Success Stories
The Second Chance Center
We’ve been able to develop our organization far beyond what we could have done on our own”.
The Second Chance Center’s mission is to help formerly incarcerated people transition to lives of success and fulfillment. In 2012, Second Chance Center (SCC) partnered with the Latino Coalition for Community Leadership (LCCL) on a U.S. Department of Labor grant serving young adults at risk of recidivism. The grant funding allowed their Executive Director, Hassan Latif, to park his “mobile unit” and establish an office as well as hire two staff. Their collective experience as “criminal justice insiders” represented over 75 years of incarceration. They all knew first hand the obstacles of returning back to community and learned how to successfully navigate those challenges. SCC’s performance consistently meets or exceeds the metrics set and have measurable impact on their community.
Mr. Latif shares “of course the money is great, but the LCCL’s capacity building and technical assistance has been far more valuable. We’ve been able to develop our organization far beyond what we could have done on our own. We’ve gone from a staff of 3 to 10 with many volunteers and partnerships throughout the community. The organizational foundation we’ve developed has positioned us to build a 50 unit apartment complex with onsite services slated to break ground later this year. The LCCL has played a key role is helping us help our community”.
The Rock Found
We’ve also been able to grow and strengthen our two social enterprises that provide paid employment, job training and soft skills to returning citizens.”
The Rock Found is a faith-based nonprofit organization in Greeley Colorado that provides prison ministry and prisoner reentry programs. They help people returning from incarceration to community, encouraging them and providing role models, relationships and employment services that bring opportunity and hope. The Rock Found works with each client, their case managers, treatment teams and the corrections pre-release group to create a solid parole plan that includes housing, work and support upon release.
Executive Director Cheryl Cook shares, “the LCCL not only provides funding but capacity building that helps our organization become more structured, setting up fiscal and program systems. We’re now able to track our programs and services, manage our performance and share a larger story of how we contribute to our community. We’ve also been able to grow and strengthen our two social enterprises that provide paid employment, job training and soft skills to returning citizens. Our partnership has really had a huge impact.”
Garden Pathways
The support we receive from the LCCL has made a huge difference not only for our organization, but more importantly, for the lives of the people we serve.”
Garden Pathways is a community-based nonprofit founded in 1997 serving Kern County, California. Garden Pathways mentors children, youth, and adults to build productive lives. Diverse mentoring and education programs lead families to educational advancement, employment, family stability, self-sufficiency, healthy living, and improved quality of life. Since partnering with the LCCL in 2012, their focus on reentry has strengthened, becoming a valued partner by local government in serving returning citizens.
Juan Avila, Chief Operating Officer, shares, “The LCCL provided funding that allowed us to focus on reentry. More importantly, they’ve been able to advocate for us in getting into local jails to conduct in-reach, teach parental leadership classes and facilitated stronger relationships with local law enforcement. The LCCL’s strong history of effectively working with law enforcement and returning citizens provided a solid foundation to build on. The access to local jails helped us develop productive working relationships with the Sheriff’s Department and an opportunity to do pre-release work. This really helps us connect with people prior to their release so they know where to go and how we can help. This gives everyone time to plan and coordinate rather that just react. The support we receive from the LCCL has made a huge difference not only for our organization, but more importantly, for the lives of the people we serve.”