Travis Barker ensures that inmate firefighters battling the Los Angeles wildfires know how grateful they are for risking their lives during the ongoing disaster.
TMZ has learned that Travis made it a point to visit the Rose Bowl Complex in Pasadena, California on Monday, where he met with members of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition … made up of non-violent security inmates who are on the front lines with other first responders.
Travis tells us… “Many of them came from the youth system and this program gives them the opportunity to create real change and make a difference. Seeing the humanity in all of them was amazing.”
TB says this shows the coalition is valuable to both the inmates and the community at risk from the fires, adding… “They used to see themselves as criminals because that was all anyone had told them – and now they're first told they're heroes.” Responders, and they start to see themselves differently.
Travis also met with National Guard members at the complex – they are also on the front lines securing affected neighborhoods.
ARC was officially founded in 2013 and has served more than 1,000 incarcerated youth to date. We were told filmmakers Scott Budnick Was there Monday…he routinely advocates to end mass incarceration in California.
We're told Travis hopes to continue his relationship with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and help inmates however he can.