Changing the Narrative about Incarceration: A Conversation with Arthur Bembury
Executive Director of Partakers, Inc. Arthur Bembury talks about his journey, his work, and Partakers' 25th Anniversary.
By Jana Antic
Arthur Bembury wears many hats as the Executive Director of Partakers, Inc., an organization that works to reduce recidivism through educational opportunities and mentorship relationships. He handles fundraising, grant writing, board recruitment, volunteer supervision, program design and implementation, and many other responsibilities. However, Arthur's journey with Partakers began long before he accepted the Executive Director position. While incarcerated, Arthur was a part of a Partakers program as a student of the Boston University prison program. When he was released eighteen years ago, Partakers offered Arthur a part-time position. Since then, Arthur has dedicated himself to the organization and its cause, rising through the ranks and making meaningful change in the state of Massachusetts.
One of Arthur's most important goals is changing the narrative about formerly incarcerated individuals. For those who have been incarcerated, their punishment doesn't end when their sentence ends. Returning citizens face systemic disadvantages, often struggling with housing, employment, and stigmatization. These disadvantages and negative narratives exist within our universities, workplaces, and institutions. "At what point do you stop continuously stigmatizing somebody that’s been incarcerated? Somebody who goes to prison, should they be allowed to go to Harvard University? Yes, they should. Should they be allowed to work at IBM or Microsoft? They should be allowed to work at these corporations without being impacted by the fact that they were incarcerated," Arthur said of the changes he wishes to see regarding carceral justice. By partnering with universities and institutions, Partakers helps to change how these organizations view incarceration.
Although these partnerships contribute to changing the narrative, Arthur believes that those impacted by incarceration should be at the center of Partakers' work. Arthur and the Partakers organization are always on the lookout to hire their graduates, and Arthur’s personal journey demonstrates this desire to "pay it forward." When institutions are unable to meet the needs of this group, Partakers provides a space for them to fulfill those needs and create their own systems. "Rather than just saying, 'I don't have this. I don't have that,' let's create a pathway to decarceration that includes all of that. Let's create our own programs, and then let's hire those that have been impacted and have the knowledge and lived experience," Arthur said, describing Partakers' practices in creating the program. As Arthur noted, "this is a community that has a lot of power within it," and Partakers provides a space for students to utilize that power.
Even if not directly involved with the organization, formerly incarcerated individuals are central to Arthur's program design and implementation process. When designing a program, Arthur takes care to speak to those impacted by incarceration. "The people closest to the paint should be closest to the power," Arthur explained, "Speaking to people impacted by incarceration to ask what do you need? What would work? I know, having been incarcerated myself, but I want to hear from other people, especially women. What is it that you need? What could this program do better? In what ways can it help you reach a fuller potential?"
Partakers' ultimate goal is reducing recidivism, but Arthur wants more than that: "The fact that you didn't just go back to prison isn't enough for me. So, you didn't go back, but are you starving, you don't know how to use a computer, you can't get a job, you don't have stable housing? I'm not satisfied that you're out and staying out. I want you as a person to reach your fullest potential." The Partakers Empowerment Program, Partakers' partner program with the Brandeis Educational Justice Initiative, helps formerly incarcerated students reach this goal. Through workshops about technology, civic engagement, professionalism, and more, students are given the resources and support to reach their fullest potential, realize the power they have, and give back to their communities. PEP graduates return as Teaching Assistants, allowing them to use their experiences to improve the program for others.
Partakers' twenty-fifth anniversary, which occurred on October 2nd, was a testament to the success of Arthur and the organization. Partakers members, students, mentors, and community partners gathered to celebrate the milestone. "What stood out the most was how many people came from all different walks of life to support us," Arthur remarked, "we had the general manager from the Boston Red Sox, the heads of institutions, and our community partners."
The celebration allowed community partners to meet the students and see their programs' success. Reflecting on the event, Arthur said, "One of our greatest accomplishments is our associations and collaborations with other organizations that value and participate in the work that we do. Having the ability to involve institutions of learning—Brandeis University, Tufts University, MIT, Emerson, Boston College—you’re actually getting people that have the ability to make other people listen."
Several program graduates and mentors also spoke at the event. "It’s great to see a success story, but also, more than that, it’s great to see them giving back to the community." James Forman Jr., a professor at Yale Law School, was the guest speaker at the event. You can watch a recording of the celebration.
Congratulations to Arthur and Partakers on twenty-five years! We thank you for all the work that you do for carceral justice.