The Re-Entry Journey: Attacking Recidivism

Life Beyond the Bars: How I help people move beyond prisonFor the past eight years, Diane Kahn has been working in the re-entry space, not as someone who has personally experienced incarceration, but as a passionate advocate and ally. As the founding member and Executive Director of Humans of San Quentin, Diane has spent the last seven years volunteering at San Quentin State Prison, helping incarcerated men earn their high school diplomas. But her work goes far deeper than education.Through her hands-on experience, Diane has witnessed the profound vulnerability and emotional intelligence of the people society too often writes off. This experience ignited in her an unstoppable dedication to share their stories, their art, their poetry, and their humanity with the outside world.Humans of San Quentin has grown into a powerful platform that shares the lives of thousands of incarcerated people through letters, art, poetry, and face-to-face interviews with people in prisons around the world. Each story shared transforms lives—helping those inside feel seen, heard, and connected to a world that has forgotten them.Most recently, Diane and her team launched a groundbreaking podcast that gives voice to both survivors of violent crimes and the individuals convicted of those crimes—creating facilitated meetings where healing, accountability, and reconciliation become possible. It’s not your typical true crime podcast; it’s about humanity, transformation, and the often-excluded stories that need to be heard.🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 https://streamyard.com...​

Antonio Sadler is a Product Manager at ViaPath Technologies, where his innovative projects are designed to support the incarcerated and their families. A returning citizen, Antonio transformed his life through hard work, education, and faith after serving 10 years in SCDC. His journey from prisoner to product manager fuels his passion for second-chance initiatives and tech-driven social impact. Antonio is a proud husband and father of two daughters and credits his family's unwavering support to his success. Today, he champions reentry solutions that build stronger communities and brighter futures.

From Prison to PropertiesDonald Hinton was born 1988 in a small town called alton IL he grew up without father so he was raised by the streets. The rappers and neighborhood drug dealers were the only role models for him, and he became what he seen and he ultimately went to prison for the lifestyle he was living. He ended up doing eight years for guns and drugs, while in prison, he had a moment where he realized he must change. If he didn't change well, then his son would be just like him. So he learned a new skill. He got out of prison and implemented the things that he learned.Five months after he was released, he acquired a property. Following that, he acquired another and another and now he's building his real estate portfolio and educating people on how how he went from prison to properties.

From experiencing incarceration as a teenager to pursuing a law degree on a full scholarship at the University of Memphis, Tyler Foster's journey embodies transformation and purpose. During his 6.5 months behind bars, Tyler became a 'jailhouse lawyer,' helping fellow inmates understand their cases and legal rights. This experience sparked his passion for criminal legal reform. Today, he serves on the Governance Committee of the Formerly Incarcerated College Graduates Network, works with the Jailhouse Lawyer Initiative, and maintains a stellar academic record. His mission is clear: to transform the legal system from the inside out, informed by his lived experience and driven by a commitment to justice. #inspiration #personalgrowth #motivation #overcomingobstacles #resilience #selfimprovement #empowerment #subscribe #transformation #lifelessons #thereentryjourney #journey

Robert was an associate in the Gambino crime family for 24 years. Got involved with the drug business and before long the drugs got involved with my business and went from the up and coming star in the Gambino crime family to becoming Robert the crack head.He surrendered his life to Christ my last time in prison 1997 and have been a witness for Christ my Lord and Savior ever since. He was in the witness protection program but not in it any more. Robert co authored his book The Witness, and did a short documentary about Robert’s life which won 2 awards at content 2024 film festival. You can find it on his website robertborelli.com. #reentry #journey #gambinocrimefamily #witness #christ #jesus

Kit shares his story of overcoming addiction and incarceration. Kit talks about his journey from growing up on the block and selling drugs to finding sobriety and building a new life. He discusses the challenges he faced in prison and how he was able to turn his life around. Kit also talks about the importance of education and finding positive role models. #thereentryjourney #podcast #reentry #prison #reform #subcribe #motivation #transformation #inspiration #personalgrowth #overcomingobstacles

Janet Lynn Garcia, a resilient U.S. Marine Corps Veteran, shared her compelling journey on CBN 700 Club in 2018. From enduring Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) to battling personal hardships, she faced abuse, family struggles, and a near-fatal accident. She suffered from her own brokenness addictions to alcohol, drugs, looking for love in all the wrong places, and on and off mental health issues and torments that never seemed to end. However, an event took place that allowed her to quit cold turkey and set her on a path of healing and wholeness. A transformative encounter with 'truth' marked the beginning of her spiritual development journey, leading to healing, forgiveness, and restoration. In the Marine Corps, Janet found purpose and now a mission to support women in recovery. Now pursuing a master's and doctoral degree with an expected graduation date May 2025, she employs a faith-based approach to empower women in peer leadership, bridging the gap between ACE and spiritual growth. Janet's mission is clear: guide women in breaking free from dysfunction, healing from toxic stress, and experiencing true liberation. The military never leave a man behind and in this case she declares, “Not on my watch woman.” #inspiration #subscribe #motivation #personalgrowth #selfimprovement #prison #reentry #secondchance #education #podcast

Trinese McDowell journey from being the child of a pastor to exchanging the college life for the streets. Trinese sits down with The Reentry Journey and talks about The ME She never knew #subscribe #inspiration #motivation #personalgrowth #podcast #reentry #selfimprovement #prison #education #jail

Barbara Baker, the Advocacy Director and Certified Peer Support Specialist at Keyway Center for Diversion and Reentry, brings over 25 years of unwavering dedication to transforming the lives of justice-involved women. As a passionate advocate, Ms. Baker champions alternatives to incarceration and tirelessly campaigns for legislative reforms aimed at improving the lives of justice-involved women. Having personally experienced incarceration, Ms. Baker's commitment is deeply rooted in her own journey to empowerment. Her transformative experience fuels her mission to provide the support she wished for during her early years. In her extensive tenure at Keyway, she has had a profound impact, positively influencing the lives of thousands of women. As a Certified Peer Support Specialist, Ms. Baker draws on her unique perspective to connect with and guide justice-involved women through their own paths of healing and growth. Her lived experience serves as a beacon of hope, showcasing that redemption and transformation are not only possible but achievable. Ms. Baker's advocacy work extends beyond the walls of Keyway, resonating in legislative circles where she actively pursues changes that address the specific needs and challenges faced by justice-involved women. Her tireless efforts contribute to reshaping the narrative surrounding incarceration and reentry. Barbara Baker stands as a living testament to the transformative power of support, resilience, and advocacy. Her journey from incarceration to empowerment has become an inspiration, guiding others towards a brighter, more promising future. #inspiration #motivation #subscribe #reentry #prison #podcast #journey #jail #education #addiction

Addict since 12. Athlete. Criminal minded. Full of entitlement, ego and fear. Emotionally and spiritually bankrupt to a completely law abiding godly being. I live right, I walk the walk, my energy is pure and I’m doing gods work. I’m just looking to make the planet a better place than I found it. #subscribe #reentry #inspiration #motivation

Family preservation and reunification Cynthia Simons is the Grant Me The Wisdom Foundation (GMTW) Women's Justice Director at the Texas Center for Justice and Equity, having joined the organization in mid-2020. Her passion for civil rights and justice reform stems back to the age of 16, when she graduated from high school and attended the University of Texas at San Antonio. That passion has since been fueled by a firsthand view of the criminal punishment system: As a formerly incarcerated woman, Cynthia works to protect women’s rights and ensure that women have access to resources and rehabilitative services before, during, and after interactions with the system. This includes the critical need for strategies that promote family connection and reunification. At TCJE, Cynthia works to end mass incarceration and support women and families who have been impacted by the criminal punishment system; she coordinates the Texas Women’s Justice Coalition in support of trauma-informed programming and gender-responsive reforms. Cynthia also holds Re-Entry and Mental Health Peer Specialist Certifications.

The Cell Experience Mr Robert E Holiday Sr. Known as DOC Holiday on the street of Flint Michigan born n raised.At 14 he lost both parents and this caused him to go to the street, he lived in the streets for 12 years. Before his last incarceration a personal encounter with Christ ( Genesee county) change his whole life. Facing life without parole as he went in , God allowed him to serve only 17 yearsHe been back home 13 years now

Jay Dan Gumm is the founder and President of Forgiven Felons, a non-profit that serves the formerly incarcerated. This ministry was birthed in the heart of Jay Dan while still incarcerated. He saw first hand how recidivism is a vicious and generational cycle and wanted to be a part of the solution. Jay Dan is also the host of top-ranked Background Check Podcast, where he interviews, people who have risen above their backgrounds including CEO’s, reality TV stars, as well as people who help people with backgrounds like Judges, lawyers, and State Representatives. Going back into the prisons is also a part of the mission of Forgiven Felons. Jay Dan also owns a small business called Whatever You Need Done in which he helps men with jobs right out of prison. While Forgiven Felons is only a reentry housing program currently, the vision being planned out right now will have vocational trades, social enterprise, social services, leadership classes, and permanent housing for persons and families with felony backgrounds. The mission of Forgiven Felons is to help people with a past realize their future. When he’s not mentoring men who live in the Forgiven Felons transitional house, sharing his story in prisons, or on the phone assisting families with the intricacies of the Texas parole system, Jay Dan spends his days running Whatever You Need Done, being a chaplain for an Amazon Delivery Company, engaging in activities with his wife Jessamy and two daughters, Jessa and Jemma, or cheering on the Pittsburgh Steelers to the demise of his Dallas Cowboys loving wife. Jay Dan has also been featured on the Mike Huckabee Show and Forgiven Felons has a documentary playing on Roku and Tubi TV. Social Media: Facebook.com/forgivenfelon Instagram @forgivenfelons Twitter @forgivenfelon LinkedIn Jay Dan Gumm Website: forgivenfelons.org Podcast: Background Check Podcast. Available on Apple, Spotify, Google, Audible, Amazon Music, and Edifi TV: Featured on Mike Huckabee Show Forgiven Felons: A Documentary Series. On Roku and Tubi TV