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Raising Awareness of the Challenges Faced by Individuals Returning from Incarceration

Free and Open to the Public!

Observe Reentry Month and Celebrate Second Chances

 

Resources for Returning Citizens • Speakers • Panel Discussions • Services • Giveaways

Find all of April's Reentry Month events on Eventbrite, including registration information.

Wednesday April 9

11am to noon
Gregory Singleton | "The Importance of Language and Word Choices in Reentry Efforts"
 
Greg Singleton is a native of NYC, having grown up in Aulander, NC. Greg holds a B.A. in psychology from Fayetteville State University, and a Project Management Professional Certification from IT University. He completed Paralegal studies in Corporate Law and Civil Litigation at the Professional Career Development Institute in Atlanta, GA. A 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Greg then worked for more than 21 years in telecommunications. In 2015, he relocated to Craven County where he founded and developed the Craven Pamlico Reentry Council. Greg has served on the NC Statewide Re-Entry Council Collaborative Legislative Implementation team, the Craven County local transportation advisory board, and Director of Community Workforce Readiness at Craven Community College, LRC Director of Reentry Operations, and the Dean of Programs, Workforce and Continuing Education at Central Carolina Community College. In 2024, he joined the NC Dept of Adult Corrections as a consultant for Reentry & Rehabilitation. In January of this year, Greg was promoted to Dean of Academic Programs at OIC of Rocky Mount, NC.
 
Where: Join us on Zoom.
 
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Friday April 11

8:30 to 9:30
Second Chance Friday: Employer Engagement Coffee Hour
 
An opportunity for employers in New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Duplin counties to learn more about Second Chance hiring, including best practices, financial incentives, and available resources. Meet with other employers that have earned the recognition "Second Chance Hiring Champion."
 
Where: Cape Fear Community College, 411 N Front Street, EWD Building (G Building), Room G-101 A,  Wilmington
 
RSVP: Fill out the employer survey online
 

Tuesday April 15

Second Chance Month Spotlight: Housing and Health Supports for Jail Reentry 

Hosted by The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center with funding and support from the Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs’ Bureau of Justice Assistance

 

Register: https://csg-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Wpmoqns-R7GjomrhT_VcLQ 
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025   

Time: 1:30–3:00 p.m. ET   

   

As part of Second Chance Month, the Housing and Health Supports for Jail Reentry webinar will explore the foundational housing and health supports that grantees can provide to support people returning from jail incarceration. This webinar will highlight how these housing and health supports can help break the cycle of incarceration and homelessness for people leaving jail and how participants can apply the Zero Returns to Homelessness framework in a jail context to ensure successful reentry.  

 

Zero Returns to Homelessness is a national initiative designed to help cross-systems partners build reentry housing systems that expand access to housing for people returning to their communities. Finally, participants will have the opportunity to hear from past Second Chance Act grantees who are successfully delivering housing with supportive services, including mental health, recovery, and employment support, to people returning from jail. Participants will also explore the types of resources that might be available in their communities and how to connect with the organizations who control those resources.  

 

Speakers: 

Thomas Coyne, Project Manager, Behavioral Health, CSG Justice Center (Facilitator)  

Stanley Frankart, Second Chance Fellow, U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance 

Cynthia Chapman, Program and Grant Manager, Department of Justice Services, Pima County 

Chris Anderson, Shelter Housing Coordinator, The Cornerstone of Beaver County (PA) 

Jimmie Wilson, Director of Recovery/Reentry Services, Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program 

Wednesday April 16

10am - 3pm
Local Reentry Council Reentry Expo
 
Free. Open to the Public. Walk through and meet our nonprofit partners. Attend a program. Grab lunch at the food truck. Stay for some or all of the day. We are glad to have you join us!
 
9:30 am Coffee & Pastries.
 
Visit with local nonprofits providing supportive Reentry services:
     StepUp Wilmington
     Coastal Horizons
     Brighter Start
     Pathway Home 2
     Mt. Calvary Center
     LINC Local Reentry Councils - New Hanover, Pender, Brunswick and Duplin Counties
 
11:30am T'Geaux Boys Food Truck: traditional New Orleans inspired cuisine and original creations
 
Where: Plaza on Princess, 410 Princess Street, Wilmington 
 
RSVP: Register on Eventbrite - Free. Open to the Public.
 

     Program time: 10:15am

Craig Waleed EdD, Project Manager/North    Carolina Unlock the Box and End Solitary NC  |  "The Crushing Cage"

Panel Discussion with guests Daquan Peters, Shari Tucker, and Joseph Jones

 

Dr. Craig Waleed, EdD, is a dynamic leader dedicated to dismantling the community-to-prison pipeline and advocating for justice reform. As project manager for Unlock the Box (UTB) within Disability Rights North Carolina, he spearheads the End Solitary NC Campaign, working to eliminate the use of long-term solitary confinement. Beyond his advocacy, Dr. Waleed is an educator, counselor, certified Restorative Practices group facilitator, author, and motivational speaker. His work is deeply informed by his lived experience, having spent eight years in New York State’s prison system. This perspective allows him to shed light on the systemic challenges faced by incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, helping to drive meaningful change. Dr. Waleed is also a prolific writer, with four published books: Prison to Promise: A Chronicle of Healing and Transformation (2020), Waleedism: A Book of Poetry, Prose & Proverbs (2021), The Journey Beyond: Post-Incarceration Success (2022), and Reclaiming Freedom: Short Stories of Redemption and Renewal (forthcoming 2030). Additionally, he hosts the Prison to Promise podcast, where he amplifies stories of
resilience, transformation, and second chances.

 

     Program time: 1pm

LINC Talks - Personal Stories of Justice-Involved Individuals

Featuring:

 

  • Kedar Brunson
  • Nyenetu Morlu
  • Jamir Jumoke
  • Markeyta Bostic
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Wednesday April 16

3:30 - 6:30
PH2 Community Second Chance Resource Fair
 
Join the community for resources and presentations tailored to justice-impacted individuals. Activities for children, food, giveaways, and more.
 
Where: Sokoto House, 1213 Dawson Street, Wilmington
 
RSVP: Please register by completing the community survey
 
 

Thursday April 17

     Program time: 9am - 10:15
Telesa Jones and Cooper Mertens, with Eyes on the Law | "Mythbusting Reentry: Addressing Common Misconceptions & Misinformation About Justice-Involvement"
 
When people hear "criminal record" or "formerly incarcerated," a lot of assumptions happen - many of them inaccurate. This presentation will break down some of the biggest myths about justice-involvement and reentry, from who gets caught up in the system to what life is really like after incarceration. We will tackle misconceptions about employment, housing, rehabilitation, and public safety, using real stories and data to separate fact from fiction. Whether you work in advocacy, policy, or just want to be better informed, this is a chance to challenge stereotypes and rethink what Second Chances really mean.
 
 
Where: Plaza on Princess, 410 Princess Street, Wilmington
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Program time: 10:30 - noon
Frankie Roberts, Executive Director, LINC, Inc. | "Trauma to Triumph"
 
Reflections and insights on incarceration and justice-involvement, the process of reentry, the challenges faced by returning citizens, and the changing role of LINC, Inc. over the organization's past 25 years.
 
 
Where: Plaza on Princess, 410 Princess Street, Wilmington
 

Wednesday April 30

10am - noon
LINC Local Reentry Councils | Reentry Simulation
 
Join us for an immersive, interactive experience designed to help participants understand the challenges justice-involved individuals face when transitioning back into society after incarceration. During the simulation, participants will take on the roles of individuals recently released from prison, and then navigate various tasks including securing housing, finding employment, meeting with probation officers, obtaining identification, and accessing social services. Participants will take away an understanding of barriers like limited financial resources, strict deadlines, and systemic red tape.
 
The goal of this Reentry Simulation is to foster empathy and awareness among service providers, policymakers, law enforcement, and community members while highlighting the importance of supportive reentry programs like the four county (New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender, and Duplin) Local Reentry Councils at LINC, Inc.
 
Where: Plaza on Princess, 410 Princess Street, Wilmington
 
 

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