Meet the Staff – Yolanda
https://youtu.be/5A-AwZN7Uzk Meet our Ready4Work Case Manager and Recovery Support Group Facilitator – Yolanda Goodman. In 2022, Yolanda made the move from Illinois to Florida to join the Operation New Hope team, bringing with her a wealth of experience in teaching and case management. Yolanda and the Ready4Work Case Management team deliver post-release services and individualized support […]
Ready4Work Space Coast Ribbon Cutting
Florida has the 3rd largest incarcerated population in the U.S. and 95% of all state prisoners will be released. Brevard County has the 10th highest number of people returning from prisons here in the State of Florida. Therefore, there is a great need for reentry programs to help people rebuild their lives, become self-sufficient, keep […]
Voices of Hope – Willie T.
“Before Operation New Hope, I was homeless and going to various programs and community resource centers to get shoes, clothing and meals. I really wasn’t in a good place, but I have always tried to lived by the philosophy that life is neither good nor bad, it’s what you make of it. So I was […]
Meet the Staff – RJ
https://youtu.be/gcHaqwvlcjM Meet one of our Pre-release Case Managers – Ryan “RJ” James RJ joined Operation New Hope in 2021 to be a beacon of hope for those going through trauma so that they can overcome life’s challenges. Working in collaboration with the Department of Corrections, RJ and the Ready4Release team deliver pre-release services to 30+ facilities across Florida. […]
Ready4Work Orlando Celebrates First Year
To meet the critical needs of the thousands of people who return home to Central Florida every month from jail and prison, Operation New Hope opened a new program location in Orlando in September 2022 as part of our Statewide Reentry Network. After our first year of delivering our nationally-recognized Ready4Work reentry program and providing […]
Voices of Hope – Candace C.
“I’m a 38 year-old mother of 8 children who was never a heavy drug user until my husband and I separated after 22 years of marriage. I felt so scared and alone and threw myself into drugs and sex, but it didn’t get me anywhere except arrested for drug possession with intent to sell and […]
Congressman Rutherford Thanks Community for Support of Second Chances
Congressman Rutherford and Susan King of Feeding Northeast Florida Rev. Beth Tjoflat of St. Mary’s and Crystal Chisholm Members from nonprofit and faith communities gathered for Community Breakfast Operation New Hope’s Reggie Fullwood thanking Congressman Rutherford for being a Second Chance Supporter Congressman John Rutherford returned home to Jacksonville to speak on the importance of […]
Voices of Hope – David P.
“I’m originally from Bradenton, Florida and started using drugs because it was the only escape route I knew. If I couldn’t get it, I’d find a way to take it. The day I went to jail, I lost everything. I hurt the person I cared about the most and that hurt me. It broke my […]
Making a Difference: Mayo Clinic’s Helps Prepare Returning Citizens for Career Success
We are happy to express our gratitude to the Mayo Clinic team for their recent donation of professional attire for our reentry program participants. Their generosity will go a long way in helping our clients prepare for successful careers. During the last 24 years, our Ready4Release, Ready4Work, and Ready4Success programs we have helped over 10,000 people […]
Unlocking Opportunities: Exploring the Role of Staffing Solutions in Today’s Job Market
Hiring a formally incarcerated worker is often seen as a risk for many employers. By embracing a second chance approach, our employment partners have the opportunity to utilize a pool of untapped talent and make a positive impact on both the individuals they hire and society. In this article, let’s explore the numerous benefits of […]
Kaley Vontz Promoted to Community Engagement Manager
Operation New Hope is pleased to announce that Kaley Vontz has been promoted to Community Engagement Manager. In this new role, Kaley will be responsible for increasing awareness of our mission and cultivating relationships to encourage support, partnerships, and engagement. Kaley is a Jacksonville native who grew up at the beach and graduated from Episcopal […]
Voices of Hope – Fletcher
Read More Voices of Hope “Before Operation New Hope, I had a great job. I was bringing home over $2,000 per week, but I was always broke because of my $1,500 a week drug habit. I had a home, but I spent more time sleeping in my car. I was eventually arrested and spent a […]
Voices of Hope – Teresa G.
“I was born to addicts and came from a very broken, abusive home. I didn’t have hope. By the time I was 25, I had 4 kids. I had periods of sobriety, but struggled with my own addiction. My choices landed me in prison by the age of 28, and I was faced with a […]
Ready4Work Graduates from St. Johns County Reentry Center
The St. Johns County Reentry Center is up and running, and we are thrilled to report that our partnership with the Sheriff’s Office is off to a fantastic start! Our team has been providing reentry support and training to people currently incarcerated at the St. Johns County Jail for several weeks now, and as evidenced […]
Voices of Hope – Jarvis G.
“I had no idea how much the criminal justice system would impact my life. After serving 2 years in prison, the only job I could get was washing dishes. I was trying to provide for my wife and kids but having a hard time making ends meet. It was a really low point in my […]
Voices of Hope – Samantha M.
“I spent years struggling with addiction and instability and dragged my son through all the muck and mud of my life. My last time being arrested was in October 2021, and I was released on June 29, 2022. I was given a second chance by Angels of Mercy when they offered me housing in their […]