We want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who joined us for our annual community event last Thursday, October 17, at the First Parish in Concord. Thank you to the First Parish for allowing us to host our event here and for being part of our history since the beginning of Concord Prison Outreach

We are deeply thankful for our inspiring guest speakers, including State Legislators Carmine Gentile, Simon Cataldo, and Jamie Eldridge; Kevin Richards and Lawrence Tracy from the Massachusetts Department of Correction; volunteer Donna Heidemann for sharing her moving story; and Jay Johnson, whose powerful testimony reminded us of the importance of this work and what success can look like.

We also extend our sincere thanks to Patty Ruze for her words and contributions regarding the Concord Reformatory Cemetery, Liz Rust for her exceptional coordination of the event, and Sam Williams for being a guiding force within our organization. As well as staff members Jeannette Sheehan and Ellie DiMauro for their work in making this event possible.

Finally, we are incredibly grateful for all our volunteers—both those who attended and those supporting us from afar. Your time, energy, and dedication are the foundation of everything we achieve together. This event was a celebration of our shared efforts and successes, and we are honored to work alongside you.

Thank you as well to our donors and supporters for empowering us to continue this impactful work. Together, we are making a real difference.