Nayeli Pena Arce Re-entry Fund!
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Dear Community,
We are writing as a collective of ally organizations in support of Nayeli Pena Arce, a 26-year-old Mexican American woman in need of re-entry support. Nayeli was welcomed home from prison in September of 2020, after a community effort succeeded in preventing her transfer to ICE after 6 years of incarceration. Since Nayeli was freed, she has worked to support currently and formerly incarcerated people and is a powerful leader in the ongoing statewide #FreeThemAll campaign, pressing Governor Newsom to #StopICETransfers and to grant mass release of people from state prisons. See Nayeli featured in this video.
Nayeli faces many barriers as she rebuilds her life during her re-entry period. Join us to help raise funds to meet Nayeli’s needs for food, clothing, transportation, medical care, cell phone, laptop and housing during this challenging period.
Please consider donating! All proceeds will go directly to Nayeli!
Background:
Nayeli Pena Arce was born in Jalisco, Mexico. After Nayeli’s father tragically drowned while at work when Nayeli was one-year-old, Nayeli’s mother struggled to provide for herself and Nayeli and made the decision to move to the U.S. when Nayeli was 6-years-old. Nayeli grew up and went to school in San Diego, while her mother worked as a full-time housekeeper. At 15-years-old, Nayeli and her mother relocated to South Lake Tahoe, where Nayeli’s mother met her stepfather, who was a single father with two young daughters. Nayeli excelled in all her classes and obtained a multitude of accolades in school. After getting her high school degree, Nayeli got a full-time job working as a restaurant manager and a part-time job elsewhere as a cashier, while she simultaneously continued her education as a part-time student at a local community college.
By age 20, Nayeli had turned to alcohol to cope with peer pressure and an emotionally abusive relationship.One night, after drinking with friends at a club, Nayeli and her friends got into Nayeli’s car and headed home. Nayeli, who was driving, hit a recessed manhole cover. The impact of the collision led to the death of Nayeli’s long-time high school friend, injuries to her second friend and serious injuries to Nayeli herself. Nayeli spent ten days in the hospital with a broken hip and head contusion and several months in a wheelchair and learning to walk again. Once recovered, Nayeli was arrested and prosecuted for her friend’s death. She fully cooperated with the court, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
While incarcerated, Nayeli earned certifications in substance abuse, construction maintenance, and computer coding. She graduated as valedictorian of her class with an AA degree in business from Chaffey Community College and is about to complete her second in criminal justice. Despite these accomplishments, personal work on healing and growth, and completing her time, Nayeli faces many re-entry barriers.
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity is a statewide organization that engages people of faith to uplift the dignity of all people, including those most directly impacted by immigration detention, incarceration, and family separation. IM4HI is a part of a team of community members, supporting Nayeli’s freedom and leadership in this movement and to help Nayeli get back on her feet!
We are writing as a collective of ally organizations in support of Nayeli Pena Arce, a 26-year-old Mexican American woman in need of re-entry support. Nayeli was welcomed home from prison in September of 2020, after a community effort succeeded in preventing her transfer to ICE after 6 years of incarceration. Since Nayeli was freed, she has worked to support currently and formerly incarcerated people and is a powerful leader in the ongoing statewide #FreeThemAll campaign, pressing Governor Newsom to #StopICETransfers and to grant mass release of people from state prisons. See Nayeli featured in this video.
Nayeli faces many barriers as she rebuilds her life during her re-entry period. Join us to help raise funds to meet Nayeli’s needs for food, clothing, transportation, medical care, cell phone, laptop and housing during this challenging period.
Please consider donating! All proceeds will go directly to Nayeli!
Background:
Nayeli Pena Arce was born in Jalisco, Mexico. After Nayeli’s father tragically drowned while at work when Nayeli was one-year-old, Nayeli’s mother struggled to provide for herself and Nayeli and made the decision to move to the U.S. when Nayeli was 6-years-old. Nayeli grew up and went to school in San Diego, while her mother worked as a full-time housekeeper. At 15-years-old, Nayeli and her mother relocated to South Lake Tahoe, where Nayeli’s mother met her stepfather, who was a single father with two young daughters. Nayeli excelled in all her classes and obtained a multitude of accolades in school. After getting her high school degree, Nayeli got a full-time job working as a restaurant manager and a part-time job elsewhere as a cashier, while she simultaneously continued her education as a part-time student at a local community college.
By age 20, Nayeli had turned to alcohol to cope with peer pressure and an emotionally abusive relationship.One night, after drinking with friends at a club, Nayeli and her friends got into Nayeli’s car and headed home. Nayeli, who was driving, hit a recessed manhole cover. The impact of the collision led to the death of Nayeli’s long-time high school friend, injuries to her second friend and serious injuries to Nayeli herself. Nayeli spent ten days in the hospital with a broken hip and head contusion and several months in a wheelchair and learning to walk again. Once recovered, Nayeli was arrested and prosecuted for her friend’s death. She fully cooperated with the court, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 8 years in prison.
While incarcerated, Nayeli earned certifications in substance abuse, construction maintenance, and computer coding. She graduated as valedictorian of her class with an AA degree in business from Chaffey Community College and is about to complete her second in criminal justice. Despite these accomplishments, personal work on healing and growth, and completing her time, Nayeli faces many re-entry barriers.
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity is a statewide organization that engages people of faith to uplift the dignity of all people, including those most directly impacted by immigration detention, incarceration, and family separation. IM4HI is a part of a team of community members, supporting Nayeli’s freedom and leadership in this movement and to help Nayeli get back on her feet!
Organizer and beneficiary
Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
Organizer
Oakland, CA
Olga Nayeli Pena Arce
Beneficiary