Sam lewis
Executive Director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform. As a formerly incarcerated individual who was sentenced to life in prison at age 18, Sam's lived experience equips him with a deep understanding of the criminal justice field and a knowledge of the best services to meet the needs of system-impacted individuals.
As Sam himself said in an op-ed in the San Francisco Chronicle, “I know well the power of hope in the darkness behind prison walls.” He serves as a positive role model and mentor for incarcerated youth and adults across the state, and also works closely with key partners in the criminal justice reform space, including agencies, policymakers, funders, and other community-based organizations. Sam serves as a voice for those inside, connecting decisionmakers and those most affected by decisions to address critical issues in our justice system.
In 2012, Sam was released after serving 24 years of a life sentence and now uses his freedom to give back to those still inside; helping incarcerated people transform their lives, acquire tools to successfully re-enter society, and serve as role models for at-risk youth. Sam began his work at ARC in 2015 as a Life Coach, providing case management services to formerly incarcerated members. Since then, he founded and led one of ARC's largest programs in eight state prisons, the Hope and Redemption Team (HART), as well as Youth Mentorship Programs in three juvenile detention facilities.
