Dressing for Success: Chandler’s Hope Clothes Closet Supports Ready4Work Clients in Jacksonville
Reentering the workforce after incarceration comes with many challenges — landing a job interview, building confidence, and adjusting to new expectations in professional settings. But for many returning citizens, one significant barrier comes before they ever step into an interview: the cost of professional attire. When first beginning work, most people don’t have the savings […]
From Hiring Partner to Workforce Leader: Melissa’s Journey with Operation New Hope
When Melissa first connected with Operation New Hope more than a decade ago, she was looking for great employees. As a hiring manager at a Jacksonville construction company, she faced the same challenge many employers do — finding dependable, skilled team members who would show up, work hard, and grow with the company. At the […]
From Start to Finish: Hope Starts Here 5K Inspires Change
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, nearly 200 Orlando community members came together at Harbor Park in Lake Baldwin for the Third Annual Hope Starts Here 5K Orlando, raising awareness, funds, and support for second chances. Benefiting Operation New Hope, Florida’s Statewide Reentry Network, the event united participants of all ages and experience levels to run, […]
Operation New Hope Space Coast Has a New Home
Operation New Hope, Florida’s Statewide Reentry Network, is excited to announce that our Ready4Work Program Location in Space Coast has moved into a new office! Previously, due to client capacity, our team served participants across two adjacent buildings. As of Monday, September 15, 2025, we are now fully open and operating under one roof at […]
Hope and Healthcare: USF’s Mo-Bull Clinic Joins Operation New Hope to Serve Returning Citizens
Operation New Hope is excited to announce a new partnership with the University of South Florida’s (USF) College of Nursing that will bring critical health services directly to our Ready4Work clients and alumni in Tampa and St. Petersburg. Through this collaboration, USF’s Mo-Bull Nurse Medical Clinic will visit both ONH Tampa Bay sites bi-weekly for […]
Voices of Hope Update: Tanaine Jenkins – Florida State Organizer, REFORM Alliance
When we first met Tanaine Jenkins in 2012, she had just joined Operation New Hope’s Ready4Work program in Jacksonville. Seeking a fresh start after incarceration, her case manager quickly connected her to an interview at a logistics company, where she was hired right away. That opportunity was just the beginning of a journey that has […]
Voices of Hope – Shannon B.
Shannon Tabling with Her Employer, Curative Care Center “Before coming to Operation New Hope, I had never had a job before, never worked, and had never even made a resume. I had been in and out of jail my whole life. Eventually, I went to rehab in the Space Coast at a center called STEPS, […]
Operation New Hope Celebrates One Year of Impact in Tampa Bay
This month marks one full year since Operation New Hope opened its doors in St. Petersburg and Tampa, and what a year it has been. Since launching services in the Tampa Bay region in July 2024, we’ve had the privilege of supporting hundreds of individuals as they reenter their communities after incarceration. With the help […]
Sharing Hope in Tampa Bay Through Innovative Media
If you’ve been out and about in downtown Tampa, you may have spotted Operation New Hope on the move. That’s all thanks to our new collaboration with Orange Barrel Media (OBM), whose innovative digital kiosks are spreading the word about second chances across Tampa Bay. Founded in 2004, Orange Barrel Media is a national leader […]
Meet the Instructor: Olivia Hanson’s Perspective on Reentry
Meet Olivia Hanson, a dedicated instructor at Operation New Hope’s Space Coast office, where people returning from incarceration receive the support they need to achieve stability and success. Operation New Hope is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals transform their lives through the nationally-recognized Ready4Work program. This three-week learning experience provides job readiness training, technology […]
High School Student Assembles 50 Hygiene Kits to Support Returning Citizens
Recently, Operation New Hope had the pleasure of welcoming a very special donation from a young leader in the Jacksonville community. Nadav Bagaria, an incoming sophomore at Stanton College Preparatory School, organized a toiletry drive and assembled 50 Welcome Home Kits valued at over $500, which he personally delivered to our Jacksonville office. These kits, […]
Jet HomeLoans Donates Over 50 Laptops to Expand Digital Access for Returning Citizens
On Thursday, May 22, 2025, Operation New Hope had the privilege of welcoming the Jet HomeLoans team to our Jacksonville office for a visit that will have a lasting impact across the state of Florida. They arrived with an incredibly generous donation of 51 laptops to support digital access and technology training for clients navigating […]
Meet Maria Maldonado Gutierrez: Prioritizing Mental Health for Reentry Success
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and at Operation New Hope, we know that mental health support is essential for successful reentry. To honor this vital connection, we’re spotlighting Maria Maldonado Gutierrez, a licensed Mental Health Therapist who brings compassion, expertise, and creativity to our Orlando team. Maria plays a key role in supporting our […]
Jacksonville Runs for Reentry at the 4th Annual Hope Starts Here 5K
Jacksonville community rallies around reentry, opportunity, and wellness. On Saturday, May 17, 2025, the community gathered in Jacksonville’s Historic Springfield neighborhood for Operation New Hope’s 4th Annual Hope Starts Here 5K. This year’s event marked our largest turnout yet, with over 400 runners and walkers participating. The morning kicked off with inspiring words from Reggie […]
Empowering Through Employment: Jacksonville’s Third Annual Second Chance Job Fair
On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, Operation New Hope was proud to co-host the Third Annual Second Chance Job Fair in Jacksonville: a powerful event designed to connect job seekers with employers who believe in opportunities for all. Held at the FSCJ Advanced Technology Center, the event was hosted by Operation New Hope, CareerSource of Northeast […]
Operation New Hope Celebrates Over 100 Ready4Work Graduates in St. Pete
On April 25th, Operation New Hope proudly celebrated a major milestone, recognizing more than 100 individuals who have graduated from the Ready4Work program in St. Pete since the location opened in July 2024. The celebration brought together community members, partners, and supporters to recognize the achievements of our clients and the transformative impact of second […]