Coffee and Connections - Inside Out Reentry - Free Peer Group, Iowa City

Inside Out Reentry Community in Iowa City supports people involved in the criminal legal system in changing from the inside out — promoting healing, restoring relationships, and helping returning citizens find success in the community. One cornerstone of that work is Coffee and Connections, a free weekly peer support group built on a simple idea: the opposite of addiction is connection.

What to Expect

Coffee and Connections is a recovery-based, peer-led support group that meets every Tuesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. It’s a safe space where members openly discuss their successes and challenges and offer support to one another. Inspired by Johann Hari’s work on connection and addiction, the group treats community itself as the engine of recovery and reentry. Inside Out also wraps the group in broader support — case management, mentoring, and a sober transitional reentry house — so the Tuesday circle is one part of a real support system.

Who This Group Is For

Adults in the Iowa City and Johnson County area who are returning to the community after incarceration, or navigating the criminal legal system and the recovery that often comes with reentry. Newcomers are welcome, and the group is intentionally low-barrier.

Why Peer Support Works

Reentry is one of the loneliest transitions there is — old ties frayed, new judgment everywhere. A peer group of people who have walked the same road replaces isolation with belonging and shame with shared understanding. Peer-led reentry support is increasingly recognized in research as a powerful tool for reducing recidivism and supporting recovery, precisely because lived experience carries a credibility that no professional can supply.

How to Join

The group is free. Inside Out Reentry Community is at 804 S Capitol St, Iowa City, IA 52240; if you need a ride to group, call (319) 338-7996. Email hello@insideoutreentry.com or visit insideoutreentry.com for current details.