Capital Region Ex-Offenders Support Coalition (CRESC)
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“We believe that every ex-offender should have access to the services and resources necessary to maintain a productive, crime-free life.” -CRESC

3/6/2019

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By Carita Ellis-Espola

Since 2005, CRESC (Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition) has held firm to that Vision Statement. Many members of the Coalition have come, gone, and come back throughout the years, but the Vision andMissionhave remained the same. With recidivism rates in the Capital Region being what they are, it might be difficult to believe that so many people have worked countless hours to support the successful reintegration of ex-offenders. Still, men and women across the Capitol Region, many of them volunteers, have put forth relentless effort and compassion through their time, money and other nameless sacrifices; making real change in the lives of the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.
 
If I’ve learned nothing else since joining the mission, I’ve learned that the willingness of people to create opportunities for ex-offenders, builds bridges where there are none. While the media hinges its existence on the misdeeds of “damaged criminals”, there are parents, siblings, spouses, full-time employees, community activists, church organizations, business owners, nonprofits, correctional personnel and especially ex-offenders, pushing past the stigma and misinformation to mentor ex-offenders in hopes of helping them find a better way. These are the members of CRESC.
This is what we do.
 
For every fortunate person whose youth and adulthood have gone completely untouched by disfunction; traumatic experiences that include alcohol/drug addiction, domestic violence, poverty, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, abandonment, separation, divorce, imprisonment, and/or neglect--there are hundreds, if not thousands more who understand these traumas all too well. Somewhere over 70% of all Americans, according to recent statistics. It stands to reason that many of us have the potential to make choices which divert to prison--and while it’s no excuse-- it is a worthwhile explanation. Doesn’t it also stand to reason then, that so many of us would want to help others navigate broken lives that often fall, sometimes repeatedly, into broken systems unequipped to heal wounds of the past? Though not all CRESC members are ex-offenders, those most committed to Reentry do not act from mere sympathy, but from empathy. The desire of CRESC members to change lives is innate.
 
In this blog, we will explore the many facets of Reentry; what it means, who is involved, and what it will take to help as many ex-offenders as possible in the Capital Region. We’ll do all we can to raise awareness, funds, and to lift the voices of those meeting the challenges Reentry faces in the Capital. Just like the tasks ahead of us, it won’t be easy, but we have to try. We believe that every ex-offender should have access to the services and resources necessary to maintain a productive, crime-free life. We truly do. Please join us.
 
'There is no more neutrality in the world. You either have to be part of the solution, or you're going to be part of the problem.' -Eldridge Cleaver
 
Carita Ellis-Espola is a native of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. She is the owner and Head Writer of PhrasePro Media Enterprises. Carita is also the current Board Secretary of CRESC. 
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2018 CRESC Collaborative Reentry Dialogue and Visioning Session for Dauphin County

2/27/2018

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March 2018 CRESC Featured Speaker Recap

2/18/2018

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The featured speaker during CRESC’s March 2018 meeting was Aisha Mobley, Assistant Director of Iron Dome Legal Advocacy Group. Iron Dome Legal Advocacy group empathetically provides legal advocacy and mentoring in areas of criminal law, evictions, protection from abuse orders, and school disputes, among others. The mission of Iron Dome Legal Advocacy Group is to mentor young people in the areas of public demeanor, the dangers they expose themselves to on the streets, and their rights and responsibilities if they do get into legal trouble. Iron Dome Legal Advocacy Group is owned and directed by successful ex-offender John Watson. CRESC would like to thank Aisha Mobley for spending her afternoon with us. For more information about Iron Dome Legal Advocacy Group, please contact 717 256 1120 or visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/irondomelag
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February 2018 CRESC Featured Speaker Recap

2/17/2018

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A program helping young ex-offenders find a pathway in life.

The featured speakers during CRESC’s February 2018 meeting were representatives from the Tri-County OIC’s Project SOAR.  Project SOAR is a three year re-entry program for 18 – 24 year old Harrisburg youth.  SOAR is a comprehensive reentry program that will address the challenges of young adults who have been involved in the criminal justice system. The SOAR program aims to help these youth make successful transitions back into the community.  SOAR services are available to individuals between the ages of 18-24 who have had involvement with the juvenile or adult justice systems and live in the City of Harrisburg.  If you have any questions concerning SOAR, please call Priscilla Ferguson at OIC 717 238 7318 or email at pferguson@tricountyoic.org.  CRESC would like to thank the Tri-County OIC representatives for sharing their afternoon with us.  To learn more about Tri-County OIC’s Project SOAR, please visit https://www.tricountyoic.org/project-soar/.
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UPMC Pinnacle Center For Addiction Recovery

1/30/2018

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Successful Ex-Offenders Share Their Stories

12/22/2017

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During CRESC's December 2017 general meeting, two successful ex-offenders joined the meeting and shared their stories of becoming successful after being released from incarceration.

Dante Tucker

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Dante Tucker shared that after being released from prison 5 years ago, he has been successful and maintained a positive Parole supervision history.  Tucker reports that since being released from prison, he got married and is currently in the process of buying a home.  Tucker talked about his difficulties finding permanent employment due to his previous criminal charges.  Tucker related being released from prison to merging onto a highway and likes to remind himself, and others, that he's still learning the "rules of the road."

Eddie McCrary

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Eddie McCrary shared that after being released from prison 6 months ago, he's learned a lot about how the world has changed in the 37 years he spent behind bars.  McCrary offered thanks to the many reentry professionals that spend their days working tirelessly to assist ex-offenders in successful reentry into the community.  McCrary also spoke about the positive impact that having a mentor in his life has had.  Click here to read Eddie's story.
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December 2017 CRESC Featured Speaker Recap

12/22/2017

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The featured speaker during CRESC’s December 2017 meeting was Kia Hansard, Dauphin County Director for the Center For Employment Opportunities (CEO).  Hansard provided an overview of CEO’s focus in job placement for ex-offenders, including a four step program model that gets ex-offenders working in “transitional work” during the second week of the program.  Hansard discussed the efforts of CEO’s Business Account Managers to place program participants in full-time, permanent jobs in the community and highlighted the cash incentives (up to $500!) that CEO offers for retaining employment for at least 365 days.  For more information about CEO, please visit www.ceoworks.org.  CRESC would like to thank Ms. Hansard for sharing her afternoon with us and supporting successful ex-offender reentry by providing employment services to ex-offenders in Dauphin County.
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Presidential Award to Larry Coleman

10/24/2017

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Barry Nazar presents the CRESC "Presidential Award" to Larry Coleman for outstanding service to CRESC at the monthly meeting on Thursday, October 29, 2017 at Pennsylvania CareerLink in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.  Larry will soon be relocating to the state of Nebraska.
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September 2017 CRESC Featured Speaker Recap

9/26/2017

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The featured speaker during CRESC’s September 2017 meeting was Shirley Moore Smeal, Executive Deputy Secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.  Moore Smeal suggested that the days of "operating in silos" have passed and that the time is ripe for improvements in seeing inmates as individuals.  Moore Smeal shared that the PA DOC is taking steps to humanize the incarcerated environment including placing inmates in prisons as close to home as possible to support family support and interaction; assessing inmates to determine individual needs; offering success-oriented educational programs; offering over 28 vocational programs; offering Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) options; and offering Transitional Housing Units (THU's) or Reentry Service Offices (RSO's) and Veterans Service Units (VSU's).  Moore Smeal spoke about some new initiatives within the PA DOC including adult coloring books, aromatherapy, fish tanks, colored bed linens, "chill plans" and murals in order to make prions more humanized spaces for confinement.  CRESC would like to thank Ms. Moore Smeal for sharing her afternoon with us and giving us insight into the steps that the PA Department of Corrections is taking to humanize the incarcerated environment.
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August 2017 CRESC Featured Speaker Recap

8/29/2017

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The featured speaker during CRESC’s August 2017 meeting was Bruce Quigley, Executive Director of the Union County Housing Authority. Quigley gave attendees an overview of Union County’s Justice Bridge Housing Program (JBHP), a model for reentry housing. Quigley described the six key components of the housing program that Union County has implemented which include: (1) defined target population; (2) Public Housing Authority operating the program; (3) tenant-based rental assistance provided in
accordance with the procedures of the Housing Choice Voucher program; (4) probation / parole supervision of participants; (5) community supportive services external to the Housing Authority; and (6) collaboration. Quigley also provided attendees with a “replication toolkit” to assist local stakeholders in advocating for the local housing authority to adopt and implement the JBHP. Quigley rounded out the discussion by providing statistics on the housing program’s success: of the 46 JBHP participants served,
28 of the participants moved from JBHP to Section 8 / Housing Choice Vouchers; 9 were financially able to move to non-subsidized, permanent housing; and only 9 (20%) recidivated. In addition, 32 of the 37 participants who did not recidivate obtained and maintained employment and two were on disability. A great program supported by great statistics! Quigley also provided a number of reference materials associated with the JBHP for attendees, which can be accessed below. Also, Quigley can be reached at b.quigley@unioncountyhousingauthority.org for additional information. CRESC would like to thank Mr. Quigley for sharing his afternoon with us and giving us insight into Union County’s Justice Bridge Housing program!
6 Key Components of the Justice Bridge Housing Program

Literature Review and Evaluation of Justice Bridge Housing Program

Justice Bridge Housing Program’s Final Report to the Bureau of Justice Assistance
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Justice Bridge Housing Program Replication Toolkit
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