Inside Out Reentry Community

We are here to help.

Inside Out Reentry Community is based in Iowa City and serves people returning to Johnson County after incarceration. We also work with individuals incarcerated throughout the State to help them develop re-entry plans, regardless of where they plan to live after release. Returning to and becoming an active member of society after being in prison is tough, and we strive to give these individuals the support they need to reach their goals.

Our mission: to support people involved in the criminal legal system in changing from the inside out, and to educate the public, in order to promote healing, restore relationships and achieve success in the community.

What we offer:

A drop-in Resource Center: a safe place to socialize or seek support. The drop-in center also provides the following resources that are available when the drop-in center is open and by appointment:

Life Skills Classes — personal finances, mindfulness, communication skills, healthy relationships, etc.
Employment Readiness — Assistance with job applications, resumes, interviewing skills, collaboration with several local jobs programs.
Housing — Assistance with housing searches and applications, accessing credit reports, referrals to housing assistance programs.
Resource Information — Information on resources for health care, mental health care, substance use recovery, religious communities, social services, community and volunteer activities, etc.

Mentoring pairs a returning citizen with a community member for support, companionship, and accountability. Partners meet every week or so for social time, skill building activities (e.g., writing a resume), and/or discussing how your reentry plan is going.

Meetings: Our meetings are open to our members, and those directly impacted by the criminal legal system. If you would like to get involved with Inside Out please contact us!

Community Meetings: Every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 pm, we hold weekly group mentoring community meetings. Every meeting features a check-in where members share successes and challenges with one another, and give and receive support. Meetings include discussions related to reentry, workshops on life skills, small group activities, and presentations from community speakers.
Coffee and Connections: Every Tuesday from 5:30 – 6:30 pm we host a peer -led support group for those in all stages of recovery who have also been involved in the criminal legal system. Inspired by Johann Hari’s famous Ted Talk, the group is based off the belief that the opposite of addiction is not sobriety, it is connection. The group meets weekly to share successes, discuss challenges, and show peer support for others in the group.
Creative Collective: On the first and third Wednesday of each month from 5:30 – 7:00 pm, we host a writing and creative arts group. The group helps those interested in writing expand their skills, experiment with different styles, and engage in the healing properties of writing.

Inside Out Reentry Community aims to reduce the social stigma returning citizens often feel.