The Unsung Heroes Behind Second Chances

Many of us, even when given the opportunity, find that second chances are often accompanied by deep challenges—challenges shaped by the years we spent in carceral spaces. We are all aware of these struggles, and there are many people working tirelessly to help individuals like us transition from lives of incarceration to becoming productive members of society.

Today, I want to focus on those people—the ones fighting for the chance that many of us now have.

While recently attending the National Conference for Higher Education in Prison in New Orleans, I had the chance to reflect on my journey. I’m fortunate to work alongside a team of individuals who, despite not sharing my experience of incarceration, are just as committed to this cause. They are the ones behind the legislation we celebrate during Second Chance Month—those driving the fight for second looks, second chances, and fair opportunities for all.

At the conference, surrounded by 1,000 like-minded individuals and countless others working to bring about change, I was reminded of the critical role those who are not incarcerated play in creating opportunities for reentry. We often don’t give enough credit to the people who dedicate their lives to ensuring that those who have been incarcerated can have a second chance at life.

I bring my complete self to work every day at the Prisons and Justice Initiative, alongside those who have been called to dismantle the system of injustice. It doesn’t matter how big the challenge or how much they must fight. Every day, I see my colleagues chipping away at the mountain of mass incarceration, providing real opportunities—whether through housing, jobs, or educational programming. Through their actions, they’ve shown many of us who have never held professional careers how to become the professionals we see in our minds and hearts.

These are the people who have inspired and continue to inspire me daily. They have helped me fight PTSD from my nearly 25 years of incarceration. They have trusted me to be a leader on this team and empowered me to rise above my past. They’ve elevated my voice—not because I am a token, but because I’ve stepped into the work alongside them, fighting for the changes I know we can have in this nation.

Second chances are incredible when people get them, and they should be cherished. But in reality, second chances wouldn’t happen without those who have never experienced incarceration—those who play pivotal roles in creating the systems that allow for second chances.

I now work alongside these people, and I see how much they care. I’m thankful for them and the work they do in creating opportunities for those who truly deserve a second chance.

Written by Tyrone Walker, Director of Reentry Services, Pivot Program and Prisons Scholars Program alum