On Sept. 7, the Michigan Department of Corrections held its second annual Reentry United Inside Conference at the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility. Reentry United bridges the gap between professional expertise and firsthand experience.

This event, launched by Community Coordinator Angie Sprank and Nate Johnson—the founders of Reentry United—brought together formerly incarcerated individuals, professionals and numerous agencies with a shared goal: breaking the cycle of incarceration. Panel discussions took place, which included a question-and-answer session with Parole Board members, presentations on vital documents with the MDOC and Secretary of State staff, and a discussion of trauma and available supports for those leaving incarceration. This unique collaboration formed the basis for the Reentry United Conference in November 2022, and it continues to drive important change.

The conference this year was an outstanding success. Reentry United allowed nearly 100 individuals to access essential resources and promises a brighter future for those preparing to reenter society. A success story to note includes William Kitchen, who was incarcerated for 21 years and completed his two-year parole sentence in Muskegon County last spring. Kitchen was recently accepted into Grand Valley State University (GVSU) to work toward obtaining a bachelor’s degree and moved into an apartment on campus. To celebrate his achievements, staff, resource navigators and community providers who worked with him recently threw him a surprise open house in August.

Reentry United could not be a success without the collaboration between numerous stakeholders from the MDOC, including Richard Handlon Correctional Facility staff, OSA’s Education Unit and In-Reach staff, the Bureau of Health Care Services, the Office of Parole/Probation Services, the Parole Board, the Vocational Village program and more. External partners include the Region 4 OS Reentry Medical Navigator, the Michigan Department of State, Fresh Coast Alliance, Reentry Reimagined, CLEAR Mentoring Program, Grand Rapids Community College, GVSU and Michigan Works! West Central. It also includes individuals like Kitchen and Aaron Kinzel, a trauma expert and formerly incarcerated individual, as well as other formerly incarcerated individuals who step up to share their personal experiences so that others who are returning to their communities can achieve success.

Stay tuned for updates and inspiring stories from Reentry United as they continue their transformative work in the MDOC. The next Reentry United inside event is planned for the spring of 2024 at the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

Be sure to checkout the pictures from the September 2023, Reentry United Inside Conference below. For more information about the annual outside Reentry United conference held in Grand Rapids, click here.