Los Angeles📍
Reentry Health Advisory Collaborative
• Integrating Lived Experience With Policymaking •
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The RHAC stands for The Reentry Health Advisory Collaborative for the county of Los Angeles, California.
RHAC members bring firsthand experience with the justice system. The RHAC'S Unique insights help bridge the gap between policy-making and the communities served.
The RHAC actively participates in decision-making spaces that have historically been limited to law enforcement and public sector officials.
Comprising 11 compensated members with authentic experience due to incarceration, local justice systems, and community re-entry; authenticity is key.
The RHAC ensures fair compensation for their expertise, reinforcing economic justice while contributing to more effective and equitable public-serving systems.
Despite ongoing efforts to reduce jail populations and expand diversion programs, Los Angeles County continues to disproportionately police and incarcerate individuals from Black, Latinx, and Indigenous communities. On any given day, more than 15,000 individuals are incarcerated in LA County jails, with 40% awaiting trial and nearly 40% (approximately 6,000 individuals) diagnosed with mental health conditions. Furthermore, Black individuals account for 30% of the county’s jail population despite comprising only 8% of the overall county population. Similarly, Latinx individuals represent 54% of the jail population while making up 48% of the county’s total population. These disparities highlight the urgent need for systemic reform.
Jason Garcia leverages his lived experience, education, and professional background to advance peer-centered mental health and reentry services. With a Bachelor’s from San Jose State University and certifications in mental health rehabilitation, he has dedicated his career to training peers, advocating for systemic change, and supporting individuals in their transition to independent living. Formerly incarcerated for over 27 years, Jason now works tirelessly to create opportunities for others and drive meaningful change in his community.
Gilbert Johnson is a South Central Los Angeles native and trailblazer in justice policy reform and reentry advocacy. As the Director of Strategic Reentry Initiatives in the Office of Mayor Karen Bass, Gilbert’s inspiring journey showcases the transformative power of resilience, community, and purpose.
Maria C. Gonzalez (Executive Leader of Pride In Truth), a first-generation immigrant and formerly incarcerated, is a social justice advocate for youth, incarcerated individuals, and undocumented people. Born in Jalisco, Mexico, she moved to the U.S. with her family seeking a better life. Maria has faced challenges such as racism, gang violence, and the loss of loved ones, including her best friend, Gilbert Braz, to gun violence in 1996. She channeled her grief into advocacy, founding The Braz Project in 2023 to empower youth.
Sandy Arevalo is a Program Supervisor at Project 180. Sandy recently earned her Master of Social Work from California State University Northridge and is excited to continue working to support patients with their mental health and re-entry needs. In her free time Sandy enjoys traveling, cooking, and is an avid moviegoer. She currently resides in Mission Hills, California.
Summa Cum Laude Alumni of California State University, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a minor in Pan-African Studies. He serves in Management at Homeboy Industries, where he is dedicated to social justice, reentry services, and mentorship for justice-impacted individuals. Born and raised in South Los Angeles, Glenn is passionate about equitable justice and is actively working to dismantle systemic racism through social work and advocacy.
Sergio Garcia, a Los Angeles native, is a Substance Abuse Counselor dedicated to helping others navigate recovery through his lived experience, education, and faith. Passionate about inspiring change, he aims to become a motivational speaker and establish a foundation supporting individuals in reaching their full potential. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and exploring new places with loved ones.