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Attention Returing Citizens:

Your Story Matters!

If you were incarcerated for (approximately) fifteen or more years and you live in metro-Detroit, we want to know about your experiences of community reentry. We will provide you with a camera to document your experiences, and your photographs may be used for social change efforts focused on improving the lives of returning citizens.

Participants will be asked to:

• participate in five meetings over a span of 6 months,
• take photographs in your community that represent your experiences of reentry,
• share and discuss your photographs with other returning citizens,
• assist in developing strategies for creating more welcoming communities.

Participants will receive:

• a digital camera,
• $175 dispersed across five meetings,
• snacks and refreshments,
• bus passes to and from meetings.

Location: all meetings will be held at the Mama Akua Community House, located at 2431 Ferry Park St, Detroit, MI 48208.

If you want to participate in this study, are unsure if you are eligible, or have any other questions about the study, please email or call Michelle R. Jacobs at michelle.jacobs@wayne.edu or 330-612-5993.

IRB #23-09-6147, 11/20/2023 – 11/19/2026 approval period, Wayne State University Institutional Review Board. Principal Investigator: Michelle R. Jacobs, PhD

The post Participants Needed for a Research Study About Community Reentry appeared first on Voting Access For All.

“I’d experienced trauma and made poor choices due to my addiction,” Terissa reflects. “I knew it was time to change my life, break free from the cycle of pain, and perhaps, one day, make a difference in someone else’s life.”

Terissa’s transformative journey led her to the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Sacramento, California where she found support and purpose. There she began her journey on a transitional work crew, dedicating herself to beautifying the very highways around Sacramento where she had once roamed while facing homelessness.

With hard work and dedication, Terissa earned her forklift certification and was invited to join CEO’s Advocacy Leadership Committee (ALC), where she advocated for critical reforms, including fair chance hiring and increased reentry resources.

Terissa’s commitment and leadership qualities were recognized when she was chosen as a 2023 advocacy fellow, allowing her to use her lived experiences to drive policy and organizing work for justice-impacted individuals. Additionally, she participated in the Emerging Leaders Program, gaining advanced career and leadership training while working alongside CEO’s departments. For Terissa, this transition marked a deeply satisfying shift.

“It felt so gratifying to become a positive influence for once,” she shares with a smile. “Sitting alongside so many individuals affected by the justice system, working towards a common goal – it’s nothing short of amazing.”

Terissa’s story is a beacon of hope. Her journey from tragedy to triumph serves as a powerful reminder of the potential for transformation and the importance of helping others along the way. Terissa’s unwavering commitment to her advocacy initiatives, including quality jobs, the Training and Nutrition Stability Act, the Clean Slate bill, and other vital public investments in reentry, is an inspiration to us all. Check out CEO’s website to learn more about how you can support these important initiatives to create positive change.

Join us in celebrating Terissa’s resilience and her determination to be a catalyst for positive transformation within her community and beyond. To read the entire post in full and delve deeper into Terissa M.’s inspiring journey of recovery and advocacy, please visit the following link: Read the Full Blog Post to explore her remarkable journey and discover how she continues to make a positive difference in her community and beyond.

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New Zoom Link Alert! Since November, we’ve updated our Zoom link for our Friday meetings. Please join by using the link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88251904317?pwd=RTJLZERsOHhxcm5kUDRiNURqWTBxdz09

Our weekly gatherings are pivotal as we advocate for systemic liberation, equality, social and economic justice, and the protection and expansion of voting rights within our justice-involved community.

Join us to reconnect with fellow coalition members, contribute your thoughts, and be a part of the collective effort to create meaningful solutions. Your participation drives our collaborative efforts forward, and we deeply appreciate your ongoing support.

Your insights and participation are essential as we unite to create significant changes. Thank you for being an essential part of the VAAC community. We deeply appreciate YOU, our valued community, as we collaborate, mobilize and unite to create meaningful solutions.

Let’s come together in our shared commitment to make a real impact!

#Community #votingmatters #Equality #VotingRights #SystemicChange #EveryBodyVotes #Vote2024 #formerlyincarcerated #secondchances #MIVoteMatters #MyVoteMyPower #MyVoteMatters

The post VAAC IS BACK: Join Our First Friday Community Call of 2024! appeared first on Voting Access For All.