SUCCESS & REDEMPTION

Piper Logistics Changes Lives One Job At A Time

When a 2nd Chance Indiana team met with Piper Logistics President Greg Piper and Brandy McFarlin, VP Operations, they had a great story to tell.

 Piper has been a faithful Second Chance employer for 2CI from the beginning, in fact they participated in the 2021 study that proved justice-impacted individuals are as good as anyone at being successful on the job. 

Here’s an example of our work: 2nd Chance Indiana placed a reentrant-employee with Piper years ago. Since then he has risen in the ranks of the company from office clerk to warehouse manager in charge of an 800,000 square foot distribution center in Franklin IN. 

Greg Piper said that roughly 90% of their workforce has some sort of criminal background and they experience very low turnover, demonstrating the benefits of utilizing this pool of workers. These and other stories of success and redemption show that so many reentrants are ready for a better life. Find out more about the company Here!

Pictured (LtoR) Piper Logistics' President Greg Piper, and VP of Operations, Brandy McFarland; 2CI's Molly Oliver, Director of Transportation, Scott Whiting, VP, and Tyler Carlsen, Employer Relationship Manager.

THE PIPELINE TO PRISON?

The Illiteracy Problem

When as many as 75% of inmates in our prisons are illiterate, and 85% of juveniles who interface with juvenile courts are illiterate, perhaps it is time to take a look at how the inability to read impacts lives and increases the prison population in Indiana and across the nation. Most inmates are at least “functional illiterates.” They understand the words on road signs, but they lack the ability to read and comprehend written instructions or even a brochure. Many cannot fill out an application, and training them in any skill must be taught by hands-on example.

It’s not that they aren’t smart. Illiteracy is learned, passed along by parents who cannot read or write. Where did we go so wrong? And why do we graduate high school seniors who cannot read a book written at an 8th grade level. Find out more Here!

TURNING TRASH TO GOOD WORKS:

Our Partner, Interstate Business Solutions

Interstate Business Solutions has a strong, authentic, caring focus on helping reentrants succeed. It is a trash removal company that helps improve cities by having cleaned up roadways–more than 200,000 miles of them so far. Their Director of Human Resources, Michelle Sorenson met with 2nd Chance Indiana's fearsome threesome: Molly Oliver, Tyler Carlson, and Scott Whiting who regularly consult with important contacts. They forge relationships based on a shared belief that people with a criminal record deserve a hand up to success for themselves and their families. Lean more about Interstate Business Solutions as a Fair Chance Employer Here!

PICTURED (LtoR): 2nd Chance Indiana's Director of Transportation, Molly Oliver, 2CI's Employer Relationship Manager, Tyler Carlson, Interstate Business Solutions' Michelle Sorenson, Director of Human Resources, and 2CI's Vice President, Scott Whiting.

SEEKING SOLUTIONS:

Building & Rebuilding Men In Our Communities

How can we as a community rebuild men who are coming out of incarceration? That's one of the questions a panel of experts will address on March 8th at New Covenant Church. The panel will also discuss how we could develop a better societal effort to disrupt the "pipeline to prison." It is a pipeline that runs on illiteracy, under education, substance abuse, poverty, lack of family unity, and other issues. The full roster of the panel is not yet determined so look for more faces on the 8th at 10:30am, 4625 North Keystone Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46205, or watch the discussion live on YouTube Here!

PHOTO (LtoR): Brian Hudson, Sr. Pastor, New Covenant Church; Corey Jones, Educator at KIPP Academy and Pastor at New Covenant Church; Pastor William Bumphus, Founder of Jesus Inside Ministry; Jim Cotterill, President 2nd Chance Indiana; Dr. William Bumphus III, formerly Director at Wheeler Mission.

PLANNING TOGETHER:

Duvall Team & 2CI

Talk Training & Job Fairs, the Future

Marion County Community Corrections leaders at Duvall Work Release Center met with a team from 2nd Chance Indiana to discuss promoting employment and training opportunities for the residents at the center. New leaders at Duvall met with 2CI's new Employer Relationship Manager Tyler Carlson, along with 2CI's Molly Oliver, Doug Evans, and Scott Whiting. The group sketched out a short list of possible employers for a potential upcoming job fair, that included Dave and Buster's, Interstate Business Solutions, U.S. Cold Storage, and more. All these employers are committed to give reentrants and their families a real chance at success after incarceration. The group also discussed 2nd Chance Indiana's Winning@Work job-readiness program, a developing effort to instill confidence and provide skill development for Duvall residents.

Pictured (Top Row, LtoR) 2CI's Molly Oliver, Director of Transportation; Duvall's Jacqueline Coleman, Community Systems Coordinator; Ebony Lewis, Duvall Residential Center Manager. (2ndRow) Tyler Carlson, 2CI's Employer Relationship Manager; Justin Garcia, Duvall's Chief Financial Officer; 2CI's Doug Evans [not pictured], Director of Training; (Bottom Row) 2Ci's VP Scott Whiting; Phillip Covard, Duvall's Supervisor of Training & Accreditation, and Thomas Beeler, Duvall's Programing & Grants Manager.