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The Power of the Arts to Heal, Transform, and Grow
Fortune acknowledges and provides resources to support the important and positive role that the creative arts play in the transition of formerly incarcerated individuals back into the community....
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Ban the Box: Does it work?
The National Employment Law Project (NELP) estimates that there are approximately 70 million people with arrest or conviction records on file in the United States (Emsellem and Rodriquez, 2015). A...
View ArticleReuniting Families through the NYCHA Family Reentry Pilot
The shortage of affordable housing in New York City is well documented. Exacerbating this problem in New York City is how individuals reentering the community from criminal justice involvement are...
View ArticleUpcoming Events Calendar
June 15 Third Annual P2PH Conference (DAY 2) This event will feature panels of experts speaking about the theme “Improving Outcomes for Justice-Involved Populations with Behavioral Health Needs.” These...
View ArticleMy Journey At Fortune: Writing as a Powerful Tool for Advocacy
While serving time in a prison in New York, I worked as a law clerk and in this role, I witnessed the women around me facing a wide array of injustices. As a law clerk, I helped them with tasks such as...
View ArticleSucceed? Him? It’s Possible, Thanks to Fortune
Imagine it. Today’s the day. You’re being released from prison. You pack up all your possessions – your accruals from all your years behind the bars. And you sit. You wait. You shake — anxiously...
View ArticleHealing Bonds Between Fathers and Children After Incarceration
Every Father’s Day, families around the nation celebrate the dedication and nurturing support that fathers give to their children. On this day, most fathers will receive gifts, cards, hugs, kisses, and...
View ArticleLiving Boldly After 40 years In the Closet
In 1969, the historic Stonewall riots took place in Greenwich Village in response to a police raid on a gay bar. These violent demonstrations, which lasted six days, were a crucial turning point and...
View ArticleOvercoming the Legal, Financial and Emotional Obstacles of Family Court
My name is Samantha Young and I am an attorney in the Family Services unit at The Fortune Society. In that role, I work with clients who enroll in the Family Services unit who have family court...
View ArticleFortune’s Services Empower Clients to Go the Distance
Confusion, disorientation, new rules, and different customs are all issues one encounters when entering a foreign country. Multiply these feelings by a thousand percent and you may just understand the...
View ArticleA Fortunate 19 Years of Service
We once had a young man in our Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) program whose father was serving time for drug involvement. The son’s grandmother was raising him and she urged him to go visit his...
View ArticleFortune Plays The Nurturing Role of Family For Our Clients
Three events took place during the early days of The Fortune Society that highlighted the significance of familial ties (or the lack thereof) for currently or formerly incarcerated people. On Christmas...
View ArticleChampioning Alternatives to Incarceration to Keep Families Together
The Fortune Society has a reputation for providing model services to people who come into contact with the criminal justice system. These services are essential for increasing public safety, promoting...
View ArticleOvercoming Barriers to Reentry as a Veteran With Justice Involvement
According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2011-2012, approximately 181,500 veterans were serving time in correctional facilities. Additionally, incarcerated veterans are more than twice as...
View ArticleMeeting the Mental Health Needs of Individuals With Justice Involvement
During my time at The Fortune Society, I have come to appreciate an important component of our mission: never giving up on individuals with justice involvement regardless of how many chances they need...
View ArticleAcceptance Of Our Flaws Creates Room For Change
As a young man in my 20’s attending college, I read for the first time the German poet Rainer Rilke’s letter addressing youthful angst. He wrote, “The future stands firm my son, yet we move in infinite...
View ArticleCelebrating Labor and Overcoming its Barriers
Every year, we celebrate Labor Day to honor the workers who keep our economy thriving. From factory employees to administrative assistants, construction workers to chefs, millions of Americans work...
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Meet Halimah, Actress for Social Change
Halimah Washington Transitional Specialist The Fortune Society I started working at The Fortune Society out of the desire to continue my fulfilling career in Human Services and become involved with...
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