Leonard Manzella’s CAGES January 19-29th While counseling mentally ill patients in a corrupt prison system, a psychologist is challenged to evaluate his own life by the very inmates he came to help. When Dr. Tom Morri returns to the prison he had previously been terminated from, he begins to see the system – and himself […]
Read MoreIn 2016, with the support of Shield-Ayres Foundation, the Roundtable launched an Advocacy Fellowship Program for formerly incarcerated persons with lived experience navigating the criminal justice system and reentering the community. The Fellowship program was such a success that we are expanding it to include an additional Fellowship position for 2017. The new Fellow will […]
Read MoreWhen someone has been convicted of a crime and has paid their debt to society, then they ought to have an effective second chance in life. The ability to find housing is an indispensable part of that second chance. HUD Secretary Julián Castro In 2015, the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable undertook the task of assessing […]
Read MoreWe are happy to announce that we have a 2015/2016 Annual Report and new officers for the Roundtable! We would like to welcome the incoming officers in their new positions: Helen Gaebler, JD, UT School of Law – Chair Melissa Orren, Community Representative – Vice-Chair Sarah Pahl Worthington, MSSW, JD Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – Immediate Past Chair Reggie […]
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Three words that describe you: Child of God What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? Employment was huge, still is as I am in a temp assignment. Finding that one person to give you a second chance is very difficult and very stressful. Five hundred+ applications submitted, not one interview from any […]
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Three words that describe you. Tenacious, Loyal, and Empathetic What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? The perception people have of individuals with criminal histories and how difficult it is to prove yourself as a worthy member of society in the face of such critical and ignorant judgment from the general population […]
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Three words that describe you: The three words that describe me best would be trustworthy, honest and respectful of others. What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? My challenges when reentering were finding meaningful and stable employment, locating a support group for formerly incarcerated individuals, and facing my fear of the unknown. What […]
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Three words that describe you: Thankful, Honest, Humble What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? Finding stable employment that was decent paying and accessing affordable housing. What resources have you found most helpful for reentering? My family and God have been my number one resources; without them I don’t know where I […]
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Laura Sovine, Past Chair, Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable Planning Council Director of Operations, Austin Recovery What brought you to this work? While I was in graduate school to be a therapist, my mom married a man with two sons in prison; one was incarcerated in Georgia and the other was in Huntsville, Texas. My mom […]
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Kenneth Thompson, Member and Past Co-Chair, Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable Planning Council Fatherhood Program Specialist, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services How long have you been involved with the Roundtable and what brought you to this work? I have been involved with the Reentry Roundtable since about two years after it began. I […]
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