Hope For Prisoners

Let’s Huddle Up! Please join us in person for the HOPE for Prisoners weekly Tuesday Night Huddle Up tomorrow, June 18, 2024, from 6:00-7:00 pm PST as we welcome Mr. Carlos Walker to share his lived experience and his God given gift and love for art that he shares with the world and particularly to those fighting for a Second Chance.
Carlos Walker, a budding artist, was born and raised in Halifax County Va. to Hilton and Inell Walker, Carlos being the youngest of 6 children. Carlos discovered a love for art at the early age of eight years old. He remembers his high school art teacher, Ms. Ferguson, as his earliest supporter. Despite his early discovered talent, Walker did not envision a career in art for himself and chose to put his talent to the side.
At the age of 24, Walker found himself facing a 20-year mandatory minimum sentence. After serving 13 years, Walker was released and, in the midst, found his way back to art. While incarcerated, he curated 5 exhibitions, in addition to writing a book based on his personal
art. His greatest work of art is arguably “Walk a Mile in Our Shoes”, because of its unique portrayal of the black experience. In creating this exhibit, he seeks to show a mirror effect to Caucasians to provide raw insight into what the black experience looks like. Mr. Walker’s pictures have been created with the sole intent to invoke thought in all who refuse to understand the plight that African Americans have endured in their experience from slavery times to this day.

Don’t miss this session. HOPE for Prisoners, Billy Walters Center for Second Chances is located at 333 N. Rancho Drive, Second Floor Las Vegas Nevada 89106. You can also connect via Zoom or watch HFP Facebook Live. We will be live streaming this week’s session into the Nevada Department of Corrections, Clark County Detention Center, and City of Las Vegas Detention Center.

Tonight’s Huddle Up is one you won’t want to miss! See you at 6:00 PM PST ⏰

HOPE For Prisoners is revolutionizing inmate supportive services by establishing a Vocational Village within the walls of Southern Desert Correctional Center (SDCC). This innovative initiative offers a comprehensive range of services designed to prepare inmates for successful reentry into society. The Vocational Village will provide job training, educational programs, substance abuse counseling, mental health support, and life skills workshops. Inmates will have access to career development resources, mentorship programs, and personalized reentry planning. By equipping inmates with the tools and support they need before their release, HOPE For Prisoners aims to significantly reduce recidivism and foster lasting positive change in their lives. 💙

Dr. Asha Tribble is a highly accomplished professional with extensive experience in government and academia. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Florida A&M University, a Master’s from Florida State University, a PhD from the University of Oklahoma, and a graduate certificate from Harvard in leadership in crisis. Her career includes roles as a meteorologist, federal employee, and briefings to two presidents. Despite her achievements, she faced a significant personal challenge involving a federal indictment, which she overcame, emphasizing resilience and personal reinvention.

We were honored to have Dr. Tribble as a guest speaker for our May Graduation Ceremony where she shared her testimony and more with our graduates! 💙

Want to watch her speech? You can view it on our Hope For Prisoners Youtube channel! 💻

🙏 A heartfelt thank you to our incredible guest speakers for making our May Graduation Ceremony truly unforgettable! Your inspiring words and valuable lessons have equipped our graduates with insights they can carry forward into this next chapter of their lives. If you missed the ceremony, you can watch the recording on our YouTube and pages. Now, let’s get to work and support our graduates over the next 18 months as they strive for success! Let’s go! 💪

YOU’RE INVITED! 🙌 Ken Hoskins, originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a resilient and dedicated professional currently serving as the Customer Service Section Chief in Capital Projects within the Public Works division at the City of Houston – the largest public works organization in the country. With a remarkable journey of personal and professional growth, Ken has defied the odds by overcoming a period of incarceration and time in the Michigan Department of Corrections to establish himself as a valued and tenured employee with six years of service at the City of Houston.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ken is a sought-after concert production and logistics guru, renowned for managing international festivals and shows featuring acclaimed artists such as TI, Charlie Wilson, Method Man, The Isley Brothers, and Fantasia, among many others. His wealth of experience in this area has propelled him to the forefront of his industry.

Ken’s passion extends beyond his professional endeavors to advocating for individuals facing background challenges. He is deeply committed to driving change within HR systems to ensure fairness and impartiality, leveraging his own experiences to make a meaningful impact in the lives of others.

In all aspects of his life, Ken embodies resilience, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to advocating for equitable opportunities and fair treatment for all individuals.

Tonight at 6pm 💙

✨🎓You’re cordially invited to our May Graduation Ceremony! Join us in honoring over 50 remarkable individuals who have successfully completed our rigorous workshop training. They are embarking on a new journey as they graduate into the HOPE For Prisoners program. Over the next 18 months, they’ll have access to our dedicated staff and comprehensive resources to support their transition into a fulfilling and prosperous life beyond incarceration. Our event will feature inspiring guest speakers you won’t want to miss! If attending in person isn’t feasible, fear not! We’ll be live-streaming the celebration across our social channels. Your presence will truly make a difference—we’re looking forward to sharing this special occasion with you!

Dave Durocher was arrested for the first time at the age of thirteen. By the time he was 38, he had been to prison four times for a total of fifteen years. Dave was arrested yet again, and this time he was facing a twenty-two-year prison sentence. In what the Judge called “the chance of a lifetime” he afforded Dave the opportunity to go to Delancey Street instead of prison but reminded Dave in no uncertain terms that if he didn’t complete his commitment at Delancey Street he would be spending the rest of his life in prison. Not only did Dave complete his initial two-year commitment, he stayed for a total of eight years and became the Executive Director of Delancey’s Los Angeles facility for five of those years, overseeing two hundred and fifty residents and a multitude of vocational training school businesses that funded the operation and provided the training ground for residents to learn how to live a constructive and meaningful life. Dave oversaw a 300%increase in revenue during his tenure over the facility. Dave is tenacious, interpersonally skilled, a good manager and an inspiring and powerful public speaker. He had helped countless others regain their dignity and their lives before he moved on to enjoy his own success as the person he had become. Dave helped launch The Other Side Academy in 2015 and is currently the Executive Director in Salt Lake City. The Other Side Academy is a two-year Life Skills Academy similar to Delancey Street, where men and women can come to learn about honesty, accountability, integrity, hard work and self-respect. Under Dave’s management, The Other Side Academy has grown to over $11million in revenues and donations for 2018 and has overseen the growth of the student population to over 90 students.

👏👏👏

DETR granted Hope For Prisoners (HFP) $1 million to invest into a comprehensive vocational training center located at Southern Desert Correctional Center (SDCC). The center, also known as Vocational Village, is part of an effort to change southern Nevada reentry by providing an atmosphere for education, rehabilitation and workforce development for inmates who are scheduled for release.

Vocational Village will offer clients the opportunity to develop both soft and hard skillsets, education and/or vocational training, attend ongoing life skills and leadership courses, receive substance misuse counseling and secure permanent housing prior to reintegrating into society.

“We want to create opportunities for people who are facing unique and challenging barriers that, when left unaddressed, can lead to reverting back to previous behaviors,” said DETR Director Christopher Sewell. “Our goal is to mitigate these challenges prior to individuals being released into the community and reduce recidivism.”

HFP will work with the Nevada Department of Corrections to enroll eligible clients in the program and their chosen vocational training path. Enrollment numbers are projected to be 125 clients during the first year with a total of 800 clients served within a 4-year timeframe.

SDCC is located approximately 30 miles north of Las Vegas and is one of 17 state prison facilities in Nevada, currently housing approximately 1,900 male inmates, most of whom are in medium custody status.

To learn more about Hope For Prisoners, visit https://hopeforprisoners.org/

CHAMPION OF HOPE! Congratulations to Chad and Crystal Hirschi of for being awarded the 2024 Hope For Prisoners Champions of Hope! 🏆 Their outstanding dedication and support for our community, and all their support towards our mission and new Vocational Village, are truly inspiring. From Billy Walters to the Hirschis, the legacy of this award continues to grow, shining a light of hope and transformation. 🌟

🎓 Month of Second Chances, Reentry Graduation! Please join us TONIGHT Friday, April 19, 2024, 4:30pm, at the Headquarters of “Our Friends” the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, located at 400 S Martin Luther King Blvd, Las Vegas, NV  89106

We are excited to give special recognition to all of those who have taken full advantage of their Second Chance and are living transformed lives, making a difference in their families’ place of employment and in our community. Our inspirational speakers for this graduation include:

- Carolyn Goodman, Mayor, City of Las Vegas
- Glenn E. Martin, Founder and President, GEMtrainers
- Andrew Walsh, Undersheriff,
- Nicole Galarneau, Comeback Kid / Alumni Speaker