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After jail, Selena finds herself “at the right place doing the right thing”

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This blog post is first in our series on the 48,000 obstacles to re-entry formerly incarcerated people face when they return to society.

As formerly incarcerated women try to reclaim their lives and their families, their quest for stability is jeopardized by tens of thousands of collateral consequences as a result of their incarceration. These barriers to reentry can be very discouraging to those who have been recently released from prison and are eager to embrace their newfound freedom. Selena, a new resident to at A New Way of Life (ANWOL), hasn’t allowed the obstacles she’s faced during her reintegration to throw her off track from achieving the goals she has set for her life.

Selena’s journey to reentry began less than a year ago when she was faced with a decision about where she would go upon her release from county jail.

“My cycle of incarceration started when I was 20 years old. I was in and out of the county jail for about a year until I finally caught a case for burglary; they gave me six months for it. That was the biggest case that I’d ever got, and it’s put me on probation for three years.

“I was struggling in between going back to my area, going to the hood, or going to a land that I never met, which was soberness and recovery homes. I wasn’t familiar with that, so it was really hard for me.”

Before coming to ANWOL, Selena, now 22 years old, had a few false starts as she struggled to find a stable living environment. There was too much temptation to engage in old behaviors while living with her grandmother and when she began drinking again, she was kicked out Shields for Families due to a DUI. Selena did not allow these instances to discourage her from trying to make a better life for herself and her son.

“I had to really grasp that I was out and that I wanted something new. I did not want to go back in. Because I remember being in jail and asking God, ‘Please get me out, help me.’”

She then joined Alcoholic Center for Women, where her counselor in the program directed her to ANWOL. Since coming to ANWOL, Selena experienced stability for the first time in her life and is learning not to let her past define her.

“ANWOL has shown me that there are so many opportunities in life. They motivate me to be a mom and fight for my rights. They’ve taught me that yeah, my past is my past, but I don’t have to wear it every day. I don’t have to be that person every day, and that’s a big thing for me.”

Through her participation in ANWOL, Selena has gotten involved with Women Organizing for Justice (WOJO). WOJO is a six-month training program that fosters critical analysis of the criminal justice system, teaches the history of civil rights movements, identifies barriers to social justice and provides advocacy opportunities to affect policy and systems change.  Selena graduates from the cohort in April.

Her involvement in WOJO has been an enormous help on her journey.

“My mom used drugs my whole life, so I didn’t really have a family, and I had to fend for myself. The women of WOJO have guided and supported me like how a mother nurtures a child. I am becoming who I am because of all that they are teaching me.” 

Selena also  joined All of Us or None, a grassroots organization that works to restore the human rights of formerly incarcerated people and those still incarcerated, which taught her about “Ban the Box” and her right to vote. She is now confidently applying for jobs and is excited to vote for the first time in the upcoming primaries.

Selena has not allowed her probation to cripple her, and in addition to regaining custody of her 4-year-old son, she is now confidently applying for jobs and plans to attend college so that she can eventually begin a career as a drug counselor. She graduates from Maxine Waters Employment Preparation Center with her GED in June.

“I feel like there was a reason why I struggled in and out of using. I went through such a hard time because God wanted me to leave that area of my life and the experiences that I went through so that I could help somebody else.”

Even though Selena struggled during the first few months to stay sober, her faith, ANWOL, and her involvement in programs like WOJO and AOUON has kept her motivated throughout her reentry journey. Her eyes are now open to life’s opportunities, and she is determined more than ever before to stay focused. She fought for her sobriety and continues to fight every day.

“I try to be as involved in programs as much as I can now because it motivates me and it reminds me that I’m at the right place doing the right thing.”

 

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The 48,000 obstacles to reentry

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There are 48,000 collateral consequences that formerly incarcerated people face upon release from prison or jail. These systemic and often life-long obstacles are significant barriers to successful reentry because they limit or prohibit people with criminal records from accessing employment, occupational licensing, housing, voting, education, and other opportunities. In many cases, these penalties are not even related to the crimes committed, and they can limit people with conviction histories in some surprising ways. Some of the more outrageous consequences include:

  • Denial of a Bingo Caller License
  • Denial of a Dog Walker License
  • Denial of Car Salesmen License
  • Cannot serve on PTA Board

 

Some of the collateral consequences unique to California include issues related to maintaining or obtaining occupational licenses, family/domestic rights, and access to educational opportunities and benefits.

The 48,000 burdens loom over the heads of formerly incarcerated people as they attempt to move forward in their lives. These people have paid their debt to society. Such obstacles to reentry create a system that ultimately jeopardizes formerly incarcerated people’s quest for stability.

In a new series on our blog, we will explore the impact that such barriers have had on the women housed at A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project (ANWOL). We’ll talk to new residents in the program, as well as those who have transitioned to more independent living. You will journey with them as they share the experience of reclaiming  their lives.

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All of Us Or None Year End Celebration

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All of Us Or None Year End Celebration

 

The All of Us or None year end gathering was a time for members of the Los Angeles and Long Beach chapters to come together for a meal and to celebrate the many struggles and accomplishments of 2017.

All of US or None (AOUON) is a national organizing effort to center and grow the voices of formerly incarcerated and convicted people and their loved ones in the fight to end mass incarceration. The national, grassroots, civil rights movement was founded by a group of formerly incarcerated people, including A New Way of Life founder Susan Burton in the early 2000s. Ms. Burton continues to chair the LA County chapters of AOUON, and ANWOL collaborates closely with the other chapters across California.

This final meeting of the year sparked a new tradition where the local All of Us or None chapters could come together to reflect on successes and highlight some of the individuals that always show up and contribute to the work. Whether it’s registering voters, making phone calls to City Hall, or coming to the Board of Supervisors meetings, these are community members going above and beyond to do their part to end mass incarceration and the inhumane treatment of our incarcerated loved ones. During the meeting certificates of appreciation were awarded to some of the most outstanding members of the Long Beach and Los Angeles chapters.

AOUON members receiving certificates
AOUON members receiving certificates

“The end of year celebration was an opportunity for us to highlight and recap the efforts of our student organization,” said Tanu, member of the Long Beach chapter. “It was also inspiring to hear about the work of so many others involved with building this movement and to also put faces to the names.”

In addition to the certificates, members shared success stories and updates were given on the organizations current campaigns like, bail reform and Assembly Bill 535, which restores the right to serve on a jury to people with convictions. ANWOL brought dozens of gifts that were distributed via a raffle. Delicious food was catered by Revolutionario North African Tacos and generously underwritten by Adam Vine of Cage-Free Cannabis.

“I feel that we should continue this on for the years to come,” said Ingrid Archie, ANWOL staff and Prop 47 Advocate. “With such a steep hill to climb to overcome those 4,800 state barriers and 48,000 federal barriers to reentry, it’s important that we reflect on our successes and recognize all of the hard work that our members do throughout the year.”

The meeting, which had opened with the All of US Or None pledge, which speaks to a deep commitment to second chances and supporting and loving each other, each and every one of us, ended with one of the great call and responses of the current struggle for justice and human rights, “All of Us?” Ms. Burton called out, “Or None!” the crowd roared.

The Los Angeles chapter of All of US or None meets at 5:30 pm the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Watts Labor Community Action Committee, 10950 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90059. The Long Beach chapter meets the 2nd Thursday of every month at Building Health Communities, 920 Atlantic Ave. Suite 101, Long Beach, CA 90813.

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First Christmas in 32 Years

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First Christmas in 32 Years

 

Holidays at A New Way of Life (ANWOL) are always special for our women and their children. This Christmas, Ms. Mattie, ANWOL’s newest resident, is able to experience the holiday beyond the walls of prison. She is one of the many women who thought they would spend the rest of their life behind bars.

Ms. Mattie, who was released from prison just last week, says that freedom is her gift this holiday season.

The stories that she heard about what life is like for those trying to reintegrate into society made her a little apprehensive about leaving prison.

“I really didn’t know what to expect because you hear all kinds of different stories about how it’s worse than being in prison,” said Mattie. “Then you think, ‘Well, why would I want to go home if I’m going to be more locked down than I am here.’”

When Ms. Mattie arrived to her new home at ANWOL, she was greeted by warm smiles and familiar faces.  When she saw some of the women that she served time with in prison she was overcome with emotion and filled with optimism about her new journey.

“I walked in the door and they all jumped up and started saying, ‘Aww Mattie! Mattie!’ and that made my heart so full,” explains Mattie.

The excitement and warmth that she was experiencing from her new ANWOL family carried into the next day when Mattie attended her first All of Us or None Meeting. Ms. Burton introduced Mattie to the organization and the members welcomed her with open arms and applause.

This meeting was the organization’s end of the year gathering where they celebrated the accomplishments of the year and handed out certificates of appreciation to some of the leaders of the Long Beach and Los Angeles chapters.

Gifts were also passed out at the meeting via a raffle. Mattie’s number was the 4th ticket to be called.

“I went up there and Ingrid handed me this big gift and said ‘this is a beautiful gift’ and I said ‘just being here is a beautiful gift for me.’”

Mattie (right) receiving a gift from Ingrid (left)

As other numbers were called, many of the other members that went to retrieve their gift, then gave it to Mattie.

“I can’t even describe how it felt. These people didn’t even know me, but they made me feel like I was one of them and a part of them,” explains Mattie.

In prison, Christmas is just another day for the women. Directors of ANWOL recognize and understand this and make sure that the women in their homes are able to celebrate the holiday. Every year, ANWOL residents and their children are able to create a wish list of items that they would like for Christmas. The gifts on their lists are donated by organizations such as Women of Compassion, Park Windsor, and Lincoln Memorial.

Ms. Mattie received everything she placed on her list, but the ultimate gift she’s getting this year is the love and support to spend the holiday with her son after being away for 32 years.

“This Christmas I have so much to be thankful for. I don’t try to look backwards because that time is over and I can only look forward to the future,” said Mattie. “I have people that are showing me that even though I spent all that time in prison that there’s still good in the world. There are still people that care and are willing to be there for you if you need them. This is such a blessed Christmas for me.”

All of Us or None members

This Christmas please remember your incarcerated loved ones. Your outreach could be just the encouragement they need to push through another holiday season away from home.

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