Latest news with #SecondChanceMonth
Epoch Times
02-05-2025
- Epoch Times
Santa Clara County Hosts Second Chance Fair, Unveils Service to Support Formerly Incarcerated People
The Santa Clara County Probation Department held its annual Second Chance Adult Probation Employment and Resource Fair on April 30, attracting dozens of community organizations and service providers who want to assist formerly incarcerated individuals in rebuilding their lives. Held at the Adult Probation Department's courtyard on North First Street in San Jose, California, the event marked Second Chance Month, a nationwide initiative aimed at removing barriers to successful reentry for former prisoners. A highlight of the fair was the unveiling of the department's new mobile probation vans, designed to reach unhoused and underserved individuals who face obstacles in attending in-person appointments or court hearings. 'These mobile units allow us to bring probation services directly into the community,' Leah Dansby, program manager of the Resource Services Unit, told The Epoch Times. 'Whether it's homeless encampments or areas with limited transit access, this is about meeting clients where they are and preventing violations that often occur just because someone couldn't make it to a scheduled appearance.' While the vans offer direct access to probation-related services—such as remote court appearances and referrals for treatment—they are complemented by a wide network of community partners that provide wraparound support. One of the organizations participating in the fair was Community Solutions, a nonprofit offering mental health and substance use treatment across the lifespan. It emphasized its forensic programs aimed at helping clients in specialized courts avoid re-incarceration. Related Stories 4/23/2025 4/21/2025 'Our goal is stabilization and reconnection to essential services,' Angela Garcia, a staff member with the organization, told The Epoch Times. Midtown Family Services also attended the fair and presented a holistic approach to self-sufficiency, offering everything from housing assessments to credit checks and background reviews. 'We scale needs from one to five and focus on the areas most critical for each individual,' said Midtown Family Services staff member Mario Canas, who talked to The Epoch Times about the importance of comprehensive planning beyond just job placement. The county's Reentry Resource Center was also present to guide clients freshly released from incarceration. 'Most people come out with just a shirt on their back,' Francis, a county employee working at the booth, told The Epoch Times. 'We connect them to housing, social services, behavioral health, and more—all in one place to reduce the complexity of navigating reentry.' Project Hope, a city program, highlighted its free tattoo removal service for individuals seeking to leave gang-affiliated or stigmatized identities behind. 'We focus on visible areas like the hands, face, neck, and wrist—barriers that often stand in the way of employment,' Vanessa Lopez, the program's representative, told The Epoch Times. Youth-focused nonprofits offered paid internships and job readiness training to help at-risk teens build foundational skills while staying in school. 'We want to start them young, so when they hit adulthood, they're ready,' said Analecia, a program mentor. The Zephyr Self-Help Center, operated by the county's Behavioral Health Services, provides peer-led support groups, job readiness coaching, and family outreach services. 'We never close our doors to anyone seeking help,' one staff member told The Epoch Times. Also featured at the fair was promotion for the Reentry Resource Center's upcoming Rise Up and Run 5K, a community fundraising event supporting the reentry population. The running and walking Proceeds from the event will go toward purchasing new clothing for individuals transitioning out of incarceration—providing them with appropriate attire for job interviews, court appearances, and daily life. 'Success doesn't happen in isolation,' Dansby said. 'It's a community effort, and today shows just how many people are working together to make sure no one gets left behind.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
The importance of second chance initiatives
CHARLOTTE () — April is Second Chance Month. The annual observance focuses on the challenges facing more than 650,000 Americans returning to their communities each year after completing prison sentences. Beasy Baybie, radio host, author and convicted felon joins Queen City News to discuss her story and the importance of second chance initiatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Forbes
28-04-2025
- Forbes
Second Chances, Stronger Teams: Leadership Lessons From Prison
April is Second Chance Month, a national effort to recognize the importance of giving people with criminal records a fair opportunity to rebuild their lives. But it's also a chance for leaders—of companies, communities, and families—to examine our own beliefs about talent, trust, and what it means to grow. I have had the rare privilege of volunteering inside York Correctional Institution, a women's prison in Connecticut. I joined Defy Ventures, a national nonprofit that equips incarcerated individuals with the tools, mindsets, and support to succeed as entrepreneurs and leaders. The women of York Correctional Facility have a lot to teach us about leadership. The people I met through Defy's in-prison program taught me lessons about leadership as potent as any business school course or retreat. Their lessons were raw, real, and—if we're willing to learn from them—deeply relevant to how we build stronger individuals, teams, and organizations. The women in this program have made serious mistakes. Some are serving long sentences. But they've also made a different kind of choice—one to reflect, to forgive, and to rebuild. One participant had become an expert in creating full meals using a paper bag, chip wrappers, and a hair dryer. Another aspired to launch a funeral transportation business for underserved families. A third hoped to be chosen to give the graduation speech at the end of her cohort's entrepreneurship training. They each displayed what psychologists call a 'growth mindset,' paired with extraordinary resilience. In a world that often values speed and scale, their commitment to self-awareness, creative expression, and joy—even behind bars—was a powerful reminder: leadership begins with how we lead ourselves. When we talk about diversity of thought, we rarely imagine a prison gymnasium full of women in khaki uniforms, brainstorming mobile party planning businesses or repair services. And yet, what I witnessed was some of the most inspiring collaboration I've ever seen. The mutual support and collaboration among the Defy participants is a model for any team. These women practice active listening. They build each other up. They share real-time feedback with a spirit of generosity and accountability. It's the kind of culture every team claims to want—and few actually build. Great leadership isn't about charisma or control. It's about creating the conditions for creativity, trust, and shared growth. And that's exactly what Defy fosters inside the walls of correctional facilities. One of the most important leadership mindsets is long-term thinking. And there's perhaps no more powerful long-term investment than the one Defy is making in people who society often writes off. Nearly one in three Americans has a criminal record, according to the Brennan Center. And recidivism remains a costly challenge: within three years of release, two-thirds of people are rearrested, contributing to $80 billion annually in incarceration-related spending in the U.S. alone. But with the right interventions, that pattern breaks. Defy Ventures' graduates have a recidivism rate up to 85% lower than the national average, and 90% find employment within 90 days of release. Many launch small businesses—over 200 to date—significantly outperforming typical reentry outcomes. These are not outliers—they are untapped assets. If you care about performance, equity, or social impact, second chances are not charity—they're strategy. Over 200 Defy graduates have started small businesses. What I saw at York wasn't a feel-good field trip. It was a profound reminder that potential is everywhere—and that the systems we design, fund, and lead can either unlock or suppress it. Second Chance Month challenges us to ask not just who deserves another shot, but also what kind of leaders we want to be. The women I met may have made mistakes, and lost years of their lives. But they have not lost their capacity to lead—with clarity, courage, and commitment. As executives and employers, we can choose to see that potential—not just in them, but in everyone we meet.
Associated Press
28-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
A 'We the Pizza' Book Tour Stop in West Philly - A Conversation with Muhammad Abdul-Hadi of Down North Pizza
Booker's Restaurant Closes Second Chance Month with a Conversation About Redemption and the Impact Returning Citizens Make on Businesses and the Community 'Over 400,000 Philadelphians have returned home from prison. Our goal is to show examples of what is possible when given tools, inspiration and a pathway to successful reentry into our communities'— Tracey D. Syphax PHILADELPHIA, PA, PA, UNITED STATES, April 28, 2025 / / -- As part of April National Second Chance Month, which recognizes the importance of helping the formerly incarcerated successfully reenter society after prison, Booker's Restaurant & Bar and the Bayou Lounge will host James Beard Leadership Award winner Muhammad Abdul-Hadi, the founder of Down North Pizza, on Wednesday, April 30 at 6 p.m. for a dinner, Q & A, and book signing. The event will be hosted by moderator and Booker's owner Tracey Syphax. Abdul-Hadi's mission-driven, award-winning pizza spot in Strawberry Mansion exclusively hires formerly incarcerated people and serves up pizzas with a purpose by providing crucial resources such as housing options and mental health support to help reduce recidivism. Muhammed recently published a cookbook entitled We the Pizza: Slangin' Pies and Savin' Lives, which offers recipes for the tender, crispy-edged, square-cut, sauce-on-top pies that are Down North's signature menu item, and provides historical information about incarceration in the U.S. along with empowering stories from Down North's formerly incarcerated staff. The dinner will include Booker's appetizers, assorted desserts and of course, pizzas. Here's the pizza portion of the menu: No Betta Love - 4 Cheese + Norf Sauce Roc Da Mic - 4 Cheese + Beef Pepperoni + Norf Sauce Uptown Vibes - Kale + Mushrooms + Red Peppers + Red Onions + Norf Sauce Break You Off - Lamb Sausage + Lemon Ricotta + Za'atar Garnish + Garlic Honey Drizzle Big Head - BBQ Chicken + Pepperoncini + Red Onions Attendees will receive a signed copy of Abdul-Hadi's book as well. The dinner costs $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and can be booked HERE. Tracey Syphax is the author/entrepreneur/president/ceo of Phax Group LLC, a multi-million dollar real estate development company that purchased Booker's in 2023 with his wife Cheri. It's an issue that is close to his heart as Syphax was formerly incarcerated, and now is a recognized voice in reentry advocacy and leads many entrepreneurial workshops for returning citizens. 'There are more than 400,000 Philadelphians with a criminal conviction, who have the desire to change their lives' said Syphax. 'Our goal with these conversations is to show examples of what is possible when given tools, inspiration and a pathway to successful reentry into communities.' Located at 5021 Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia, Booker's Restaurant & Bar serves upscale comfort food with a Southern flair. The restaurant is open daily for brunch from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. To make reservations or learn more, please visit Cheri Syphax Phax Marketing Solutions +1 510-541-7736 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook X Other Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Cal State LA celebrates re-entry week giving inmates a second chance
The Brief Cal State Los Angeles hosted a resource fair as part of "Second Chance Month" and "Reentry Week," highlighting its Prison Graduation Initiative, which supports formerly incarcerated individuals in earning college degrees. A focus on life after prison. The month of April is "Second Chance Month," and this week marks national "Reentry Week." Cal State Los Angeles held a resource fair tied to the university's work on prison rehabilitation and its prison college degree program. In attendance were professors, a judge, support organizations, and a number of men and women formerly incarcerated. Some were Cal State LA students or graduates. The campus event was sponsored by Cal State LA's Prison Graduation Initiative. PGI is listed as the state's first in-person bachelor's degree program. It was founded by Cal State LA professor Dr. Bidhan Roy. One current student was there in East LA in awe. Tyson Atlas had only been out of prison for 12 days after serving 18 years, sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. His sentence was commuted by Governor Gavin Newsom. He's now finishing his degree on campus after starting it while incarcerated. Also in attendance with a booth for the program he founded, The Prism Way, was Allen Burnett, who has a similar story of freedom. He was in the PGI first cohort and was a keynote speaker at the program's last graduation at the men's state prison in Lancaster. PGI is described as fostering hope with transformation through education.
