WHERE IT HURTS MOST:
Marion County's Five Troubled Zip Codes
According to the Marion County Coroner’s Office 2023 report, more than 220 people were shot and killed in Marion County last year. The agency also reported that nearly half of those firearm-related homicides happened in the same five zip codes.
|
|
Let's look at some history: In 2021 there were 271 Marion Co. homicides, in 2022, it dropped to 226, a 15% decrease. Unfortunately, the decrease for 2023 is only .02% from the prior year. Coroner, Leandrea J.M. Sloan reports the five zip codes, 46218, 46226, 46235, 46201, and 46208, are home to half the total homicides reported for 2023. But the data is useful and the department is hopeful that this information will help to bring needed resources and funding to the neighborhoods and zip codes that require the most help in controlling and reducing gun violence.
Photo: Marion County Coroner, Leandrea J.M. Sloan; Zip Code graphic courtesy of WXIN Fox 59
|
|
RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION:
RecycleForce Takes Another Step to Support
Reentry Success
For many years, RecycleForce and its founder, Gregg Keesling have been providing meaningful work for folks coming out of incarceration. The company has needed and used vans to get released folks to and from work in the past, but without funding help, transportation efforts were unsustainable, and those who could not get back and forth to work eventually lost their jobs.
So, to turn things around, 2nd Chance Indiana’s Molly Oliver and Scott Whiting proposed a van transportation effort that could succeed to help some of the 6,800 justice involved individuals employed through RecycleForce each year. Plans are in the works and the future looks a lot brighter for many who want a sustainable job on which to build a better life.
Photo (LtoR): Calvin Houston, RecycleForce Program Director; 2nd Chance Indiana's Director of Transportation Molly Oliver; and Vice President Scott Whiting; Gregg Keesling, Founder and President of RecycleForce.
|
|
LOVE IS ALL THERE IS:
2CI Team Gathers To Self-Inspect
The work we do to help reentrants gain meaningful employment involves an ever-evolving self examination of how we interact with reentrants. The question always is: How can we better support and encourage them as they go through the often difficult transition of reentry. So, we brought just about the whole 2CI crew in to refine our efforts.
Out of this meeting came new ways to use our data to communicate more often with reentrants, providing them with encouragement and the latest information that may help them in their particular situation. We believe that as we increase communication with reentrants, we can also more effectively meet the expectations of our partners, funding entities, and the community as a whole.
It is amazing, how our different backgrounds meld into the same goal: Always, "To reduce recidivism and rebuild lives through the dignity of work." The meeting produced new directives which will bear fruit that you and others will be able to use in the near future!
Photo (LtoR): 2nd Chance Indiana (2CI) Sherry Jackson, Director of Administration, Phil Moore, 2CI Marion County Reentry Job Counselor; Molly Oliver, 2CI Director of Transportation; Scott Whiting, 2CI Vice President; Nancy Cotterill, 2CI Executive V.P; Jim Cotterill, 2CI President; and Doug Evans, Marion County Adult Detention Center Site Leader. See 2CI's complete team Here.
|
|
NEW EMPLOYMENT PARTER:
Interstate Business Solutions To Offer Jobs to Reentrants!
2CI's Scott Whiting and Molly Oliver met via TEAMS with employer partner, Interstate Business Solutions' People Operations Manager Anna Bunnell. The company employs around 60 people in Indiana who primarily keep our highways clean. The company does not do a background check, which helps our efforts in getting reentrants quickly into a good paying job so they can begin the process of building a future and providing for themselves and their families.
The trio also discussed the potential need for van transportation that would facilitate hiring of reentrants who do not have access to a reliable vehicle—a solution that can make all the difference for both employee retention and reentry success!
Photo: 2nd Chance Indiana's Vice President Scott Whiting; Interstate Business Solutions' Anna Bunnell, and (in the lower right corner) is 2CI's Director of Transportation Molly Oliver.
|
|
KIMBERLY SMITH!
Helping Reentrants Find The Right Job
Meet our newest member of the staff in the Reentry Room at the Marion County Adult Detention Center! Kimberly Smith works with fellow Job Counselor, Phillip Moore, and Doug Evans, Marion County Adult Detention Center Site Leader, to help reentrants with job applications and even a short career assessment that can help them zero in on what kind of work might best complement their God-given talents.
Kimberly also works with a non-profit effort, called "The Village of David" that provides care for underserved families and individuals, including daycare assistance, transitional housing, and services for the elderly. She also has a degree in Human Services and Paralegal Studies. We are so proud to add her to our team! See 2CI's complete team Here.
|
|
THE POWER OF WRITING:
That "One Actionable Thing You Could Do"
Strengthening a prisoner’s hope and self worth through letters and calls has emerged as a “major corrections and social services issue.” But what if no one is writing or calling? What if they have been abandoned by family and friends? Studies are confirming that communications with those behind bars can and do improve the chances for their success after release. Written emails and letters are a strong emotional support for an inmate, and statistically have been found to deter reincarceration. For decades, correctional facilities have been working toward the reduction of barriers to communication for prisoners, but they cannot "create" correspondents for those whose families have forgotten them.
Read the post: Here and consider joining our Inmate Correspondence Team, Here. Someone is waiting for your letter.
To search all 2nd chance Indiana Volunteer Opportunities: Go to 2ndChanceIN.com, click on "Join Us" and in the dropdown menu, click on "Volunteer"
|
|
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
|
|
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 can drive 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—as well as 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 tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community.
Many, many thanks!
*Unite Indy, Inc. 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.
|
|
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!
|
|
Did someone share this email with you? Sign up to subscribe to our newsletter!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|