Office of the L.A. Mayor’s Strategic Reentry Initiatives Director Gilbert Johnson

You Are More Than Your Worst Mistakes

Gilbert Johnson is the director of Strategic Reentry Initiatives at the Office of L.A. Mayor Karen Bass and previously was an organizer at Community Coalition in South L.A. Before joining the Zócalo program “What Is a Good Job Now?” For the Formerly Incarcerated—supported by The James Irvine Foundation—Johnson joined us in the green room to talk about family, soul food, and what progress means to him.

Anti-Recidivism Coalition Executive Director Sam Lewis

On a Clear Night, the Stars Seem Like You Can Grab Them

Sam Lewis is the executive director of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition. He previously served as the director of Inside Programs where he created the Hope and Redemption Team, engaging formerly incarcerated staff to lead rehabilitative …

Root & Rebound Executive Director Carmen Garcia

We Don’t Exist Alone in the World

Carmen Garcia is the executive director of Root & Rebound. Before joining the Zócalo program “What Is a Good Job Now?” For the Formerly Incarcerated—supported by The James Irvine Foundation—Garcia …

Amity Foundation President and CEO Doug Bond

I’m Not a Big Dancer, but I’ll Dance for My Wife

Doug Bond is president and CEO of Amity Foundation, overseeing dozens of contracts including four residential campuses serving people with histories of criminal justice system involvement, addiction, and homelessness. Before …

Life After Incarceration Starts in Community

“‘What Is a Good Job Now?’ For the Formerly Incarcerated” Reveals the Hard, Long Work of Building Careers for People Reentering Society

What is a good job now?

That has been the guiding question for Zócalo’s ongoing series investigating low-wage work across sectors in California—supported by The James Irvine Foundation. Thus far, we’ve …

Prison Time Can Be Your Superpower in Business

I’m Formerly Incarcerated, and I Help People Reentering the Job Market Understand the Value of Their Experiences Inside

This piece publishes as part of the Zócalo/The James Irvine Foundation public program and editorial series, “What Is a Good Job Now?” which investigates …