This July, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, Goodwill New Beginnings, held its sixth annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament. Every year, this highly anticipated event connects the community with Indiana law enforcement and the Indiana Department of Corrections through an afternoon of friendly competition, camaraderie and fun.

For over 10 years, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s New Beginnings program has helped those who have been previously incarcerated reenter their communities. The program is designed to offer Hoosiers the resources to address the barriers they encounter after being released from the criminal justice system. 

For over 10 years, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana's New Beginnings program has helped previously incarcerated people reenter their communities successfully and positively impacted its participants' recidivism or the rate of returning to prison. Compared to Indiana’s recidivism rate of 34%, Goodwill New Beginnings participants maintain a recidivism rate under 10%.

Since 2017, Second Chance Month has been observed in the United States to highlight the importance of supporting previously incarcerated people as they work to reenter their communities.

Goodwill New Beginnings, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, was excited to celebrate its last graduation of 2023. Individuals who have experienced the criminal justice system were honored for achieving all of the requirements to graduate from the program and reenter their communities. 

Goodwill New Beginnings, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana’s reentry program, was excited to celebrate its second graduation in 2023. In a June ceremony, 12 individuals who have experienced the justice system were honored for accomplishing their reentry goals and fulfilling all of the requirements to graduate from the program.

Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana is always proud to highlight our hardworking leaders, dedicated to achieving our mission of changing lives every day through employment, education and health. As a Goodwill New Beginnings team member, Montez Day helps those who have experienced the justice system.

February is Black History Month, and Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana is proud and excited to celebrate its Black and African American leaders, mission participants and students. David Hollomon is an incredible example of a Goodwill leader and has been for nearly two years.

Trelles Evans, Director of Mission Advancement for Reentry and Disability Services at Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, discusses her role and the people served by the programs she oversees.

Greg Perry beamed with pride as he stood at the podium at his graduation from Goodwill’s New Beginnings program, recounting the experiences that led him to prison as well as those that changed his life. New Beginnings is a six-month, re-entry program that helps those who were recently incarcerated adjust to society after their release.