Reentry Starts with Community.
Since 2005, RAWNY has been building a stronger, safer Western New York by supporting people returning home after incarceration
Our Story
RAWNY’s Reentry One-Stop provides services and support to individuals returning home from jail, state prison, or federal detention.
We began in 2005 as the Safer Monroe Area Reentry Team (SMART), a grassroots network of volunteers advocating for better reentry policies. In 2021, SMART became the Reentry Association of Western NY (RAWNY), expanding our mission and reach.
Today, we serve as an umbrella organization connecting more than 50 local partners and advocating for reentry services as a permanent part of the justice system. Our work fills critical gaps in housing, healthcare, employment, and community support, reducing recidivism and building safer neighborhoods.
Our Mission
RAWNY is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to serving the community by supporting individuals who have experienced incarceration—and the agencies that serve them—to ensure everyone reentering society has access to the resources and support they need.
Our Vision
Our Philosophy
“The reality is that communities don’t decide who is released, but they do face the consequences of unsupported reentry.”
Executive Director
Yari Rivera is a dedicated human services professional with more than twelve years of experience supporting individuals impacted by incarceration, mental health challenges, and chemical dependency.
As RAWNY’s Executive Director, she leads reentry, housing, and supportive service programs in collaboration with law enforcement, community agencies, and funders. Fluent in Spanish and deeply connected to her community, Yari blends professional expertise with lived experience to ensure that individuals returning from incarceration have the resources, advocacy, and support they need to thrive.
Our Team
A little line about what’s being said and who’s saying it.
Cici Omeri
UW Case Manager
Anibal Sosa
Reentry Case Manager
David Dey
CFO (Contract Position)
Thomas Stein
Lead Peer Mentor (Compeer)
Brenda Lopez
Operations Manager
blopez@rawny.org
Levon Strugis
Program Director
istrugis@rawny.com
Board of Directors
Cathy Salvaggio Buckert
Board President
Board President
Cathy retired from the United States Probation Officer, Rochester, NY, in December 2020 after 27 years of service. She was the Program Development Specialist overseeing reentry services, collaborative community partnerships, and evidence-based programming, and was previously the Drug and Alcohol Specialist. She developed and facilitated the Reentry Court Program for eight years. She is certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (NCTI) and provided oversight of the CBT program in addition to facilitating trainings throughout NY.
Pamela Ayerst
Vice President
Vice President
Bob Burns
Board Member
Board Member
Kayann Williams
Board Member
Board Member
Thomas Gan
Board Member
Board Member
Carl Hatch-Fiers
Board Member
Board Member
Sarah Cushmans
Board Member
Board Member
The RAWNY Network
A
- Action For A Better Community
B
- Baraka Muslim Charity
C
- Cameron Ministries
- Career Start
- Center For Community Alternatives
- City Of Rochester Office Of Neighborhood Safety
- Compeer
- Cornell Cooperative Extension
D
- Delphi Rise
- Diana Morse, University of Rochester / WISH
E
- Episcopal Dioceses Of Rochester
- East House
G
- Grace House
H
- Hope Initiatives
- Huther Doyle
L
- Legacy Makers
- Legal Assistance Of WNY
M
- Monroe County Family Coalition
“Helping people keeps me honest, it keeps me grounded and it keeps me balanced!”
— Levon Sturgis, Program Director
Coming home shouldn’t mean starting from zero.
RAWNY makes reentry simple. We connect you to services and support so you can build stability and thrive.
