|
REENTRANTS GET READY TO WORK!
The Graduations Continue For Reentrants
2nd Chance Indiana president, Jim Cotterill, and Marion County Adult Detention Center (MCADC) site leader, Doug Evans took this picture as they enter to graduate a class of incarcerated women, who have finished 2CI's job preparation course.
Caorrection officials are tremendously supportive due to the positive effect this training has on both students and the greater incarcerated community.
Another class was graduated recently, and the requests keep coming because of the positive outcomes for these reentrants, who have learned what employers expect from an employee, and what unique skills they might bring to a job. They are ready to be interviewed—all because of caring, knowledgeable and straight-talking instructors who invest so much in the success of each of their students. Congrats to all our graduates!
PICTURED (LtoR): 2nd Chance Indiana Founder & President, Jim Cotterill (who is not allowed to take selfies anymore), and MCADC Site Leader, Doug Evans.
| |
|
KEYS2WORK STAFFING!
2nd Chance Indiana Vans Transport Reentrants To Madison County Daily
Since September, 2nd Chance Indiana's Van Program has been assisting a group of reentrants by supplying two vans that take them to and from work at a Madison County manufacturer. They have finished six months working at RecycleForce in a transitional program of on-the-job training, classroom training, and social support. The non-profit staffing agency Keys2Work has found these men jobs that will allow them to continue to earn, save money, and help support their families, as they continue to build a foundation of financial stability.
We're proud to work along side of RecycleForce, and Keys2Work!
Pictured: Van transportation managers, driver, and supporters
| |
|
COULD YOU BE A MENTOR?
As Job Preparation
Program For Student Inmates Revs Up, Mentor's Needed!
As 2CI job preparation classes are increasing at the Marion County Adult Detention Center, Trusted Mentors is gearing up to provide more one-on-one mentoring for students.
We need willing volunteers who are trained or are interested in being trained by Trusted Mentors and paired up with the right person.
The classes for both women and men are expanding. So, if you are a caring person, with a heart for helping others, please contact us (link below) to explore the opportunity. We need men to mentor men and women to mentor women. You may meet with your mentee by video chat or in person, depending upon the location. Please consider coming along side a person who needs a steady friend. (You can do this!) Contact us Here!
| |
|
WE HAVE A LEADER!
David McElwain To Lead 2CI Correspondence Team
Starting in December, we are excited to announce, our new Inmate Correspondence Team Leader will be David McElwain. Although David is a consultant for churches, he said he is also interested in doing a job that is pure service. He is going to interact with our current Team Leader, Sara Cobb, and will take over on December 1st. He'll be introducing himself to the writing team and will work to communicate with them, encourage them in their work, and expand the writing team. David said, "Having had friends, family members, and fellow Christians spend time in jail and/or prison, I understand the need for, and importance of communicating with incarcerated people. I look forward to being able to make a difference in the lives of individuals with this great team."
PICTURED: David McElwain, Church Consultant, and soon-to-be Correspondence Team Leader for 2nd Chance Indiana!
| |
|
SURPRISING DATA:
The UPside Of the LockDOWN
It started in January 2020 when a COVID virus escaped in Wuhan, China. By April most countries had sealed their borders and we started to seal our homes. The rule was: Nobody in or out, except to buy food and necessities. Just two weeks, they said, but the lockdown was extended and extended.
Although it seemed like a good idea to slow the spread, there were some terrible side effects. Besides the economic disaster it caused, the lockdown increased mental health disorders and drug overdose deaths, set children back more than year in their studies, and pushed suicide to dramatic levels.
But, here’s the upside…
During lockdown youth crime decreased substantially. Damage to property decreased 23% and violent juvenile crime dropped by 24%. Apparently, when young people are at home under the care and auspices of parents or others in control, they don’t get in trouble as much. Keep reading Here...There are some very interesting findings!
| |
|
URBAN HOPE INDY:
Mentoring At-Risk Kids Dovetails With 2CI Goals
2nd Chance Indiana's Scott Whiting and Doug Evans met with Hanna Ray of Urban Hope Indy, which hosts weekly interactive youth meetings that impart important life principles to help young men and women understand their true identity and reach their full potential. The organization uses a faith-based approach with proven programs such as the “I CAN” curriculum and includes steps to success like sustaining a positive mental attitude, maintaining a healthy self image, setting personal goals and the path to achieving them.
Mentoring at-risk young people can change the trajectory of their lives and save many from making bad decisions that can lead them to incarceration. Thanks to Urban Hope Indy for all they do!
PICTURED: Urban Hope Indy youth meeting
| |
|
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 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.
| |
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!
| | | | |
