Chris Ellis Came to Osborne With a Plan

On the last Monday of national “Second Chance” month, we share part of Christopher “Chris” Ellis’s story. You can read about Chris’s exoneration in August of 2021 in this New York Times article: “After Key Evidence Was Withheld, 2 Men Spent 3 Decades in Prison”

Returning home at 52, Chris started his reentry journey with Osborne’s Jails to Jobs program. Married, and with an infant son, at the time of his wrongful incarceration in 1990, Chris “came to Osborne with a plan,” said Verdell Sims, the Brooklyn Community Coordinator for Jails to Jobs, who provided Chris’s initial intake. He took part in a pipeline of Osborne services to support his and his family’s need for employment, income, adjusting to daily living together, and healing. After Jails to Jobs, Chris received employment training and placement services through Workforce programs, and he and his wife took part in our Kinship Reentry courses.

A friendly, patient, and focused person, Chris reflected on his experience with Osborne:

Working with Osborne Association has meant having a strong support by my side. Upon my coming home I was connected to a case manager who referred me to the Kinship program. This program has been a tremendous help to our household. I truly enjoy the friendly atmosphere. This made it easy for me to communicate with my case manager about my reentry needs. Also, the staff are understanding, supportive and professional.

Chris is now an independent contractor doing deliveries exclusively for Farm to People. Sims observed that “the work is not only finding employment and housing but about rebuilding connections - to family, to community, and to trust. Chris took a leap of faith in trusting us and was committed to moving forward from day one.”

Congratulations Chris, and thank you for being part of the Osborne family.