Osborne's Recent Highlights

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.

February

• Osborne CEO Jon Monsalve and Chief Housing Officer Wendell Walters attended the 54th Annual Legislative Conference of New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators (or Caucus Weekend) in Albany this month. Wendell was part of “Communities Not Cages,” a panel on the critical need for reentry housing, alongside Senator Julia Salazar and colleagues from The Fortune Society, Bronx Defenders, and the Center for Community Alternatives. As Wendell noted: “People are currently in prison who are past their release date but cannot come home because they don’t have a place to live.”
   
• A participant in Osborne’s Court Advocacy Services shared his story as part of a new report on alternatives to incarceration from the NY ATI/Reentry Coalition. During his eight months at Rikers, Art received no treatment to address the substance use and behavioral health challenges that led to his incarceration in the first place. Through our team’s advocacy, he was offered a chance to participate in an inpatient substance use treatment program that he completed in six months with a changed mindset and desire to succeed. Art has returned home to his family and is actively pursuing employment opportunities. Explore the full report about how expanding ATIs can contribute to closing Rikers.
   
• We have gathered some results and stories from our work last fiscal year to support individuals, families, and communities affected by the criminal legal system. Through longstanding partnerships, we are advancing restorative approaches to decarceration, jail and prison programming, and reentry. Recent highlights include 98% of Court Advocacy Services participants meeting court requirements, more than 3,300 people connecting to community services after prison, and expanding our housing portfolio to over 400 planned units and beds. Read more about our impact.

January

• Laura Roan, Osborne’s Vice President of Prison Services, participated in a recent webinar entitled “Improving Behavioral Health Care for Older Adults in the Criminal Justice System.” Over 500 people from around the world tuned in for a discussion focused on the growing need for improved behavioral health strategies for aging adults and the critical partnerships between correctional facilities and state or community-based agencies. Watch the webinar here.
   
• Another Osborne leader, Wendell Walters, Chief Housing Officer, was a panelist for a discussion about the implementation of New York City’s Fair Chance for Housing Act, which took effect on January 1. The significance of this achievement and its impact on housing access for formerly incarcerated New Yorkers were explored as part of the Second Annual NYC Human Rights Summit hosted by the NYC Commission on Human Rights. Wendell was joined by Lily Shapiro of the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy at the Fortune Society, and Hilton Webb, a resident at the Castle, a transitional housing facility Fortune operates. Read a recap of the summit here.
   
• The Bronx Osborne Gun Accountability and Prevention (BOGAP) program recently hosted a “Stop the Bleed” workshop from the American College of Surgeons, which provided immersive training in emergency response techniques from a physician. The workshop covered practical life-saving measures for gunshot wounds, stab wounds, car accidents, and assaults, as well as CPR training and infant death prevention and safety. It complements the therapeutic support, workforce development, and Alternatives to Violence Program training participants receive through the program.
   
• We are thrilled that the Child-Sensitive Arrest Bill was signed into law by Governor Hochul on December 23. The courageous advocacy of the young people in Osborne’s Youth Action Council, who shared their personal experiences and championed this bill for years, and the support and leadership of our partners made this victory possible. Safeguards will now be in place to support children across New York State who are present during the arrest of a parent. Read our statement on the bill’s passing here.