Onward Blog

Tiawana Brown celebrates opening of second home in the Charlotte area for women leaving prison

By JLUSA

May 17, 2024

Tiawana Brown (Leading with Conviction™ 2020) couldn’t stop smiling when she opened the doors to a second home in the Charlotte area for women.

Kimberly Haven speaks to EBONY about reproductive justice for women in prison

By JLUSA

May 16, 2024

“Individuals in the care, custody, and control of the state do not know ... their rights to care.”

JLUSA staff and leaders rally in D.C. for FreeHer 10th Anniversary

By Stephen Knight

May 9, 2024

Last month, JustLeadershipUSA staff and leaders participated in the FreeHer Campaign’s 10th anniversary march and rally in Washington, D.C.

DeAnna Hoskins in the New York Times: “It’s important for other formerly incarcerated people to see themselves in [elected office]”

By JLUSA

May 6, 2024

DeAnna Hoskins, JustLeadershipUSA President and CEO, was interviewed by the New York Times for this story. Get free gift link to read!

Jelly Roll opens music studio inside Nashville youth detention facility where he was once incarcerated

By JLUSA

May 3, 2024

Country music artist Jelly Roll recently helped open a music studio inside the Nashville Juvenile Detention Center.

Tracey Syphax’s inspirational story for 400,000 Philadelphians living with criminal records

By JLUSA

May 2, 2024

Axios Philadelphia recently profiled Tracey Syphax (Leading with Conviction™ 2019) and shared his inspirational story.

Ashley Furst on reducing recidivism in Colorado

By JLUSA

May 1, 2024

Ashley Furst (LwC 2024 participant) says continued contact their reentry specialists provide helps keep participants from returning to prison.

Philip Cooper celebrates the inaugural gala for Operation Gateway

By Stephen Knight

April 30, 2024

Last week, Philip Cooper (Leading with Conviction™ 2022) celebrated the inaugural fundraising gala for his organization Operation Gateway.

Keeda Haynes responds to federal court decision on voting rights for people with felony convictions in Tennessee

By JLUSA

April 25, 2024

A federal judge affirmed that Tennessee election officials cannot deny voter registration to eligible Tennesseans who have past felony convictions.

Emilee Shell fighting for voting rights for people in Mississippi with felony convictions

By JLUSA

April 19, 2024

Earlier this week Emilee Shell (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) spoke with media at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson following a legislative hearing.

Marlon Chamberlain on 4.1 million people in Illinois eligible for expungement

By JLUSA

April 18, 2024

“In Illinois, there’s an estimated 4.1 million people that will be impacted, if and when we’re able to eliminate these permanent punishments.”

2nd Annual Second Chance Freedom Ball

By JLUSA

April 11, 2024

The 2nd Annual Second Chance Freedom Ball—hosted by JustLeadershipUSA and the JustUS Coordinating Council—is taking place Saturday, April 20, in D.C.

Khalif Ali says “codifying voting rights … is a moral imperative”

By JLUSA

Khalif Ali (Leading with Conviction™ 2020) says that Americans “cannot turn a blind eye” to the threats facing the country’s democratic institutions.

Jessica Snow announces Flikshop’s new “Family Matters” reentry ebooks

By Jessica Snow

April 3, 2024

Jessica Snow (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) is the Vice President of Operations at Flikshop.

Savvy Shabazz says “post-incarceration syndrome”—PICS—is real

By JLUSA

April 2, 2024

Savvy Shabazz (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) educates people and organizations about “post-incarceration syndrome” (PICS).

Yasmine Arrington highlighted as a “Drew Gooder” on The Drew Barrymore Show

By JLUSA

March 29, 2024

Yasmine Arrington (Leading with Conviction™ 2019) was featured March 20 on The Drew Barrymore Show as a “Drew Gooder.” Watch now!