News & Insights

In his recently published book, Prisons of Creativity , Dr. John R. Whitman advances a bold thesis: incarcerated individuals are not just inmates—they are untapped creators whose artistic contributions can benefit society at large . Drawing on historical precedent, constitutional law, and programmatic case studies, Dr. Whitman challenges us to reimagine prisons not merely as detention centers, but as incubators of creative value. Creativity During Incarceration: Why It Matte

For justice-involved individuals returning to their communities, the road to stability can be filled with barriers—especially when it comes to employment. A criminal record often limits job opportunities, leading many to feel locked out of traditional career paths. But there’s a growing movement to change that narrative and Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) programs can play a big part. CDL licensing opens the door to a promising, livable-wage career path in the transportatio

The United Kingdom, America’s one time rival and longtime ally, bears some similarities to its former colony.

Reintegrating into society after a period of incarceration can be a daunting challenge, especially when it comes to securing employment. While fair chance hiring is on the rise, most employers are apprehensive about hiring people with a criminal record. For justice-involved individuals, opportunities to secure meaningful employment with long-term career growth are extremely limited. Systemic barriers to employment have led many justice-involved individuals to pursue busine

Access to transportation represents a significant yet frequently underestimated obstacle for returning citizens. The general challenges of reentry are made even more difficult by unreliable and limited transportation options. This additional barrier heightens vulnerability and contributes to persistent unemployment and homelessness, increasing the risk of recidivism. The ability to secure meaningful employment is already severely restricted for individuals with a criminal rec

Discrimination in financial services is a huge problem for millions of formerly incarcerated individuals, and especially impacts people...

The media continues to shine a light on the financial challenges formerly incarcerated people face. American Banker recently published an article focusing on fintech banking solutions that have been developed to address some of these needs. First Step Alliance was featured as a non-profit organization helping advance financial independence and economic mobility for formerly incarcerated individuals. First Step Alliance is an approved membership association for Diverge, a Pr

The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) has extended its approval for a new charter application to the Organizing Members of...

There has been an increasing focus on systemic discrimination in accessing mainstream financial services for formerly incarcerated people...