staceybooks

“Ban the Box” was designed to level the playing field and give justice-involved individuals a fair shot at employment without being immediately dismissed because of a checkbox on an application. The intent was simple: remove the question about criminal history so employers could see the person before the past. But here’s the hard truth: removing…

When it comes to reentry and second chances, one of the biggest mistakes we can make is believing that everyone impacted by the justice system needs the same type of support. The truth is, there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Each individual’s story is different. Their trauma, circumstances, and choices may overlap in theme, but never…

We often talk about “second chances” like they’re charity, an act of kindness extended to someone who’s fallen down. But let’s be clear: second chances aren’t just good for the soul. They’re good for the economy. In fact, they’re one of the most overlooked economic strategies in this country. When we shut out returning citizens…

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and for me, it’s not just a campaign; it’s part of my story. I am a survivor. For years, I lived in a world where fear felt normal and peace felt unreachable. I learned how to read moods, not because I wanted to, but because survival required it. Abuse…

Every October, we honor Youth Justice Action Month (YJAM), a time to shine a light on the realities faced by young people entangled in our justice system. But for many of us, this isn’t just an awareness month. It’s personal. It’s about faces, stories, and second chances that often never come soon enough. When I…

At Persevere, we’ve learned that the most powerful kind of mentorship often comes from those who have walked similar roads, those who have faced the darkness, climbed out of it, and now shine a light for others. Many of our mentors and volunteers are in recovery themselves. They know what it feels like to start…

I read an article today that stopped me in my tracks. It was called “Headlines Matter: How We Can Push Media to Improve How They Speak About Previously Incarcerated People” by Terrell Blount. And it hit me straight in the soul. The piece described how a Milwaukee news outlet ran a story about Adam Procell,…

When companies talk about “innovation,” they often focus on technology, systems, and strategy. But the real innovation happens when we rethink who gets the opportunity to contribute. At Persevere, we believe talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Our graduates come from diverse backgrounds, including those who have faced incarceration, poverty, or systemic barriers to…

In today’s workforce, companies often talk about innovation, inclusion, and social responsibility, but few opportunities allow you to invest in all three at once. Partnering with Persevere does. Persevere is more than a nonprofit. It is a movement transforming the way our country approaches workforce development by teaching in-demand technology skills and providing wraparound support…

How would you like to be remembered by the worst thing you have ever done? That question hit me hard today. In our work at Persevere, we see individuals every day who are remembered and judged by their lowest moments: an arrest record, a conviction, a mistake that may have lasted only seconds but shaped…