Bronx District Attorney (DA) Darcel D. Clark, together with officials from her office, hosted a fourth Bronx reentry, resource fair on Nov. 6, for individuals reentering the community after having served time in jail or prison. The event was held at Bronx Community Board 12 (CB12)’s office in the Wakefield section of the borough.

 

During the fair, Clark spoke to the crowd, thanking her office staff and various partner organizations for putting the work in to help the community. “I could not get this work done without the community-based organizations that believe in this work as well,” she said. “You are bridging the gap between leaving a penal institution, and returning back home in a safe way. So, I thank each and every one of you.”

 

The DA spoke about the importance of both incarceration prevention and post incarceration reentry to the community, saying that if a person goes away and pays their dues, they should have the support of their community when they come back so they have a better chance at success, upon reentry.

 

“By having this resource fair today, the message that I want to send loud and clear to those citizens returning home is that you have a DA that cares about you,” said Clark. “As much as I may have played a role in you leaving [home], I want to play a bigger role in you returning.”

Clark had invited three speakers who had previously been incarcerated and had successfully reentered society to tell their stories, and provide some inspiration and advice to the attendees at the fair.

 

Felix Gonzalez spent 18 years in prison, but now works with the Fortune Society, an organization focused on successful reentry and alternatives to incarceration. “You all came out here today to find the services that you need. That tells me everything already about you. That already tells me that you’re home. You’re a returning citizen and you’re interested in some type of change,” Gonzalez told the crowd.

 

Meanwhile, Sharon Nunez was convicted of criminal possession of a controlled substance. She is currently an outreach and recruitment specialist for Exodus Transitional Community, an organization that provides programming to people of all ages affected by the justice system. Nunez told the crowd she took every program she could, while incarcerated, to build up her skills, advising those present to accept help if they needed it.

 

“I took the help and the services of everyone when I tell you I have certificates from everyone. I have certificates from everyone because every little place that I’ve visited, and I have a certificate from, I gained a tool from, and I use that to my benefit,” said Nunez.

 

Antonio Hendrickson was sentenced to 22 years in federal prison, but since returning seven years ago, has founded the organization, “Lead By Example, Reverse the Trend,” which mentors at-risk youth and their families. He talked about his organization’s work and how important it is to get in front of a problem before a youth ends up in a bad situation.

 

About 30 organizations attended the fair, offering information about the resources they provide to people reentering the community. This included information about further education, job searching, healthcare, financial assistance, support groups, etc.

 

Perdella Jean Baptiste, senior care specialist with the Nathaniel Clinic, a counseling and wellness center located in central Harlem, offered information about the services it offers. The clinic is part of the Center for Alternative Sentencing and Employment Services (CASES).

 

CASES provides bail and jail alternatives, mental health treatment, and education and employment programs for youth and adults who are involved in the justice system.

 

“I’m advocating on behalf of peers, and sharing with them different resources that’s provided at CASES’ Nathaniel Clinic and yeah, what’s possible in terms of recovery,” said Jean Baptiste.

 

Proud to announce that my legislation w/ @JoinJoyner to advance workforce opportunities for justice-affected NYers has been signed into law. This bill will make WOTC data publicly available and hold employers accountable for hiring re-entry workers & maintaining labor standards. pic.twitter.com/3orGIuSzRJ

— Jamaal T. Bailey (@jamaaltbailey) December 2, 2021

 

Meanwhile, Madeleine George and James Kim from Bard College handed out information about their two tuition-free, Associate’s degree programs in New York City, one in Harlem and one in Brooklyn. “We try to lower the barriers to education as much as possible,” said Kim.

 

Kenny Inniss with the John Jay Institute for Justice and Opportunity was also at the fair, recruiting for college access programs. “So many people that are impacted think they can’t do this, and they can’t do that,” said Inniss. “Well, you don’t know until you’ve done some research… If education is on your agenda, let’s work on that. Come up with a plan, start that process.”

 

Also present at the event was Terrence Bias, who handed out information about Strive, an organization that helps individuals overcome barriers to employment to develop work skills. It also connects them with partner companies and organizations. “It’s great to see people coming out,” said Bias. “It’s great to see that we have the ability to talk to the community and help them to achieve their goals.”

On Dec. 2, State Sen. Jamaal Bailey (S.D. 36), the Bronx Democratic Party chair, who represents Norwood, Bedford Park, Williamsbridge, Co-op City, Wakefield, Baychester and Mount Vernon, confirmed that his bill S2802 / A6772, which supports employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals as they reenter society, had been signed into law.

 

“Proud to announce that my legislation w/@JoinJoyner to advance workforce opportunities for justice-affected NYers has been signed into law,” he wrote. “This bill will make WOTC (Work Opportunity Tax Credit) data publicly available and hold employers accountable for hiring re-entry workers & maintaining labor standards.”

 

The senator said the bill was the first of its kind in the nation in terms of taking a critical first step to strengthen labor protections for individuals re-entering society [post incarceration]. The law will require the Department of Labor to make available on its website certain statistical information and target group eligibility information relating to work opportunity tax credit certifications approved by the department, including the employer, starting wage, target group and position information.

 

“Publishing this information online will help hold employers accountable for hiring re-entry workers, as well as to shed light on exploitative working conditions,” he said, adding that it would improve transparency, and ensure justice-affected individuals facing some of the toughest barriers to employment have a chance for real reentry.

 

Bailey thanked the labor leaders and unions, and his colleagues, including Assembly Member Latoya Joyner (A.D. 77) who represents portions of Claremont, Concourse, Highbridge, Mount Eden and Morris Heights, Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (A.D. 83), who represents the Northeast Bronx, Senate Majority Speaker Andrea Stewart Cousins (S.D. 35), who represents parts of upstate New York, for their role in the bill’s passage.

 

Back in the Bronx at the reentry fair, Clark told Norwood News that she wanted Bronxites, especially previously incarcerated Bronxites, to know that they have a DA who is looking out for them. “People just need to know that they’re not alone, and that they should accept help,” she said.

 

“I think that message was loud and clear from the three speakers that we had who were formerly incarcerated or criminal justice involved, to hear from them, not from me, from them, but to know that they have a DA that thinks this is important,” Clark added. “That’s what this is all about.”

 

 

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story.