How the Anaheim ARC and Project Kinship help men navigate life after incarceration

Formerly incarcerated men rebuild their lives with guidance and community.

Once a month, men rebuilding their lives after incarceration while staying at The Salvation Army Anaheim Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) gather to talk openly about where they’ve been—and where they’re going. It’s a time to share past mistakes, take responsibility and plan for the future.

The group conversations are guided by a partnership with Project Kinship, an Orange County-based nonprofit with a mission to provide support and training to individuals leaving a past of incarceration or gang involvement.

“For many guys, the ARC is a transition period where they learn positive, constructive strategies for navigating life in recovery,” said Captain Tanya Pemberton, Administrator for Program at the Anaheim ARC. “Men coming from a past of incarceration often benefit from more individualized support.”

Over 150 men are currently enrolled in the Anaheim ARC’s 180-day residential program, where they work through challenges such as previous substance use and other personal struggles. About 20 percent of participants have spent time in prison before joining the program.

Recognizing the need for support specifically for men exiting incarceration, Pemberton began developing community partnerships—one of which led her to meet Steven Kim, Founder and Executive Director of Project Kinship.

She said partnering with Kim and Project Kinship was a natural fit, as Kim himself graduated from the Anaheim ARC in 2000. 

“He understands what it’s like to go through the program,” Pemberton said. “Men see him as a role model, especially once they realize how much he’s accomplished in his recovery.”

With a desire to serve the community the way he was served, Kim went on to earn a degree in Criminology, Law & Society and a Master of Social Work before founding Project Kinship in 2014.

“Our lives transform the moment we realize we’re not a mistake,” Kim said, noting that Project Kinship focuses on restoring hope and helping individuals recognize that they are worthy of love, support and a second chance.

“Some of these individuals are coming from their rock bottom,” Kim said. “There’s always a broken heart at the core of a wounded soul. You cannot reach it with more pain or judgment—only with love.”

Kim and the more than 150 Project Kinship staff meet people where they are, providing hands-on employment coaching, job training, group education and life skills classes, one-on-one case management and more. 

“Project Kinship is a hub of support and connection for hundreds of men,” Pemberton said, adding that residents are introduced to the organization while at the ARC, so they know it will be available to them once they graduate.

Since beginning the partnership in 2024, Kim and his staff have visited the ARC monthly to mentor residents, lead reentry-focused classes and discussions, and help prepare them for stable, independent lives.

In addition, they host specialized events for ARC beneficiaries, including tattoo removal services, workforce development training, mental health counseling and legal assistance.

“The guys look forward to meetings with Project Kinship,” Pemberton said. “It helps them set goals, plans, and feel excited for their futures.”

During the meetings, men are encouraged to be open and honest about their past, allowing them to identify areas for change while also acknowledging the progress they’ve already made.

Pemberton said that partnering with Project Kinship has helped the men see that though change can be frightening, it can also be the start of something great.

“They usually leave a Project Kinship meeting with their heads held high,” Pemberton said. “They begin to see life through Jesus’ lens and learn a new way of approaching obstacles and setbacks.”

She said the partnership has also helped men see that they, too, can be a source of support and guidance in sobriety, offering encouragement to others and showing that their experiences can help someone else navigate recovery.

“Community makes all the difference,” Pemberton said. “It helps us meet needs while showing the men the value of supporting each other.”