Second Chances for One in Three
- Audryanna
- Apr 22, 2023
- 4 min read
Can you believe it's almost May y’all? We are almost half way through 2023; I truly can’t believe it!
Speaking of 2023, this next guest writer on A Graceful Space has had a profound impact on my year so far. This person is my mentor, my supporter, & my friend. I feel blessed to know her & learn from her in every capacity.
It's no secret that there are significant inequities within our modern day prison systems. Because of this, it takes advocates like Audryanna to fiercely & beautifully lead the mission to combat such injustice & encourage beneficial change & rehabilitation for those incarcerated.
With April being "Second Chance" month, I had to have Audryanna come on the website to share about what a second chance could look like for so many in need of one.
Please give her the welcome she deserves & read about this passion project she is a part of.
Audryanna:
A second chance. A fresh start. A redo. The opportunity for redemption, forgiveness, & restarting. While these are all reasonable associations with the phrase “second chance,” they aren’t always practical or accurate when we think about opportunities, pathways, & second chances for the one in three Americans living with a criminal record (The Sentencing Project).
Often, returning citizens (men & women who were formerly incarcerated) seeking a second chance after serving a prison sentence return to their communities & continue serving their sentence. Not directly or officially, but often indirectly & in a very streamlined way. Jobs that provide a livable wage are hard to find. Livable housing is hard to find. Education opportunities can be challenging. Inquiring about any of these basic needs often requires returning citizens to share & reshare & potentially overshare about their past experiences & how they ended up in prison.
It’s almost as if people who were formerly incarcerated continue to be punished over & over again, for a crime that was committed. Sometimes the crimes were intentional, sometimes an accident, & sometimes a derivative of poverty & the intertwining chokehold of social problems that plague many inner cities.
“We all want to be treated with dignity & have the opportunity to reach our full potential. After making a wrong choice, we want the chance to make amends & rebuild what was broken. Led by Prison Fellowship every April, Second Chance Month is a nationwide campaign to unlock opportunities for the tens of millions of Americans with a criminal record” (Prison Fellowship).
I encourage you to learn more about the challenges that those with a criminal record face in navigating basic needs such as housing & employment, but also to learn more about the plethora of organizations on the front lines working to address these challenges.
As someone who volunteers in prisons, I often hear other volunteers in conversations say that “the only difference between me & the person incarcerated is that they were caught.” I can’t help but fathom how true that sentiment rings for so many of us in the free world. Whether intentional or a mistake, one action should not define a person for a lifetime, but for so many, it does.
Humans, each of us, are evolving every day. We learn. We grow. We change our minds. We disagree with our past selves. We meet new people who challenge us to think differently. We read books & articles that offer new insights. We are not stagnant beings. Are you the same person you were at 17? 25? 36? Perhaps not. The same is true for many men & women with criminal records. There are so many talented & skilled individuals who are overlooked for jobs that could change the trajectory of their life & offer a true second chance, & I would argue that many companies are missing out on next level talent that could enhance & reinvigorate their organizations.
Below are some resources & readings for you to consider:
I am a firm believer in collective impact. There is no need for you to try and do everything. Matter of fact, if you did, your efforts would probably be in vain because you were divided so thinly. Instead, collective impact encourages us to diligently run in our own lane.
What are the things that you are passionate about? How can your strengths, gifts, and talents support those seeking second chances? Is there an opportunity to advocate for second chances in your sphere of influence?
Approximately, one in three adults has a criminal record (Prison Fellowship). As you navigate the rest of this month and the months to come, I challenge you to consider how you are contributing to adding barriers or breaking down barriers for those who are seeking second chances.
While April has become known as “Second Chance Month” there is work to be done every month. Recidivism rates can be lowered. Holistic re-entry is possible. A second chance should always be an option.
Websites Referenced:
Personal Bio:
Audryanna Reed. Storyteller. Writer. Advocate. Challenger.
Audryanna earned her B.S. in Hospitality Management from the University of North Texas to start her event planning career. After reading the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, she knew that she wanted to make a career shift. It was time to dig into the heart work. Audryanna now holds a Master of Liberal Studies with a dual concentration in Organizational Dynamics and Human Rights & Social Justice from Southern Methodist University. Audryanna is passionate about addressing the crippling effects of mass incarceration through policy reform and second chance employment consulting. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, trying new restaurants, and checking out Dallas’ latest events.
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