🌸 May Magic: Spring Concert, Social Events & Reentry Success! (May 2026 Newsletter)

Published by InsideOut Reentry on

May 2026 Newsletter

Our Spring Concert is Almost Here!

Join us on Sunday May 31st from 3-5 pm for our free upcoming Spring Concert Fundraiser featuring the masterful country blues duo – The Cedar County Cobras. It’s sure to be a fun afternoon in the sunshine (we hope!!) at Chauncey Swan Park in Iowa City. This family friendly event will have some activities for kids, as well as the opportunity to show your support of those returning from incarceration. Bring a lawn chair – and join us for the fun!

ACT: Being Mindful and Connecting with our Values

Inside Out is grateful we were able to offer our third series of our Acceptance Commitment Training (ACT) group in March and April. This 6 week group was run by an incredible group of volunteers and focuses on skill-building to cope with stressors, aid in emotional regulation, and building awareness to reach goals. This group leaves a lasting impact on those who attend. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Iowa City AM for a grant to support this valuable group!

Quarterly Game Nights – Sharing Joy and Community!
On March 26th over 25 of us got together for our quarterly game night at New Song Church! Neil led the group in bingo and thanks to New Song, we had an incredible meal of fried chicken, mac and cheese and more! Returning from incarceration can be a time of stress, so we are grateful for these opportunities to celebrate and share joy! Thank you again to New Song for a wonderful evening! If your church or community group would like to host us for our game night on December 31st please contact us at [email protected]

Fish, Friends, and Conversation
Thanks to donors Mike and Debbie Kratz we were able to enjoy an excellent Fish Fry dinner on March 20th. Reentry can feel isolating, so getting together to share a meal with our broader community can mean so much!

Checkmate: Chess Tournament Success

On March 16, we hosted a double-elimination chess tournament. Eight participants arrived to battle for the title of Inside Out chess champion. Thanks to the University of Iowa chess club, we had enough boards for both the tournament matches and some casual games on the side. Our volunteer Jonah ran the tournament bracket and after a couple of hours, a champion was crowned! Thanks to all who participated and volunteered to make this happen!

Show Your Reentry Support Year-Round!
Monthly giving is more than just a donation, it’s a gift of stability for individuals returning from incarceration. It allows us to keep up with our ever-increasing need for services – whether it be supporting our weekly peer support groups, the drop-in resource center, or our reentry house. Consider joining today as a sustaining member – it’s convenient, fast, and shows your support year-round.
Categories: newsletter

Related Posts

newsletter

🌸 Spring into Reentry News from Inside Out! (March 2026 Newsletter)

March 2026 Newsletter Our 4th year of incredible art, inspiration and human connections!   Creativity hung on the walls and inspiration was abundant at our Art from the Inside Out reception on February 6th! Artists, family members representing their Read more

newsletter

🎉 Art Show and New Year News! (January 2026 Newsletter)

January 2026 Newsletter 4th Annual Art from the Inside Out Art Show! Our fourth annual Art from the Inside Out art show is coming up soon! This free show features the incredible artwork of current and formerly incarcerated artists. The reception is February 6th at 6 pm at Read more

newsletter

✨ Getting Out and Staying Out – Our November News (November 2025 Newsletter)

One year of incredible work and ten years of gratitude!  As 2025 comes to a close, we proudly celebrate 10 years of growth, resilience, and service to our community. At Inside Out Reentry Community, our Read more