After he pays his restitution, N.E. will give the rest of his Reentry Award away “because I won’t need to really buy anything for myself… It feels good to turn it into a gift for someone else. I prefer to only spend money on myself when I worked to earn that money.”
J.C. will help pay for clothes, diapers, toys, haircuts and Christmas gifts for two baby boys with his Reentry Award.
For D.D., the Reentry Award is like a “starter kit.” He explained why the award of $500 to help young people as they transition from living in a secure facility to living in the community is helpful: “Kids like me don’t have hope and we always think our current situation is all there is. The fact things can and will be better is far beyond our thinking. This is just an example of why we re-offend because we don’t have support when we get out. I would like the opportunity to feel like I’m somebody in the world and not feel like I’m nobody. It also makes me feel good to see that someone is out there trying to help me. This money will give me the motivation to work hard and to provide for myself… it will also teach me to help others the way I have been helped.”
This year the PbS Education and Employment Foundation awarded 12 Reentry Awards to young people from Idaho, Nevada, Montana and West Virginia who are returning to their families, group homes or living independently before the holidays. Their application essays show their big hearts, high hopes and challenges to paying for basic necessities. Most needed clothes that fit and are appropriate for job interviews, shoes and a phone card as well as supplies as they return to high school or start college.
J.G. needs hair clippers for barber school. “While I work, I’m going to be attending a barber school to earn my license to cut hair. I will be able to practice with the clippers on any willing family or friends… This award is the perfect start to my new beginning! Thank you :),” he wrote.
E.A. has plans to open up a podcast studio while going to school to tell people about what he’s been through. “You’re probably wondering why I’m giving you a run down about myself. It’s cuz it comes down to why I need the money. This is the first time I’ve done time and I have had a lot of time to think. I don’t wanna be like my father. Everyone told me growing up I’ll end up in prison or dead or be homeless. At one point I wanted to die. So I started banging harder but now I see I don’t wanna live life like this. I wanna prove everyone wrong and show them I can be someone.”
Congratulations to all our winners!
Thank you to the staff who worked with the young people to submit applications and distribute the awards: Shauna Dutton and Sydney Rodriguez, Juvenile Corrections Center – St. Anthony, ID; Robin Holthus, Landon Woods and Teza Holland, Pine Hills Youth Correctional Facility, MT; Trinette Burton, Summit View Youth Center, NV; and Domenico Esposito, Kenneth “Honey” Rubenstein Juvenile Center, WV.
The Reentry Award was started in 2016 to provide a little extra support for the basic necessities that can make or break a young person’s reentry. It is one small way to help break generational cycles of incarceration and the collateral consequences that follow. Donations make the awards possible – please consider giving today.
A reentry award recipient shopping for new jeans.