Onward Blog

Simone Price on the importance of providing financial assistance to formerly incarcerated people after reentry

By JLUSA

August 4, 2025

“We got together with several other organizations and found private funding to launch the Returning Citizen Stimulus.”

Chain-Gang All-Stars awarded second annual Inside Literary Prize, judged by currently incarcerated people

By JLUSA

August 1, 2025

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah’s Chain-Gang All-Stars was recently awarded the second annual Inside Literary Prize.

Shaka Senghor shares his story on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast

By JLUSA

July 30, 2025

According to Newsweek, Joe Rogan “received backlash online” for featuring formerly incarcerated author Shaka Senghor on his podcast recently.

Robyn Hasan-Simpson on the importance of diversion programs in Atlanta

By JLUSA

July 28, 2025

“We continue to punish many of the most vulnerable individuals for the crime of, in essence, being poor in public.”

Michael Saine responds to social media uproar that led to the first VFW post inside a prison being shut down

By JLUSA

July 25, 2025

Michael Saine (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) “It was my severe displeasure to read about the closure of the first VFW post inside a prison facility.”

Calvin Duncan spent 28 years in prison on a wrongful conviction. In his new book The Jailhouse Lawyer, he shares his story

By JLUSA

July 23, 2025

“As a jailhouse lawyer, we provided assistance to everybody that we determined that was not afforded a fair trial.”

Judith Negron on reclaiming and redefining your purpose after reentry

By JLUSA

July 21, 2025

Judith Negron (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) proves that reentry isn’t just about returning—it’s about reclaiming and redefining your purpose.

Brittany Lovely on Ten Years Home

By Brittany Lovely

July 16, 2025

Brittany Lovely (Leading with Conviction™ 2022) writes, “I built a new life, but I will not stop there. I will continue to build ...”

Joshua Hoe on how to create meaningful change in a divided America

July 14, 2025

Josh Hoe (Leading with Conviction™ 2021), Senior Policy Manager for Dream.Org, talks politics as “the art of the possible.”

Timothy Burgess on Vermont’s Corrections Monitoring Commission ending after just three years

By JLUSA

July 9, 2025

Timothy Burgess (Leading with Conviction™ 2023) served as the group’s co-chair until it ended on July 1.

JustLeadershipUSA decries the Congressional passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

By JLUSA

July 7, 2025

Last week’s decision is a devastating cut to key resources for satisfying basic human needs. In response, JustLeadershipUSA issued this statement.

Oswald Newbold on “The Strength of Healed Wounds”

By JLUSA

In this powerful episode of the Breaking Chains Podcast, Oswald Newbold (Leading with Conviction™ 2024) shares his transformational personal story.