PANEL OF EXPERTS:

Exploring the Benefits Of Hiring Reentrants

At last count, there were 137,000 job openings in Indiana. Manufacturers and service companies are desperate for good employees to fill their labor needs, so it's time to open minds and hearts to the untapped workforce that exists in every county in Indiana: The reentry pool. There are many benefits of hiring justice-involved individuals, the most obvious of all being availability.

On Monday, August 25th Conscious Capitalism's Untapped Workforce event will feature a panel of speakers (including 2nd Chance Indiana's Jim Cotterill) exploring the benefits–both social and economic–of hiring reentrants. You'll learn that justice-involved people are an under-utilized asset that can restore a company labor pool to full capacity with willing workers, anxious for a chance at a better life.

This event is open to the public with a $10 event fee. Snacks and beverages are provided. Second Helpings is located at 1121 Southeastern Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46202. If you can, please bring a bag of white rice to donate to the great work done at Second Helpings! Check out The QR code above or the link Here for more information. See you there!

TO WORK AND BACK:

Reentrants in DeKalb, Noble, & Huntington Counties Need a Lift 

Around 75% of incarcerated people suffer from substance use disorder, and their long-term success after release is dependent upon help to find housing, work, and quality recovery services. Recently, 2nd Chance Indiana's Molly Oliver and Stephanie Emrie had the opportunity to meet with Andrew Foster, founder of Inspiration Ministries, an organization that provides certified recovery services, as well as 12 houses that maintain 180 beds for reentrants with substance use disorder in DeKalb, Noble, and Huntington Counties in the far north-east corner of Indiana. The ministry has graduated 147 people from its program since 2020, and has an amazing low overall recidivism rate of 10%. They are transforming lives with a mission to reduce substance use, recidivism, and poverty by offering holistic support to individuals and families in need. 2nd Chance Indiana will be available to help with transporting their clients to and from work, critical to their ability to get and keep a job, which builds stronger families, communities, and our state as a whole. More news on this to come! 

PHOTO: Inspiration Ministries event.

DECARCERATION:

Reducing Indiana's Prison Population

Between 1972 and 2009, the U.S. prison population grew by almost 700%, to more than 2 million people. Since then, the population has actually reduced to around 1.25 million. That big drop was caused by only nine states, and it did not include Indiana. Those states really looked at how to safely and humanely reduce the prison population they were paying for. Alaska reduced the prison population by 43%, New York, 40%, Alabama, 34%, etc. 

How? Here's how: 29 states, including the top nine, enacted reforms to 1) Reduce mandatory minimum sentence requirements; 2) Support initiatives like reducing parole revocations; 3) Establish treatment courts for drug offenders, and 4) Develop alternative incarceration options for nonviolent offenders. Meanwhile, Indiana, too, has made some changes, but we could do so much more. Get the whole story Here!

INDYGO FOUNDATION:

Helping Reentrants Get To Work On A Bus

Without transportation, most reentrants can't keep a job, which is why 2nd Chance Indiana focuses a lot of its efforts on providing the rides to and from work for reentrants. As a nonprofit member of the IndyGo Foundation discount fare program, 2CI's Molly Oliver and Stephanie Emrie met with IndyGo's Program Manager, Jennifer Griggs, to find ways to better acquaint reentrants with using the bus system. They discussed ways to train bus users to plan trips and eventually move from paper passes to using the MyKey app, which allows them to maintain a virtual bus pass. We are proud to be working with another stellar organization that provides needed assistance to members of our community.

PICTURED (LtoR): Stephanie Emrie, 2nd Chance Indiana's Transportation Coordinator, Jennifer Griggs, IndyGo's Program Manager, and Molly Oliver, 2nd Chance Indiana's Director of Transportation.

FOR SALE:

More Room Needed!

2nd Chance Indiana's home at 241 West 38th Street has become too small for the growing demands of a state-wide organization. So, although we'll miss our first home, we are excited to position 2CI for a future that will help more people across Indiana who are ready for a better life after incarceration. We don't know where we'll land next, but we'll keep you informed! Find out more about the building Here! Or Call Jake at 888-557-8079!