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TRANSPORTATION CRISIS:
2 Minute Video Tells An Important Story
American Rescue Plan Act grant funds will expire soon but through them 2nd Chance Indiana proved the success of helping reentrants to avoid recidivism with the help of transportation to and from their jobs following incarceration. Now we are searching for funds to support local van transportation across the state. Recent findings from G. Roger Jarjoura and Konrad A. Haight, Principal Researchers in the Human Services Division of the American Institutes for Research found that even a 1% reduction in the number of inmates will save taxpayers more than $1.55 million dollars. (Note that 1% is only 240 people. Over a few years, an effort like this might easily reach reductions of between 3% and 10%, or $4.65 million and $15.5 million.) Further, these figures do not take into account that instead of living in want and on government subsistence, there are now whole families that have regained a financial stake in the future, and have become taxpayers as well.
PICTURED: 2.2 Minute video. Click Here or on the video above!
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PARTNERS IN GOOD WORK:
Trusted Mentors Fund Raiser Is A Royal Affair
2CI's Jim Cotterill posed with Costeena Wethersby, executive director of Trusted Mentors, at a regal affair at the Bitwell Event Center on October 19th. Around 100 guests partied and raised funds for the important work Trusted Mentors provides. To add to the fun, many were dressed as royal figures, wearing crowns, gowns, and tuxedos. The event raised $30,000, which will help to continue matching mentors with at-risk adults, helping them to stay on track and out of prison. 2nd Chance Indiana was well-represented at the event, and a great time was had by all. Learn more about Trusted Mentors Here!
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PICTURED TOP: (LtoR):Costeena Wethersby, Executive Director of Trusted Mentors with 2nd Chance Indiana President, Jim Cotterill. GROUP PICTURE: (LtoR) Doug Evans, 2nd Chance Indiana Reentry Site Leader at the Marion County Adult Detention Center, and his wife, Cheryl; Nancy Cotterill, 2CI's Executive Vice President, and 2CI President Jim Cotterill.
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WORKING TOGETHER:
2nd Chance Indiana Partners With
SLED To Save Lives
2ND Chance Indiana's Jim Cotterill and Scott Whiting met last week with SLED President Charleston Bowles to find connections and opportunities between 2CI, which serves those returning from incarceration, and SLED, which specializes in helping those with the addiction and mental health issues that afflict many reentrants. Working together with SLED in this area, gives 2nd Chance Indiana a strong platform with which to assist those in need. SLED is an acronym for "Saving Lives Every Day." It supports a 6-bedroom facility called Corey’s House, that provides specialized treatment plans that can offer clients a new sense of revived direction. For more information on SLED click Here or Here. for more on Corey's House click Here.
Pictured: Charleston Bowles, President of SLED
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GIVING BACK:
Dewayne Whitney Joins 2nd Chance Indiana To Cover Job Postings for Reentrants
2nd Chance Indiana is blessed with caring people who want to help, and recently Dewayne Whitney, who has lived experience himself, has volunteered to coordinate and post jobs for 2nd Chance Indiana. Posting "Jobs Available" to those with a criminal record is a constant effort and the key to helping returning men and women get a foothold on a new and better life. Whitney has a heart for reentrants and wants to help others be successful as he takes on an important job that means great things for the people we serve! Thank you, Dewayne!
PICTURED: Dewayne Whitney, 2CI's Jobs Coordinator, and 2nd Chance Indiana President Jim Cotterill. Find jobs Here!
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MENTORS NEEDED!
Multiple Job Training Graduations
Held at Marion County Adult Detention Center
Led so ably by 2nd Chance Indiana's Doug Evans, our job training is attracting more and more inmates who are anxious to get a good job and have a better life after release. Evans, who previously spent more than 30 years working with state prison inmates, developed great concern for incarcerated people. We are so grateful for Doug! This past week he graduated two classes, one for women and another for men. Each student completed training and a career assessment test, so that they may not only find a job, but one that matches their interests and talents. But, these grads need mentors. To learn more, click Here.
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Longest Serving Female in Indiana:
The Questionable Sentence Of Sarah "Cindy" White
Indiana’s longest-serving female prisoner, Sarah “Cindy” White has been in prison 48 years for starting a fire that killed a family
of six on New Year’s Eve in 1975. The Johnson County prosecutor did his job, emotionally reeling out the damning story of a wanton young woman who had callously murdered a couple and their four children out of jealousy. She was described as a jilted lover who wanted revenge. But, there was much more to this story. The kind of facts that many think should have moderated the conviction that earned her six life sentences. She was 18 then and is 60 now, with a raft of health issues and a history of abuse. Read Nancy's post, and decide for yourself. Click Here.
PICTURED: Sarah "Cindy" White, photo by The Indianapolis Star
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Why Support 2nd Chance Indiana?
2nd Chance Indiana's team works to reduce recidivism and rebuild lives through the dignity of work. In the process we believe that our efforts can also have a profound, multi-generational impact by reducing poverty, crime, and homelessness.
Our major focus is to assist the thousands of inmates returning to communities across Indiana after long-term incarceration. 2nd Chance Indiana provides mentored job training inside the correctional facility, and a jobs website for those with a criminal record, 2ndChanceIN.com, which is filled with job opportunities and support agencies to help reentrants get back to work, support themselves and their families, and contribute to the economic improvement of their neighborhoods.
How You Can Support Jobs for Justice- Involved Individuals
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Support For Reentrants After Incarcertion:
Since 2017 UNITE INDY, now 2nd Chance Indiana, has provided a free web-based system, 2ndChanceIN.com, that connects those released from incarceration with jobs offered by our 45 employer partners, willing to hire people with a criminal record and pay them a living wage.
The site also offers a huge network of support organizations that can help with housing, drug abatement, licensing, clothing and so much more.
A good job found quickly after release from incarceration drives down recidivism about 90%, according to studies. Unemployment is connected to poverty, a criminal record, and re-incarceration. Our poorest neighborhoods contain many who have not been able to get good jobs because they have a criminal record, but 2nd Chance Indiana not only connects them with jobs, it also provides van transportation to many sites to help those who do not have affordable or reliable transportation. In some neighborhoods of Marion County unemployment is extremely high and poverty remains the overwhelming cause of violence and lack of opportunity for children.
You can help us to help a reentrant today, Here! To know more, go to 2nd Chance Indiana now. There are a number of choices that are all secure and safe. By sending your fully tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community.
Many, many thanks!
*UNITE INDY dba 2nd Chance Indiana is approved under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) as a Public Charity, donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170.
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Corporate Partners
A big Thank YOU to our Corporate Partners for their unwavering support which makes it possible for us to provide our services at no charge to job applicants and employers!
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