Criminal justice reform is new for a lot of people in reaction to the events of last summer. But our guest this week has been on the frontlines of this issue for the better part of a decade. Paula Thompson is the Executive Director of Voices for a Second Chance,  an organization that helps people returning from prison get back on their feet.

Paula Thompson has served in her role as Executive Director of Voices for a Second Chance [VSC] for 9 years. VSC is an organization with over 50 years of service  to the community that bridges the gap for individuals from incarceration to community and serves over 4,000 individuals a year. Ms. Thompson is a passionate, proven leader, champion and
advocate for incarcerated and returning citizens and her commitment to this population is evidenced through her visionary leadership that has resulted in the implementation of gender-specific trauma informed focused groups individual pre-and-post release counseling, expanded reentry, family centered/reunification services and children of incarcerated parents focused programming and special projects to respond to their growing complex needs while “doing time” at home when a parent/loved one is incarcerated.

As an expert in the field of social justice, human rights and equity for marginalized populations, Ms. Thompson continues to elevate the discussion to influence policy makers and stakeholders to
give returning citizens real access to a second chance with the tools and resources necessary to integrate effectively into the community. To achieve this end, Ms. Thompson continues to advance advocacy around policy and funding through public private partnerships while also serving as the Founder and Co-chair of the DC, Reentry Action Network (RAN), Council for Court Excellence Board Director, appointed Commissioner by Mayor Bowser to the Returning Citizens Affairs Commission served from 2016-2019, and other community and civic affiliations. In 2017, Ms. Thompson was the recipient of the DC Mayor’s Office on Returning Citizen Affairs
Excellence in Reentry Leadership Award.

Website: www.vscdc.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/voicesforasecondchance
Twitter: https://twitter.com/2ndChanceVoices
Instagram: www.instagram.com/voicesforasecondchance