Ruby Welch

Ruby Welch is a motivational speaker, criminal and restorative justice advocate, and founder of F.E.L.O.N. (Formerly Incarcerated Empowered Leaders Overcoming Negative Stigmas). After experiencing first-hand the harmful effects of serving seven years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, Ruby vowed to educate her community about the disparities of incarceration and its lasting effects on individuals.

Ruby currently is employed with Dream.Org as a Campaign Coordinator. She was previously employed with UAMS as a Community Health Coordinator where she educated detainees at the Pulaski County Detention Center on various health risks and concerns. She received the Champions Award from C.A.R.E (Central Arkansas Re-Entry Coalition) in 2016 for her dedication to community advocacy, and currently serves as Arkansas Ambassador for the Dignity for Incarcerated Women Campaign and Empathy Partner with #Cut50; a representative for the National Council of Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls; Chair of Criminal Justice with the Little Rock NAACP; and a member of the C.A.R.E Coalition, Project South, Arkansas Community Health Workers Association, Arkansas Community Institute for Housing, the Poor People’s Campaign, and Black Lives Matter.

Ruby has been the recipient of the 2019 Recognition Award from Future For Felons of Jonesboro for Overcoming The Odds; 2022 Resilience Award; 2022 Legacy of Hope Award presented by Mississippi Center for Re-Entry; and the 2022 Anna Cox Compassionate Service Award. As an Ambassador for #Cut50, Ruby was instrumental in the passing and signing into law #Dignity Arkansas for incarcerated women. Ruby views her work as an extension of her Christian faith.