Voices of Hope – Alfonso J.
Fatherhood Beyond the Prison Walls Growing Up Without a Father Figure I grew up in St. Augustine, Florida, and was raised primarily by my mother and grandmother. My mom worked two jobs as a single parent, and because my grandmother had diabetes and needed care, I spent my early years living with her and helping […]
Over 500 Participants Gather for Operation New Hope’s 5th Annual Hope Starts Here 5K in Jacksonville
On Saturday, May 23, 2026, more than 500 runners, walkers, volunteers, sponsors, and supporters gathered in Jacksonville‘s historic Springfield neighborhood for Operation New Hope’s 5th Annual Hope Starts Here 5K. The event, which also included a family-friendly 1-Mile Fun Run, brought the community together to celebrate hope, opportunity, and second chances while raising funds to […]
Voices of Hope Update: Terrence P.
From Uncertainty to Opportunity In March 2019, Terrence Platts walked through the doors of Operation New Hope’s Ready4Work program in Jacksonville with determination, but like many returning citizens, he also carried uncertainty about what would come next. After spending nearly 20 years incarcerated, Terrence began preparing for his transition home through Operation New Hope’s Ready4Release […]
Second Chance Month 2026
What is Second Chance Month? Second Chance Month 2026 is a nationwide initiative observed each April to raise awareness about the challenges faced by justice-impacted individuals while promoting second chances, reducing stigma, and expanding opportunities for successful reentry. Launched in 2017, this effort has grown into a national movement supported by bipartisan leaders, state governments, […]
Voices of Hope – Brooke D.
Before Hope: Addiction, Loss and Survival “I was raised in Nassau County and spent a few years growing up in Georgia. I became pregnant with my first child at 16, got married, and by the time I was 20, I was addicted to pain pills. My addiction quickly took over my life. After my first […]
Celebrating New Beginnings: Space Coast Open House
On Thursday, December 4th, Operation New Hope welcomed community members, partners, elected officials, and supporters to help celebrate our new Space Coast office in Cocoa during a very special Open House event. Operation New Hope first expanded to the Space Coast in August 2023 to meet the needs of justice-impacted individuals in Brevard County — […]
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 […]