As we prepare for the enrollment period of our Pathway to Progress Reentry Program and continue full-speed ahead with recruitment for our Growth Opportunity 5 project, I have been reflecting deeply on how we can strengthen connections, engagement, and momentum, not only for our participants but also for their families.
I have said this before, and I will repeat it: When an individual is system-impacted, their family is affected as well. They carry the burden of uncertainty, delays, complex bureaucracy, and the emotional toll of watching someone they love go through the justice system. Many are exhausted. Many are frustrated. And many have grown tired not of believing in their loved one's redemption, but of the systems that keep challenging it.
This is why family engagement cannot be an afterthought in our outreach and recruitment strategies. It must be part of our core approach.
One strategy that has proven especially effective, particularly with pre-release participants, is conducting intentional outreach to families before an individual returns home. Something as simple as a postcard, an email, or a personalized letter helps build trust, sets expectations, and begins a relationship long before reentry starts.
Imagine a message like: "Greetings, Shonique has enrolled in our Pathway to Progress Program, and we are excited she has chosen to take this step. Through this program, participants receive the support, tools, and opportunities needed for a successful reentry and entry into the world of work. We are thrilled to take this journey with her, and we hope that you will join us."
A message like this does more than notify a family member.
It signals hope. It signals partnership. It signals that no one is walking this journey alone.
When we build momentum with our participants, we also need to build momentum with their support systems. Many families haven't lost interest in their loved ones; what they have lost is faith in the system itself. Rebuilding that trust requires us to be proactive, transparent, and genuinely committed to a holistic approach.
As we prepare for 2026, I encourage all of us to craft reentry strategies that intentionally focus on the entire family. Participants are not alone, even if they think they are. Every person we serve is someone's son or daughter, niece or nephew, sibling, parent, partner, or friend. They belong to people, and those people matter.
So as we sharpen our plans for the new year, as we refine our outreach, as we deepen our partnerships, and as we renew our commitment to this work, ask yourself:
Are you ready to build a reentry strategy that engages, empowers, and embraces the whole family?
Because looking forward with purpose means making sure that every participant and each person in their support circle feels seen, valued, and welcomed on the journey ahead.
We are building momentum for 2026 that uplifts individuals, strengthens families, and transforms communities, and I am here for that.
Are you up to the challenge?
