MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, MAYOR’S OFFICE OF REENTRY KICK OFF SECOND CHANCE MONTH
MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON, MAYOR’S OFFICE OF REENTRY KICK OFF SECOND CHANCE MONTH
The annual observance is an opportunity to highlight barriers and elevate voices of system impacted individuals.
CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Mayor’s Office of Reentry are joining Chicagoans to celebrate the beginning of Second Chance Month, an annual observance dedicated to uplifting and supporting individuals who have been impacted by the justice system. April's designation as Second Chance Month highlights the importance of providing people “real” second chances, recognizing that barriers still exist when those who have served their time return home.
“Second Chance Month is a reminder that our responsibility as a City doesn’t end when someone returns home, it begins with how we welcome them back into our communities.” said Mayor Brandon Johnson. “In Chicago, we believe in the dignity and potential of every resident, including those who are returning home after being impacted by the justice system. That means breaking down barriers to housing, employment, and healthcare while investing in community-based solutions that support real pathways to stability and success for returning residents."
Second Chance Month serves as an opportunity to break down barriers faced by formerly incarcerated and system impacted individuals while calling attention to the challenges those navigating reentry face, including difficulty navigating systems which promote access to housing, employment, healthcare.
“In Chicago, second chances often take form of a mother or father coming home determined to rebuild, a neighbor finding stability after years of uncertainty, and a community choosing restoration over rejection,” said Office of Reentry Director Joseph Mapp. “When returning residents have real access to housing, employment, and healing, we don’t just change individual outcomes, we strengthen entire neighborhoods. Under the leadership of Mayor Brandon, we are investing in those moments of transformation, because second chances aren’t abstract, they are the difference between cycles of harm and pathways to healing.”
By bringing together local government, community leaders, advocates, employers, and system impacted individuals, Second Chance Month encourages meaningful dialogue and action to expand critical opportunities for all.
“Second Chance Month is an opportunity to shine light on system-impacted individuals like myself and many others navigating life after incarceration,” said Mary H, an Alumni Case Worker at Chicago Cred. “My journey is proof that being justice impacted doesn’t mean your opportunities are over. With the right support, coordination, and belief in people’s potential, individuals can rebuild their lives, give back to their communities, and help interrupt cycles of violence.”
The Mayor’s Office of Reentry invites community members, partners and stakeholders to participate in Second Chance Month at events designed to help create a more equitable future where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, including:
Cook County Jail Frederick Douglass Project for Justice | 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., April 17 — 2700 S. California Ave.
Reentry Convening | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. April 30— Hope Center Foundation, 10909 S. Cottage Grove Ave.
Mayor Johnson re-established and re-built the Office of Reentry in 2024, marking the City’s first fully-resourced commitment to reentry. The Office’s Year One Report details the foundational work being done to shape reentry policy and programming while offering a comprehensive review of the Johnson administration’s approach to improving outcomes and providing support for system impacted individuals. Learn more at chicago.gov/reentry.
The Office of Re-entry, leads initiatives aimed at providing holistic support to returning residents and their families, ensuring impacted individuals can access the resources they need to thrive. Each year, more than 10,000 individuals return to Chicago following detention or incarceration. The majority return to communities on the South and West Sides.
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