the book, Marc began volunteering at Homeboy Industries, ARC (The Anti-Recidivism Coalition) and other reentry organizations.

Soon after, Marc was introduced to the transformational work happening inside prisons through Sister Mary Sean Hodges, Founder of PREP (Partnership for Reentry Program). “Sister Mary brought me inside Lancaster, Corcoran, and Ironwood. She invited me to introduce some of my facilitation practices. I was inspired by the candor and willingness of the men. I witnessed powerful accountability and remorse. And importantly, I saw firsthand the leadership from within. I began volunteering inside the prisons along with the service work I was doing here at home,” Marc shared.

Founder and Executive Director Marc Vahanian

After several years of volunteering, Marc was ready to make an impact on a larger scale. “It was then that a mission crystallized for me: empower people to get free, stay free and thrive!” he shared. Pathway to Kinship was initially founded under a fiscal sponsor in 2020 and became an independent community-based nonprofit in 2022. Since then, the organization has supported justice-impacted individuals and youth through in-prison and community programs focused on healing, personal growth, and successful reentry.

Their in-prison services include the Critical Insight Program, Certified Reentry Coach training, Financial Literacy, Criminal Impulsivity (Edovo), Board Prep, Victim Impact, Gun Violence Prevention and Restorative Justice circles where crime survivors share their stories to foster healing, accountability, and connection.

But Marc’s mission extends beyond incarceration. He wants participants to “get free, stay free, and thrive.” To support individuals returning home, Pathway to Kinship offers programs such as the Fading Out Felonies Barber Training Program, the Professional Pathways Office Administration course, Substance Abuse Prevention, After the Halls reentry support, Anger Management, Empathy Building and a Female Relationship Group. Together, these programs provide practical skills, emotional tools, and supportive pathways for lasting stability and success.

Despite the obstacles Marc and his organization face, including inconsistent access to individual institutions, limited entry for additional facilitators, funding challenges and extensive grant reporting requirements—he has found a level of fulfillment in this work that he never expected. “I will be 70 years old this coming April. I have had three previous careers. I never imagined that I would be working closely with currently and formerly incarcerated citizens. Over 200 men and women who have taken our Critical Insight course while incarcerated have been found suitable and successfully reentered our community. We have been able to hire six full-time employees and eight part-time staff, all of whom are justice-impacted. They are proof positive that second chancers make great employees.”

JCOD is honored to partner with Pathway to Kinship in advancing second chances and strengthening community safety through successful reentry programming. Pathway to Kinship also provided free haircuts to justice-impacted individuals at JCOD’s 2025 Together We Thrive Summit. “JCOD helped us better understand the requirements so we would be well positioned to apply for and receive two CFCI Care Grants. The funding and support through the Incubation Academy helped us recognize what we didn’t know and provided access to people and information that have allowed us to grow and meet our deliverables,” Marc shared.

Marc concluded with some powerful advice to aspiring founders of nonprofit organizations: “Have a strong enough ‘WHY’ that will sustain you through the challenges, frustrations and disappointments. Build a strong advisory team. Ask every stupid question that comes to mind. ‘Ask, and ye shall receive.’ But, be prepared to keep asking. Cause a lot of times the answer is ‘no.’”

For more information on Pathway to Kinship, follow them on Instagram @pathwaytokinship or visit their website here.