Norma Cumpian, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s (ARC) Women Department Associate Director, joined ARC in March 2016 as a Life Coach after nearly five years working in the criminal justice reform and nonprofit sector. As a formerly incarcerated woman, Norma has firsthand experience in the many challenges of reentry, making her a compassionate and effective guide for people learning to navigate society after returning home from prison. 

Norma is a fierce advocate for incarcerated women and girls. She has traveled to the California State Capitol to educate legislators, spoken on panels, and presented in numerous classrooms in order to affect change for incarcerated women, mothers, and girls to create a fairer justice system for all. 

In 2019, she co-designed and launched ARC’s first Women Services department to better serve the needs of formerly incarcerated members, as well as incarcerated women through inside programming at the California Institution for Women in Corona, CA and the Central California Women’s Facility.   

Norma was appointed by Governor Newsom, and confirmed by the Senate Rules Committee, to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), in February 2020. The BSCC provides leadership to adult and juvenile systems, expertise on re alignment, conducts inspections and administers public safety related grants throughout the state of California. Norma is the first formerly incarcerated person to sit on the BSCC.

In all her work, Norma seeks to carve out spaces to ensure that everyone’s voices are heard and valued. She is most proud of her son’s journey.  He is currently attending College in Dallas, TX and will graduate in 2022.