News
March Highlights
Highlights of our staff and program accomplishments throughout March.
- Osborne’s Women With a Plan program recently hosted its annual empowerment event, marking Women’s History Month with a moving celebration of the strength, resilience, and achievements of women affected by incarceration. The program provides case management to assist with the transition and navigation of reentry services along with support for setting individual goals. In this photo essay, we share reflections from women who are navigating reentry, caring for loved ones with incarceration experience, and undergoing personal transformation.
- Dorian Moore estimates that he applied for 200 jobs without a single offer of an interview. Maryana Popenkova saw her mistakes as firmly in the past, but was losing faith. And Kyle Raines wanted to take care of his family “the legal way” when he came out of prison. All three found the support they needed from Osborne staff and recently graduated from our workforce development programs. At a virtual graduation ceremony earlier this month, these and other New Yorkers reflected on their journeys to employment readiness after incarceration. In total, 40 people completed our training and parenting programs this month, with jobs secured in hospitality, as credible messengers, and more. We seek volunteers to conduct mock interviews with our participants to strengthen their skills. To find out more, contact Sharon Livingston.
- We commemorated Transgender Day of Visibility, recognized around the world as an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of people of Trans experience. Osborne offers a specialized case management program for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and our core values drive us to celebrate our shared humanity. Hear from staff and community members about what they need to feel truly seen in this short video of solidarity at a time when fear – once called “the parent” of cruelty – is on the rise and lives are at stake.
- The challenges families of incarcerated people in New York face existed long before the recent wildcat strike among officers working in NYS prisons — and they have only worsened. Our NY Initiative for Children of Incarcerated Parents (NYCIP) mobilized more than 50 organizations to call on Governor Hochul to take immediate action to protect in-person visits and ensure families’ voices are heard. We are urging her to fully restore in-person visiting, to re-examine the required use of body scanners on visitors, and to form an advisory committee that includes family representatives to develop data-informed solutions to address contraband. Visiting benefits everyone, including correctional staff. Families should not be blamed nor pay the price for staffing shortages — and further limiting precious time together only makes things worse. Read our letter to the Governor.