Navigating Uncertain Times: An Interfaith Gathering
2025-03-30 15:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord, MA, 01742, United States
Navigating Uncertain Times: An Interfaith Gathering
These are incredible times! CPO is having our Third Annual Interfaith Gathering on Sunday March 30 3-5pm at Trinity Church in Concord.
This event aims to unite diverse faith communities in reflection, connection, and finding meaning together in the midst of these uncertain times.
During our event, we will have opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue, share their perspectives, and explore how faith can be a bridge to positive social change. Together, we can create a more inclusive and empathetic society where everyone’s voice is heard and valued. We know this to be true.
RSVP and information can be found on the attached flyer.
Date: Sunday, March 30, 2025
Time: 3:00-5:00 pm
Location: Trinity Episcopal Church 81 Elm St, Concord, MA 01742
Light refreshments will be available.
RSVP: JEANNETTE@CONCORDPRISONOUTREACH.ORG
978-369-1430

Community Event Featuring Sam Williams: 5 Black Men. 5 Perspectives. One Powerful Discussion.
2025-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Cambridge Public Library, Main BRA Cambridge, MA
Event Description:We’re proud to share that our Executive Director, Sam Williams, will be a featured panelist at an upcoming community event focused on Black male leadership in Restorative Justice.
5 Black Men. 5 Perspectives. One Powerful Discussion. brings together five Black male Circle Keepers who are practicing and expanding Restorative Justice beyond traditional spaces. Together, they’ll discuss what it means to do this work in systems and institutions that weren’t designed for them—and how they continue to lead, inspire, and transform.
Panelists include:

Sam Williams – Executive Director, Concord Prison Outreach

Damon Banks – Social Worker, Chief Probation Officer

Omo Moses – CEO, Author

Harvard Blue – Educator, Consultant

Vinson Givans – Mitigation Manager, Football Coach

Date: Wednesday, April 10Time: 6:00 – 7:30 PMLocation: Cambridge Public Library – Main Branch
Free entry, all are welcome!
For More Info: chanchanb123@icloud.com

Concord Patriots' Day Parade
2025-04-19 08:30 - 11:00 | Concord, MA, Main Street, Concord, 01742, United States
Concord250 Patriot’s Day
Join us for the Concord250 Patriot’s Day Parade, where members of the Concord Prison Outreach staff, board, and community will be marching! We hope to see you as we celebrate Patriot’s Day and Concord’s 250th anniversary together!
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Time: 8:30am
Location: Concord, MA – Visit Concord250.org for more information about the parade and route or click here.
MORE INFO

Grow Hope Where It's Needed Most 🌱: Volunteer Info Session on Garden Programming in Prisons
2025-04-30 18:30 - 19:30 | Online Zoom Meeting
Grow Hope Where It’s Needed Most 🌱: Volunteer Info Session on Garden Programming in Prisons
Zoom Link
Date & Time:
Wednesday, April 30th, 6:30–7:30 PM
Zoom – [link here]
Concord Prison Outreach invites you to a virtual info session to explore a unique volunteer opportunity: bringing horticulture education to incarcerated individuals at MCI-Shirley, MCI-Framingham, and the BRAVE Unit at North Central Correctional Institution.
Join us on Wednesday, April 30th at 6:30 PM to learn how cultivating plants can transform lives—yours included. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or simply curious, this session is a great way to discover how your skills can make a lasting impact.
Led by longtime instructor and Principal Master Gardener Jean Theurkauf, alongside CPO’s Ellie DiMauro, this informal Zoom session offers a chance to ask questions, hear real experiences, and imagine what’s possible.
No commitment required—just curiosity and compassion.
Zoom Link

Concord Prison Outreach Annual Business Meeting
2025-05-08 19:00 - 20:30 | Online Zoom Meeting
You’re Invited to CPO’s Annual Business Meeting!
Zoom Link
Please join Concord Prison Outreach for our Annual Business Meeting on Wednesday, May 8th. This is an opportunity to hear updates on our work, celebrate our community’s impact over the past year, and look ahead to the future of our programs and partnerships.
Date:
Thursday, May 8th
Time:
7:00-8:30 pm
Link:
This meeting will be hosted virtually on Zoom. Find the link here.
We warmly invite all volunteers, donors, community partners, and supporters to attend. Your presence helps strengthen the shared mission that drives our work forward.
Zoom Link

Bringing Lives Forward: Patriots of the Concord Reformatory Prison Cemetery
2025-05-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Gerow Pavilion, 369 Commonwealth Ave, concord, 01742, United States
Bringing Lives Forward: Patriots of the Concord Reformatory Prison CemeteryEveryone Has a Story:
A Public Recognition Event
Sunday, May 18 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM (Rain or shine)

Join us in honoring the lives of veterans buried at the Concord Reformatory Prison Cemetery—men laid to rest between 1878 and 1996, whose bodies were never claimed by family, but whose stories deserve to be remembered. Many served in the Civil War and other military tours of duty. This event seeks to acknowledge their service, dignity, and humanity.
Location:
Gerow Recreation Area Pavilion
Near MCI-Concord Prison37B Commonwealth Avenue, Concord, MA
Limited parking is available by the event site. Additional parking is available near the prison and the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail.
Date & Time:Sunday, May 18 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM(Rain or shine)
This program is offered by Concord Prison Outreach as part of the Freedom’s Way – Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture & History, an annual month-long celebration showcasing events and activities hosted by local partners celebrating the unique places, objects, and stories of the Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area. Hidden Treasures programs are free and open to the public. Learn More >
Explore the “Naming the Unnamed Project”Contact:Sam WilliamsExecutive Director, Concord Prison Outreachsam@concordprisonoutreach.org(978) 369-1430
Help us bring their lives forward. All are welcome.

Concord Prison Outreach 4-Day Restorative Justice Training September 2025
2025-09-20 10:00 - 14:30 | West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main Street, Concord, MA, 01742
Concord Prison Outreach 4-Day Restorative Justice Training
This 4-day Restorative Justice training is designed for individuals who are interested in and committed to facilitating the Restorative Justice Book Group program at one of the following facilities: MCI-Framingham, MCI-Norfolk, MCI-Shirley, Middlesex House of Correction, North Central Correctional Institution, Pondville Correctional Center, and Worcester County Jail.
Participants in the training will form a “circle” of engagement, making full attendance essential for a complete and cohesive learning experience. We kindly ask that only those able to attend all four sessions register, as full participation is crucial to both the material and group dynamics. If you are unable to commit to all four days, please consider joining us for a future training session.

Register HereTraining Overview:
What: 4-Day Restorative Justice Training
Instructor: Sam Williams, lead facilitator
Training Schedule:
Day 1: Saturday, September 20, 10:00 AM–2:30 PM
Day 2: Sunday, September 21, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Day 3: Saturday, September 27, 10:00 AM–2:30 PM
Day 4: Sunday, September 28, 1:00 PM–5:00 PM
Location: West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main St, Concord, MA 01742
During this comprehensive training, you will gain insights into restorative justice theories, practices, principles, trauma-informed practices, and group facilitation skills. The objective is to equip you with the necessary skills to effectively facilitate our Restorative Justice Reading Group programs.
To express your interest in participating, please register here or go to rjcpo.eventbrite.com. Spots are limited!

Community Event Featuring Sam Williams: 5th Annual Race and Community Dialogue Series
2025-10-28 15:30 - 17:00
Event Description:We’re proud to share that our Executive Director, Sam Williams, will serve as a moderator at the 5th Annual Race and Community Dialogue Series, hosted by the Center on Crime, Race, and Justice and its Community Advisory Board.
Public Safety Meets Public Health: Examining Public Safety, Substance Use, and Mental Health in the Mass & Cass Community will bring together practitioners, service providers, policymakers, and researchers for a solutions-focused conversation addressing the complex challenges facing the Mass & Cass and Downtown Boston communities.
This important dialogue explores how public safety, substance use, and mental health intersect, and what collaborative, community-centered strategies can help create lasting change.
Speakers include:

Deputy John Brown – Zone Commander, Boston Police Department, Bureau of Field Services

Dr. Abigail Judge – Clinical & Forensic Psychologist; Co-Founder & Director, Boston HEAT; Instructor in Psychology, Harvard Medical School

Sandra Andrade – Senior Peer Advocate, Dee Kennedy Family Justice Center; Co-Director, Boston HEAT

Dr. Bisola Ojikutu – Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director, Boston Public Health Commission

Jada Y. Vaughan – PhD Student, Criminology and Justice Policy & Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, Northeastern University

Moderators:

Charlene D. Luma, LICSW – Chief of Staff, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office; CRJ Community Advisory Board Member

Sam Williams – Executive Director, Concord Prison Outreach; Co-Director, CRJ Community Advisory Board, Northeastern University

📅 Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2025🕞 Time: 3:30 – 5:00 PM (ET)💻 Location: Virtual Event, register here
Free and open to the public! Join this meaningful conversation on the intersection of justice, health, and community well-being.

Concord Prison Outreach 2-Day Restorative Justice Training March 2026
2026-03-14 09:00 - 15:00 | West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main Street, Concord, MA, 01742
Concord Prison Outreach 2-Day Restorative Justice Training
This 2-day Restorative Justice training is designed for individuals who are interested in and committed to facilitating the Restorative Justice Book Group program at one of the following facilities: MCI-Framingham, MCI-Norfolk, MCI-Shirley, Middlesex House of Correction, North Central Correctional Institution, Pondville Correctional Center, and Worcester County Jail.
Participants in the training will form a “circle” of engagement, making full attendance essential for a complete and cohesive learning experience. We kindly ask that only those able to attend both sessions register, as full participation is crucial to both the material and group dynamics. If you are unable to commit to both days, please consider joining us for a future training session.

Register HereTraining Overview:
What: 2-Day Restorative Justice Training
Instructor: Sam Williams, lead facilitator
Training Schedule:
Day 1: Saturday, March 14, 9:00-3:00 PM
Day 2: Sunday, March 28, 9:00-3:00 PM
Location: West Concord Union Church, 1317 Main St, Concord, MA 01742
During this comprehensive training, you will gain insights into restorative justice theories, practices, principles, trauma-informed practices, and group facilitation skills. The objective is to equip you with the necessary skills to effectively facilitate our Restorative Justice Reading Group programs.
To express your interest in participating, please register here or go to rjcpo.eventbrite.com. Spots are limited!
