Category Archives: Root and Rebound

Justice, Liberation, and Healing- Inspiring work by a local partner

This message from Root and Rebound- a non-profit working on behalf of recently incarcerated persons and their families. If you are interested in their work or want to volunteer to help with their initiatives contact the Pro Bono Program today.  Check out their work at: https://www.rootandrebound.org

Van was arrested for a felony when he was only 16. He served 25 years in prison. In 2019, he was released and found himself starting at square one. He was 41 years old. Van did not want to go back— but rebuilding his life while carrying the mark of a criminal record felt daunting. What’s more, Van faced the additional threat of deportation because he’d immigrated to the U.S with his family as a child. Shortly after returning home, Van was referred to Root & Rebound. We helped Van get his work permit so that he could provide for himself and his family. We also helped him prepare an application for a pardon which, if granted, would allow him to legally stay in the U.S. Today, he works full time as a policy organizer. For Van, R&R’s support and advocacy has made all the difference for his own confidence in reentry: “This is our world and this is our society and I contributed to it, so I have to help make it better.”

Van’s story is part of Root & Rebound’s Justice, Liberation, and Healing campaign that tells the story of three of our transformative work through the eyes of our clients, Andrew, Monica, and Van. Thanks to donors like you, we have been able to support 2,196 clientslike Andrew, Monica, and Van in 2020, provided financial support to 680+ familiesthrough our COVID-19 Client Support Fund, AND reached 5,500+ people across the country through our public education this year alone.

New semester, New Pro Bono Opportunity

The Pro Bono Program has agreed to work with the national organization, Root and Rebound.  They work to address the barriers faced by those who have been incarcerated. Communities can help as can policies that promote self-sufficiency.  Students will initially be working on research and drafting of a resource library. Other activities include research on policy changes and participation in public information sessions. This is not a program for everyone. Plan on talking with the Pro Bono Program if you are at all interested not only helping this population but also reentry issues.

A full job description and expectations is located on the Pro Bono Program Website