The Indiana Pacers Sports & Entertainment owner Steve Simon recognized the untapped talent in prison and in The Last Mile classrooms. The Pacers are setting an example for other National Basketball Association (NBA) teams to follow. What Billie Edison’s story is an amazing example of fair chance hiring. Billie was incarcerated and stayed in prison an additional year to complete The Last Mile’s Web Development Program for a chance at a new career pathway. Her unlikely journey, from behind bars to center court, is an inspiration for all those who deserve a fair chance. During Second Chance Month, it’s more important than ever to share these stories. Fair chance hiring is not the future, it is now. Brought to you by Tilt23 Studios in collaboration with The Last Mile and Indiana Department of Correction
The Last Mile
Non-profit Organizations
San Francisco, CA 5,209 followers
Paving The Road To Success
About us
The Last Mile (TLM) is an Oakland, CA based organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for personal and professional growth for justice-impacted individuals through education and technology training. We believe that having a job is the key to successful reentry and breaking the cycle of incarceration. A projected shortage of nearly 1 million software engineering jobs by 2020 means that these job skills will be in demand. Through in-prison software engineering training and continued mentorship post-release, The Last Mile bridges the gap between incarceration and freedom.
- Website
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http://www.thelastmile.org
External link for The Last Mile
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 11-50 employees
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, CA
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 2010
- Specialties
- prison education, reentry, entrepreneurship, mentoring, coding, and software engineering
Locations
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Primary
44 Tehama St
San Francisco, CA 94105, US
Employees at The Last Mile
Updates
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Hope and opportunity can transform the lives of incarcerated individuals. Dr. Yehudah Pryce, DSW, MSW's experience in prison demonstrates how providing hope through rehabilitative programs can lead to significant personal growth. In a system where aggression is a survival mechanism, the introduction of meaningful programming offered inmates a glimpse of a better future. Dr. Pryce found that engaging in these programs not only improved his own prospects but also inspired others to do the same. This shift towards positive thinking and pro-social behavior highlights the critical need for criminal justice reforms that emphasize rehabilitation over punishment. With Chris Redlitz. 🎧 Tune in to this episode of The Last Mile Radio, dropping today at 12pm EST! #CriminalJusticeReform #Incarceration #SocialJustice #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio
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Books can be the lifeline that transforms prison cells into classrooms of growth and redemption. Literature has the power to break through the harshest barriers, offering new perspectives and sparking intellectual curiosity. In a place often associated with hopelessness, books can inspire change and foster a sense of agency. Shaka Senghor's journey is a testament to this. While incarcerated, he discovered the writings of Malcolm X, which ignited a thirst for knowledge and a path to self-improvement. Visit www.thelastmileradio.org for the full interview with Shaka Senghor, and check out some of the increidble books he has written on his website: https://lnkd.in/e9yQanb With Eric Abercrombie #BooksSaveLives #PrisonReform #LiteratureMatters #EducationForAll #CriminalJusticeReform #IncarcerationToInspiration #SocialJustice #ReadToSucceed
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The U.S. criminal legal system often prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation. The case of Dr. Yehudah Pryce, DSW, MSW highlights the deep flaws in the system where punitive measures overshadow opportunities for personal growth and reform. Sentenced to 24 years at age 19 for a robbery with gang-related enhancements, Dr. Pryce faced a system that provided no incentive for rehabilitation. Only after the passage of a youth offender bill did he find a pathway to reduce his sentence, serving over 16 years. His experience underscores the urgent need for reforms that focus on rehabilitation and second chances. With Chris Redlitz and Eric Abercrombie 🎧 Tune in to this episode of The Last Mile Radio, dropping this Saturday, June 27 at 12pm EST #CriminalJusticeReform #Incarceration #SocialJustice #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio
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Gangs provide a dangerous sense of belonging to vulnerable youth. For many young people, especially those living in poverty and dealing with early-life trauma, gangs offer a sense of acceptance and purpose that they desperately crave. Anthony Villalba’s story illustrates this harsh reality. Abandonment issues, lack of respect for authority, and the need to be accepted make youth prime targets for gang recruitment. Gangs exploit these vulnerabilities, offering support and a misguided sense of identity. Anthony, deeply remorseful for the harm he caused, reflects on how these early influences led him astray. His experience underscores the urgent need for supportive interventions to prevent youth from turning to gangs for acceptance. #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio #CriminalJusticeReform #YouthIncarceration #GangPrevention
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The search for identity and belonging can lead many young people into the dangerous world of gangs. Dr. Yehudah Pryce, DSW, MSW's journey illustrates a common but often overlooked pathway to incarceration. As a first-generation American facing severe racial discrimination and an identity crisis, he found acceptance and a sense of family among neighborhood gang members. This acceptance and the perceived power it brought outweighed the consequences of incarceration, turning jail time into a badge of honor. Dr. Pryce's story sheds light on how the criminal justice system often fails to address the root causes of gang involvement and crime, emphasizing the need for more supportive and inclusive community interventions. 🎧 Tune in to this episode of The Last Mile Radio, dropping this Saturday, June 27 at 12pm EST #CriminalJusticeReform #Incarceration #SocialJustice #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio
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Manifesting a better life after prison starts with a vision. Creating a new reality after incarceration requires not just hope but a clear, detailed vision of the future. Shaka Senghor's journey shows the power of manifesting dreams into reality. While still in prison, Senghor wrote down his aspirations, from becoming a The New York Times bestselling author to having Oprah Winfrey read his book. His meticulous planning and unwavering belief in his vision turned his dreams into achievable goals. Senghor's story is a powerful example of how personal agency and visualization can pave the way for success, even after enduring the harshest of circumstances. - it's a mindset we see in many of our Alumni of The Last Mile, and one we hope to spread to prisons accross this country. 🎧 Visit www.thelastmileradio.org for the full interview with Shaka Senghor. #Manifestation #LifeAfterPrison #CriminalJusticeReform #Incarceration #SocialJustice
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Blaming the system won’t change it. Anthony Villalba’s journey shows that excuses can hold us back from real change. When he first went to prison, he blamed the system for everything wrong in his life. He thought his struggles were due to being in foster care, being tried as an adult, and racial prejudice. It wasn't until he examined his own mindset that he realized these were circumstances he internalized and let define him. By confronting his thoughts and actions, he began to understand his role in breaking free from a destructive path. Anthony's story highlights the need for self-awareness and accountability in overcoming systemic obstacles and fostering true reform. 🎧 Tune in to this episode of The Last Mile Radio, dropping today at 12pm EST! #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio #CriminalJusticeReform #PrisonReform
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Isolation and dehumanization is a common tool in prison. It is not effective. Prisoners often face harsh conditions that strip away their dignity, making rehabilitation even harder. Anthony Villalba’s story reveals the grim reality of this system. After committing an attempted murder in prison, he found himself in segregated housing, shackled in a cage wearing only his boxers. Despite these degrading circumstances, figures like Scott Budnick of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition saw potential in him. Budnick's unwavering support and the encouragement from other positive influences in prison helped Anthony see his own worth and begin to change his destructive mindset. His journey underscores the importance of compassion and support in the path to rehabilitation. 🎧 Tune in to this episode of The Last Mile Radio, dropping this Saturday, July 20. #TheLastMile #TheLastMileRadio #CriminalJusticeReform #PrisonReform #Rehabilitation #EndMassIncarceration #SecondChances #JusticeForAll #HumanDignity #SocialJustice
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Our Executive Director Kevin McCracken sat down with Indio Myles on the Impact Boom podcast to talk about discusses the cyclical and systemic nature of recidivism in society, and how more businesses can support justice-impacted individuals through fair chance hiring practices. Check out the episode and drop any questions in the comments below! https://lnkd.in/dE2tz66R