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Operation New Hope is a leader in the field. United by the belief that we all have the power to change our lives for the better, we enjoy broad bipartisan support. Our work has been praised by the last four White House Administrations, as well as federal, state, and local representatives, law enforcement, and business leaders.
Kevin T. Gay is the Founder of Operation New Hope and led the organization as CEO from 1999-2022. Under Kevin’s 23 years of stewardship, Operation New Hope helped more than 10,000 individuals impacted by the criminal justice system successfully reconnect to the workforce, their families, and their communities. Kevin put Jacksonville on the national stage for leading the movement in reentry and criminal justice reform. Kevin’s impact is evident in the transformation stories of clients, enhanced hiring practices for employers, healthier communities and families, and increased public safety.
Kevin T. Gay is the Founder of Operation New Hope and led the organization as CEO from 1999-2022. Under Kevin’s 23 years of stewardship, Operation New Hope helped more than 10,000 individuals impacted by the criminal justice system successfully reconnect to the workforce, their families, and their communities. Kevin put Jacksonville on the national stage for leading the movement in reentry and criminal justice reform. Kevin’s impact is evident in the transformation stories of clients, enhanced hiring practices for employers, healthier communities and families, and increased public safety.
Operation New Hope was founded to address poverty, crime, homelessness, property disrepair, and drug addiction in the Historic Springfield Neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida and successfully brought together a community once lost to blight and neglect
Operation New Hope was founded to address poverty, crime, homelessness, property disrepair, and drug addiction in the Historic Springfield Neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida and successfully brought together a community once lost to blight and neglect
Our achievements caught the attention of President Bush and he selected Operation New Hope as the pilot site for Ready4Work – a reentry program designed to providing training and support to people returning from incarceration in order to match them with living-wage wage.
Our achievements caught the attention of President Bush and he selected Operation New Hope as the pilot site for Ready4Work – a reentry program designed to providing training and support to people returning from incarceration in order to match them with living-wage wage.
Operation New Hope’s success with the Ready4Work program was applauded by Bill Clinton in his book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World.
Operation New Hope’s success with the Ready4Work program was applauded by Bill Clinton in his book, Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama recognizes Operation New Hope on the campaign trail.
There are millions of Americans who share a similar view of their faith and feel they have an obligation to help others and are making a difference in communities all across this country – through initiatives like Ready4Work, which is helping ensure that ex-offenders don’t return to a life of crime.
Presidential candidate Barack Obama recognizes Operation New Hope on the campaign trail.
There are millions of Americans who share a similar view of their faith and feel they have an obligation to help others and are making a difference in communities all across this country – through initiatives like Ready4Work, which is helping ensure that ex-offenders don’t return to a life of crime.
Ready4Work graduates help with the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup.
Ready4Work graduates help with the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill cleanup.
Abe Brown Ministries became the 1st Ready4Work replicated site in Tampa, Florida
Abe Brown Ministries became the 1st Ready4Work replicated site in Tampa, Florida
We were instrumental in development of Project Open Door – Jax Chamber’s Ban-the-Box initiative to encourage employers to delay criminal background inquiries to the interview process which encouraged other cities around the nation to implement more equal hiring practices for people with a criminal history. Jacksonville was one of the first chambers to do so, earning White House recognition.
We were instrumental in development of Project Open Door – Jax Chamber’s Ban-the-Box initiative to encourage employers to delay criminal background inquiries to the interview process which encouraged other cities around the nation to implement more equal hiring practices for people with a criminal history. Jacksonville was one of the first chambers to do so, earning White House recognition.
Operation New Hope’s CEO and Founder, Kevin Gay, was invited to the White House on two different occasions. This included the White House Summit on Prisoner Reentry and working with legislators to advance the First Step Act. The First Step Act was a bill credited as having the potential for the most far-reaching overhaul of the criminal justice system – later signed into law by President Trump. The success of the federal First Step Act, along with additional advocacy from Operation New Hope, paved the way for the passing of the Florida First Step Act, reforming the state’s prison and justice systems.
Operation New Hope’s CEO and Founder, Kevin Gay, was invited to the White House on two different occasions. This included the White House Summit on Prisoner Reentry and working with legislators to advance the First Step Act. The First Step Act was a bill credited as having the potential for the most far-reaching overhaul of the criminal justice system – later signed into law by President Trump. The success of the federal First Step Act, along with additional advocacy from Operation New Hope, paved the way for the passing of the Florida First Step Act, reforming the state’s prison and justice systems.
Operation New Hope was recognized by the House of Mandela as a model re-entry program for the world. Kevin Gay received the first Nelson Mandela Freedom Award from the Mandela Family.
Operation New Hope was recognized by the House of Mandela as a model re-entry program for the world. Kevin Gay received the first Nelson Mandela Freedom Award from the Mandela Family.
Operation New Hope hosted a roundtable discussion regarding jobs, the economy, and reentry that was attended by Vice President Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis and state representatives.
Ready4Work is a "model program not only in Florida but for the United States."
When you compare Ready4Work’s recidivism rate to the State’s overall, it’s about 1/3 of what it would be absent this program. That’s the type of metrics we want to support.
Operation New Hope hosted a roundtable discussion regarding jobs, the economy, and reentry that was attended by Vice President Mike Pence, Ivanka Trump, Governor Ron DeSantis and state representatives.
Ready4Work is a "model program not only in Florida but for the United States."
When you compare Ready4Work’s recidivism rate to the State’s overall, it’s about 1/3 of what it would be absent this program. That’s the type of metrics we want to support.
Operation New Hope was honored by Mayor Lenny Curry on behalf of the City of Jacksonville and in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a 2021 recipient of the COJ/HUD Public-Philanthropic Initiative Award.
Operation New Hope was honored by Mayor Lenny Curry on behalf of the City of Jacksonville and in partnership with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a 2021 recipient of the COJ/HUD Public-Philanthropic Initiative Award.
To meet the critical needs of the thousands of people who return home every month from Florida’s jails and prisons, we have created a strategic plan that expands our programs with additional locations to create a statewide reentry network. We are excited to open our newest office in Orlando during the summer of 2022 to deliver our nationally-recognized Ready4Work reentry program and provide holistic solutions for returning citizens including training, housing, transportation, and mental health services.
We provide support, life and job skills training for people affected by the criminal justice system and place them in employment that offers a sustainable quality of life.
Home Office
1830 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32206
Central Florida Program Location
617 N. Magnolia Avenue, 2nd Floor
Orlando, Florida 32801
St. Johns County Program Location
525 West King Street
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
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© 2021 OperationNewHope.org – All Right Reserved
HELP & SUPPORT | PRIVACY POLICY