ACAR Summit Brings Together Re-Entry Participants and Providers

Published on April 07, 2026

Returning to society following incarceration is a daunting prospect under the best circumstances.

Fortunately, there’s Mike Olack, the Director of Community Reintegration at Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“I was born with the affliction of the, ‘I have to help you’ gene,” said Olack.

A member of the operations team for the Allegheny County Anchored Reentry Coalition, or ACAR, Olack is one of several key organizers for the coalition’s annual summit that took place on Friday, March 13 at the Community College of Allegheny County’s main campus on Pittsburgh’s North Side.

ACAR usually holds its summit in April to coincide with “Second Chance Month,” but the team chose to hold the summit earlier with the NFL Draft looming later this month.

Nevertheless, the goal remained the same: an opportunity to bring together all stakeholders, providers and workers who care about re-entry and the re-integration process for those involved in the criminal justice system.

“At the end of the day, folks are coming home,” Olack said. “Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

The coalition was born out of a recognized need to support those who return to their homes and communities following incarceration. There can be numerous stumbling blocks and barriers to finding housing, employment and community support after individuals serve time.

Tamara Collier was there at ACAR’s 2014 founding by Goodwill and CCAC when the coalition focused on employment. The organization went dormant for several years before it was relaunched in January 2020. Now a member of the ACAR operational and executive leadership teams, Collier has helped the coalition grow to include 13 different subcommittees that address issues like Education, Entrepreneurship, Health and Wellness, and many more.

“Employment is one thing, but you get somebody a job, and they don’t have all of the other things together, all the other dominoes in life together, how long are they going to stay in that job?” a rhetorical Collier asked. “It’s not as simple as coming home and getting a job and getting your life together. The way that things, the system and process is set up right now, honestly, sometimes becomes a life sentence.”

Collins, the de facto leader of the summit, said ACAR intentionally focuses on including all stakeholders – including formerly incarcerated individuals, who can best attest to what returning individuals need.

While many of the needs are physical, some are internal, said Michael Talley. A returning citizen who served time in a federal correctional facility, Talley is now employed by CCAC, a member of the ACAR operations team and co-founder of the Reentry Coaching Academy (ReCA).

“We believe in working on individuals – to retain those jobs, you gotta work on the inside,” Talley said. “You gotta actually deal with the other things you’re going through, get balanced there and then once you balance that, then you can retain that job, retain that family, can retain that life and chase that career.”

Talley experienced life coaching while incarcerated and credits that with changing his life. ReCA was one of dozens of providers at the summit, which included vocational vendors, substance use treatment providers, alternative housing providers and more.

“Those with lived experience are the experts, and that’s why I want to make sure they’re at the table, because if we’re not listening to them, young people are listening to them,” Collier said. “If we put them in a position, the young people will listen to them. We have to trust them and their expertise and what they bring to the table.”

The summit itself operated under the theme of “Working Toward the Future,” and the opening featured such luminaries as CCAC President Dr. Quintin Bullock, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania CEO Monique McIntosh and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor.

“The city is committed to making sure people get the tools, the opportunity to succeed and that we are a welcoming city,” said O’Connor, whose previous position as Allegheny County Controller gave him a seat on the Jail Oversight Board.

Allegheny County Jail re-entry and caseworker staff also attended the event, and ACJ Deputy Warden for Programming and Services Connie Clark gave a brief speech during the opening ceremony. Clark touted the jail’s strides with pre-arraignment diversion, vocational training opportunities and lauded the TAILS program, the jail’s partnership with Animal Friends in which shelter dogs reside at the jail.

“My advice to you is this: keep doing the work,” Clark told the assembled crowd. “It is both challenging and rewarding. Remember what drives you and what your ‘why’ is.”

The event featured several breakout sessions, resource tables, additional presentations and the Justice Impact Challenge, a business pitch competition, which Carlee Collins won with their “Guns Down, Minds Up” presentation.

Now with approximately 400 members, ACAR welcomes new members and is always looking to expand to fill whatever needs exist and arise.

“We all got the same goal: let nobody fall between the cracks,” Talley said.

“That’s why we exist,” Olack added.

Media inquiries may be directed to Jesse Geleynse, Public Information Officer for the Allegheny County Jail
jesse.geleynse@alleghenycounty.us or by phone at 412-350-1267 or 412-760-4760 (cell).