Author: Jerry Higgins, Communications Officer
Governor Josh Stein has declared April as Second Chance Month in North Carolina, a time to focus attention on the challenges facing the thousands returning to their communities each year after completing their sentences in prison and post-release supervision.
Having a criminal record usually triggers a host of consequences that most people never stop to think about. People leaving prison are starting over. They frequently need a place to live, a job and support to re-start their lives. They also need to find transportation and health care.
Reentry programs help individuals rebuild their lives and reintegrate into communities by connecting them with resources from government, nonprofit and business groups. The goal is to begin connecting them before they leave incarceration so that support is already in place and established in their home community.
The annual N.C. Rehabilitation and Reentry Conference, taking place at the Hilton North Hills in Raleigh April 1-3, will provide “Innovative Strategies for Success” to reentry stakeholders throughout North Carolina and others who support reentry efforts and initiatives.
The keynote speaker will be former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, the chief administrative officer of Movemental Ministries. Kilpatrick, now a minister and motivational speaker, brings his unique life experience of being the youngest mayor of Detroit, later being a convicted felon and then having his sentence commuted after eight years by President Donald Trump in January 2021.
Other speakers include:
-- Gov. Josh Stein and First Lady Anna Stein, both strong proponents of offender rehabilitation and reentry.
-- Chef Jeff” Henderson, a former offender who founded The Chef Jeff Project that changes the lives of young disadvantaged and system-impacted men and women in the Las Vegas area.
-- Adam Clausen, a former homeless drug addict and felon who received “compassionate release” under the First Step Act after serving 20 years. Clausen works at the nonprofit Social Purpose Corrections, where he coaches individuals as a certified life coach and fitness coach/mentor.
-- Kendall Taylor, who travels around the country speaking at prisons and schools, and mentors small business owners and youth to inspire and change lives. He created Salute 1st LLC to impact and build men of good character. He is also co-owner of Rock Soul Entertainment and has received numerous awards in the Charlotte business community.
Progress on North Carolina’s Reentry 2030 initiative that will strengthen the future of reentry in the state will highlight the various workshops. Workshop presenters include community leaders, government officials, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, community-based organizations, legal professionals, faith-based organizations, correctional professionals, law enforcement personnel, academics, justice-involved individuals and businesses representatives.
There will also be a reentry simulation that shows life and challenges facing a justice-involved individual the first four weeks after they leave a prison. The simulations have proven not only to be popular for reentry advocates but also government officials as they put participants into the shoes of those trying to get identification cards, driver license, housing and other necessities.
Click here for information on the conference.