Thanks to all our funders, sponsors, donors & partners for supported our #GAReentryAwarenessMonth2024 events!

Our 8th Annual #GAReentryAwarenessMonth statewide recognition was a big hit because of your support! Because of you, we were able to engage with hundreds of Georgians to provide voter education, assistance with groceries, bus passes and gift cards, provide networking and dinner fellowship opportunities for those who are justice impacted, our families and allies in, addressed literacy, technology gaps, financial wellness and the challenges to reentry for special populations (elders, trans, mental illness/substance dependence and those impacted by the sex registry). THANK YOU! 

See all July 2024 videos and recaps here.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Although our events are open to the public, they are aimed at providing public education not only to those we serve but to the community at large on issues that impact justice-involved individuals and our families such as the barriers to reentry, criminal justice reform legislative updates, employment and housing discrimination, voter disenfranchisement, expungements and much more! To see past events, visit our YouTube page. Please join us for the following events that we are supporting, sponsoring, partnering on and/or participating as speakers, panelists, tablers & or vendors

September 22, 2024. Atlanta, GA. 2pm-4pm. Our founder's film screening hosted by EMI Georgia.

September 22, 2024. 2p-4p. Atlanta, GA. RSVP by 9/17/24 at 11am to be added to the seat and food count. Screening & Discussion. Hosted by End Mass Incarceration GA Network. On Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 2p-4p, EMI GA Network will host a FREE in-person screening and discussion of Working in Captivity: A Woman's Quest to End Slavery in Georgia by our founder, Waleisah Wilson, who is also the lead of the GA chapter of All of Us or None that is currently campaigning to demand that Georgia change its current law that legalizes slavery for people who are convicted of a crime via incarceration and/or probation. The event is free and open to the public and will be held at Central United Methodist Church located at 501 Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. SW, Atlanta, GA 30314. Doors will open at 1:00 p.m. for a pre-function reception. The program will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m.

Please RSVP your attendance by September 17th at 11am to attend this free screening, hear the discussion on why the film was made, learn why prison slavery harms our communities, and connect with other like-minded individuals interested in ending slavery in Georgia.  Click here to RSVP. 

September 27, 2024. Columbus, GA. 6pm-8pm. Tabling at Recovery on the River Community Resource Fair.

We are proud to be a sponsor of New Horizons Behavioral Health's upcoming Recovery on the River Community Resource Fair.  This is a FREE event. Come out to learn about our services and those of other community organizations and agencies in the Columbus, GA area. 

New Horizons Behavioral Health is a non profit organization that provides comprehensive services to individuals recovering from mental illness and/or substance use disorders as well as adults living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Their services include : counseling, case management, medication management, intensive, family interventions, therapeutic foster case, residential services for individuals experiencing homelessness, integrated healthcare, rapid HIV and HEP C testing, sheltered employment, supported employment, education supports and GED assistance, veterans outreach and housing, referral services, transportation, community education, follow up services, recovery support and aftercare.

October 17, 2024. Hapeville, GA. 6pm-8pm. Mother's Healing & Restorative Justice Fellowship

In partnership with the Southern Center for Human Rights, Georgia Justice Project, Women on the Rise and Woman With a Plan, on October 17, 2024 from 6p-8pm, we will co-host a "Mother's Circle" for formerly incarcerated mothers. In a safe and shared space, this intimate gathering will provide attendees with an introduction of the concept of restorative justice circles, how they help heal and repair relationships between formerly incarcerated mothers and their children or nurture those that have been repaired.

Additional discussion will include shared challenges and traumas of being separated from their children, interventions of the foster care system, the challenges (and successes) of reunification and the journey of rebuilding the maternal bond after release.  

 This event is limited to 20-25 women (due to the nature of the discussion, no children are allowed). Catered dinner will be provided.

Registration will open September 23, 2024. 

This event has passed. Our founder moderated New Disabled South's panel about Disability, Reentry and Voter Disenfranchisement in the South.

On September 10, 2024, New Disabled South & New Disabled South Rising hosted "Criminalization of Disability: The Reality of Re-entry and Voter Disenfranchisement in the South". This 1 hour discussion feature info on the programs (or lack thereof) for formerly incarcerated disabled folks and the campaigns that work to return the right to vote to those who were formerly incarcerated. 

Waleisah spoke about her personal challenges as a disabled voter, a black voter AND as a formerly incarcerated voter and will moderate the discussion with a panel of voter rights advocates,  which included our HOAPE Coalition ally, Page Dukes. 

In case you missed it, you can watch the Facebook live stream at https://www.facebook.com/NewDisabledSouth/videos/832661872378541

This event has passed.  Our founder was a guest panel expert at NACDL's 23rd Annual State Criminal Justice Network Conference. 

In her role as board chair of Restore Georgia, a Georgia nonprofit that serves as a collective voice to advocate for Georgians impacted by the state's sex registry, our founder, Waleisah Wilson-Menefee, spoke on the "Reframing the Discourse: Shifting Perspectives in Sex Offense Policy and Legislation" panel where they discussed the critical issues in criminal justice reform pertaining to sex offenses and delved into the complexities, controversies, and recent developments in this vital area of reform.

In case you missed it, you can watch her Facebook live stream here. We are always proud of our founder's bold leadership, her tell it like it is approach and he ALL inclusive advocacy style. Thank you Waleisah for your advocacy and willingness to stand up against injustice and oppression of ALL people!

Past Events

Thanks to all who attended and supported our July 2024 #GAReentryAwareness Month events. You can see video recaps here.

July 20, 2024. Atlanta. Free Dinner & Fellowship for Justice-Impacted & Formerly Incarcerated People & Families. You can watch the video recap here

Congrats to Sandra T. for winning 1st prize ($150) in the arts contest & to Porshia for winning $25 for best button!

The purpose of this annual event is to emphasize the importance of formerly incarcerated people being in community with others with shared, lived experiences who have been successful in their own reentry! Peer mentorship is critical inside of jails and prisons and one released and has many benefits that include: 

1. Being a part of positive social networks prevent recidivism 

2. Being a part of positive social networks puts one in close proximity of positive role models that can also offer support in many areas

Activities included:

Catering was provided by Down Home Southern Catering, LLC. (a justice-impacted caterer)

This event was sponsored by the Cabbagetown Initiative, the Heising-Simons Foundation, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, Restore Georgia, Taking Charge Consulting, LLC., Pro Med Consulting, LLC, Beauty & Body by Egypt & Elysium Consulting, LLC. and was in partnership with the HOAPE Coalition and Page Dukes.

July 1, 2024. Ballots & Bites (Voter Education & Dinner). Columbus. 4pm-7pm. You can watch the video recap here.

Our #GAReentryAwarenessMonth2024 kickoff voter education event in Columbus, GA on July 1st was a success! Thanks to all who came out to hear about the great work we and our partners Fair Count & VoteRiders do to educate and keep citizens civically engaged, especially those with a felony who didn't know that they could vote (as long as they are not on paper). Special thanks to our board members Andrea & Kelton for attending, to KJB Designs for decorating the space, to our sponsors Heising-Simons Foundation, A New Way of Life and Pro Med Consulting, LLC. and to Down Home Southern Catering, LLC. for catering the event and to the HOAPE coalition for your partnership.

Just a reminder that the last day to register to vote in the General Election is October 7th, early voting runs from Tuesday, October 15th through Friday, November 1st and election Day is Tuesday, November 5th.

- To learn more about voting with a felony in GA, visit click here and  www.nlscoinc.org/voting and register to attend our July 30th virtual event "Voting with a Felony in GA: Reclaim Your Vote" here.

- Visit www.vote-365.org to learn more about elections

- Visit www.faircount.org/events for ways to get involved

- If you need a voter ID, and ID, birth certificate, marriage or divorce decree to support you in your effort to vote, visit www.voteriders.org.

April, 10, 2024. 3pm. Columbus, GA
 Goodwill Career Center 
(Bldg. B, rooms 2 & 3) 
2601 Cross Country Drive 

We partnered with the Columbus Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Fair Count, Vote Riders and GA Equality;s TransAction GA to share info with attendees about redistricting, absentee and provisional ballots, new voter laws and procedures in Columbus and in the state, voting with a criminal conviction, early termination of probation, voting as a trans Georgian and more that equipped attendees with becoming a more informed voter. 

July 30, 2024. Virtual. Reclaim Your Vote: Voting with a Felony in Georgia & Early Probation Termination . This event has passed. You can watch the recording here. Georgia Justice Project gave info on:

  • who can and can’t vote in Georgia
  • why you should vote
  • how you may be able to vote in Georgia with a felony
  • what to do if you are on probation
  • what to do if you owe fines, fees and/or restitution
  • how to vote if you are in jail
  • hear about how you may be able to terminate your probation early
  • how to get a pardon
  • how to request a certificate of sentence completion

This event was in partnership with Georgia Justice Project and the HOAPE Coalition.

July 17, 2024. VIRTUAL. 4pm EST. Challenges of Reentry for Special Populations. You can watch the recording here.

This virtual panel discussion addressed the inequities in accessing resources for formerly incarcerated people who are:

  • Older
  • Trans
  • Living with a Mental Illness or Substance Dependency
  • Impacted by the Sex Off***er Registry

Guest presenters:

- Chanel Haley, Director of Education & Community Engagement at Georgia Equality's TransAction GA

- Shanequa Bonvillain, Street Medicine Case Manager at Mercy Care & a Child of Formerly Incarcerated Parent

- Denny Chan, Managing Director of Equity Advocacy at Justice in Aging

- Tabatha Trammell, Founder of a Woman With a Plan

- Pete Profiteer, Board Director of Restore Georgia & serial tech entrepreneur 

This is event was sponsored by:

NARSOL 2024 Conference speakers announced! Our founder is the Sunday (June 23rd) keynote! 

Our founder and Board President, Waleisah Wilson, was one of the key note speakers at this year's NARSOL (Nat'l Association for Rational Sex Offense Laws) conference. Her speech "Where's the Mercy: Balancing Justice & Common Sense" engaged the thoughts of those in attendance of topics such as grace, mercy, forgiveness and common sense when engaging with, providing services to and integrating with men, women and children living on the sex off***er registry and addressing the barbaric, oppressive and counterproductive laws and policies that cause more harm to communities than keep us safe. 

The conference was sold out! You can read the summary wrap up here.

Planning for next year’s conference is already underway. It will be in Grand Rapids, Michigan, June 26-29, 2025. You can register with the Super Early Bird Registration price by clicking here.

April, 4, 2024. 9a-1pm. Columbus, GA
 
Day reporting Center
334 2nd Avenue

Board member Andez tabled at this event to share our services and  educated attendees who were on & off probation of their possible right to vote in Georgia. 

July 24, 2024. Decatur. 6pm. Reentry & Education. 

To address the disparity of access to education for people impacted by the criminal legal system and/or returning home from incarceration & the role access to education plays to a successful reentry, NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc. partnered with the DeKalb Co. Library for a focus group and discussion on: 

  1. Education & literacy (reading ability)
  2. Digital Equity (computer & technology skills)
  3. Financial Literacy & Wellness (access to banking and budgeting tools)
  4. Voter Education

Dinner was provided and there were cash giveaways.

This event was sponsored by the Dekalb Co. Library System, the Heising-Simons Foundation, A New Way of Life Reentry Project, Restore Georgia, Taking Charge Consulting, LLC., Pro Med Consulting, LLC, Beauty & Body by Egypt & Elysium Consulting, LLC. and was in partnership with the HOAPE Coalition.

July 5, 2024- Grocery Giveaway, Douglasville, GA. 5pm-6pm. In partnership with Blessings Working Together for their First Friday Grocery Giveaway, we gave away groceries AND cash gift cards to 10 justice-involved or formerly incarcerated individuals or heads of households. 

While waiting 1-2.5 hrs in line to start "shopping", NL-SCO, Inc. volunteers and board members informed them of their voter rights, informed them that Georgians with felonies can vote as long as the were not on probation and parole and gave them instructions and resources on how to check their voter status, their polling location and to register online. They engaged with over 150 people during that time. 

Special thanks to our board members, Waleisah & Shanequa, and to our volunteers, Meeko & Mr. Coffee for your commitment to give freely on this day to travel over an hour to make our portion of the event happen for those we serve. From traveling to shopping and assembling bags to unloading, distributing bags and engaging with voters, you all are very appreciated

This event was sponsored by Pro Med Consulting, LLC. & Kroger. 

You can see a video recap of the event here.

June 15, 2024. 10a-2pm. Atlanta (Mechanicsville). Board members, Waleisah, Chay and Shanequa tabled at New Georgia Project's F.I.R.E. event on Saturday, June 15th, in Mechanicsville to provide voter education and voting restoration info to formerly incarcerated community members. In addition to voter education, they gave info on voter disenfranchisement, facts to clear up the myth that a felony or fines, fees or restitution keeps you from voting in GA and gave info on how to cancel a voter registration to those on parole or felony probation who had previously registered to vote. #VoterEducation #RestoreTheVote

April 1, 2024. 8pm EST. 
  In case you missed our founder's April 8th's Impostrix Podcast appearance (S2E10) "Building a Career After Incarceration" where she discussed how she navigated barriers to reentry (including imposter syndrome), her career journey, starting 2 businesses after her release from prison and her work as a criminal justice reform activist and agitator. 

Click to listen to the podcast 

Click to watch on YouTube

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NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc. is a non-partisan organization. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed belong solely to the individual author or speaker, and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the organization.

NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc. is a fiscal sponsor and grantor of  All of Us or None GA- Atlanta Chapter by way of funding provided by a grant from Legal Services for Prisoners with Children. All contributions for All of Us or None GA- Atlanta Chapter received by NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc. are tax-deductible within the legal limits under NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc.’s 501(c)(3) status. Checks and money orders should be made payable to: NewLife-Second Chance Outreach, Inc. and identified as a contribution for All of Us or None GA- Atlanta Chapter in the memo field to ensure accurate designated account tracking

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