A Second Chance: 12 Fellows Graduate from the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program

On Wednesday, September 23, 12 MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program Fellows walked across the stage at Georgetown University Law Center as the program’s seventh graduating class.

For 24 weeks, the Fellows balanced the demands of a rigorous paralegal studies program with the work of rebuilding their lives after incarceration.

On graduation day, each Fellow had a chance to reflect on how far they had come. The opportunity to celebrate alongside the family and friends who supported them throughout the program made the moment even more special.

“I came here for an opportunity and left with purpose, confidence, and a future I once couldn’t see,” said Vanessa Garcia, a member of the graduating class.

A Second Chance

The meaning of the moment came through in the speakers’ remarks. A second chance emerged as a central theme.

Speakers talked about second chances and what they can make possible: building a career, making a difference in the community, making their families proud, and moving forward.

That work sits at the heart of Georgetown University Prisons & Justice Initiative (PJI)’s reentry programs. Wednesday’s graduation offered a chance to see that work come together in one room.

The ceremony opened with remarks from PJI Director Marc Howard, who congratulated the Fellows on their achievement and thanked the Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs (MORCA), Georgetown Law, and the Department of Employment Services for their partnership.

M. Elizabeth Magill, Dean of Georgetown University Law Center, acknowledged the challenges many Fellows faced leading up to graduation.

“This is a tremendous achievement in any circumstance, but I know that, for many of you, the road here has been especially challenging, requiring a tremendous amount of grit, self-determination and perseverance,” Magill said.

Magill also spoke about Georgetown’s belief in second chances.

“Our mission is to build a community where everyone can gain the tools they need to make the most of their talents and use their gifts for the greater good,” Magill said. “Today, as you become the seventh class of students to graduate from this program, you are now part of that mission.”

Talib Shakir, Director of MORCA and a Georgetown Pivot Program alum, also shared remarks with the graduating class. Drawing from his own experience as a returning citizen, Shakir reminded the Fellows that this moment is only the beginning.

“As you step out of this room, don’t let this moment be the peak — let it be the push. Use your skills, your story, and your purpose to open doors not just for yourselves, but for the people coming behind you,” Shakir said.

David Gill, Workforce Development Specialist with the Department of Employment Services, also spoke to the graduating class, connecting his remarks to the job readiness workshop he led during the program.

Comebacks Are Real

Mayor Muriel Bowser delivered the keynote address, speaking about the importance of second chances and the support returning citizens need as they move forward.

“Comebacks are real and we are a city that believes in the comeback,” Bowser said. She emphasized that each graduate is proof of what can happen when people have the support they need to change their lives.

Professor Suzanne Tsintolas, Faculty Director of the MORCA-Georgetown Paralegal Program, spoke about the growth she saw in the Fellows throughout the program.

“While here, they learned how to trust themselves and their classmates, gaining a healthy respect for the scope and breadth of civil law,” Tsintolas said.

Edward Allen, class speaker and graduating Fellow, brought that growth into focus as he spoke about the experiences he and his classmates faced before joining the program and the opportunities PJI created for them.

During his remarks, Allen recognized each of his fellow graduates by name and commended them on a job well done.

“Coming from where most of us do, we are looking at life through lenses we never thought were possible,” Allen said. “Through our hardships, incarcerations, living environments, and the many doors that were slammed in our faces when we just wanted to do better for ourselves, take care of our responsibilities, and provide for our families, the doors of PJI opened for us and made sure that we earned everything we received.”

The Fellows came into the program looking for a second chance.

On Wednesday, they left Georgetown University Law Center with a certificate in paralegal studies, a room full of people who believed in them, and a new chapter already in progress.