#reentrymatters

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HFufT22B6A) 

Arturo has been home from prison for about a year and making the best of his second chance. This is his story. If you enjoyed this video please do not forget to hit that LIKE and SUBSCRIBE button. I don't want you missing a thing! 

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ABOUT RO 

Ro is the co-founder of Strong Prison Wives & Families, a 501 c3 non profit organization with more than 60,000 members. Ro has provided extensive support and private counsel to wives, girlfriends, sisters, mothers, and family members who have an incarcerated loved one since 2009. In addition to private coaching, Ro has produced and starred in hundreds of videos that document strategies on how to deal with nearly every conceivable situation, emotion and experience shared by all those who have a loved one that is incarcerated. Additionally, for nearly a decade, she has collaborated with myriad prison advocacy groups/organizations, political activists, and media representatives to bring attention to the needs of citizens supporting incarcerated loved ones. On the personal side, Ro has a passion for her family, exercise and fitness. She has a degree in Sports Medicine and is the Founder of Fit Beautiful Life. She was also Former Ms. Fitness New Jersey. 

The Interview Before the Interview

How Preparation at Hijrah House Is Rewriting Second Chances

There’s a moment most people don’t think about.

Not the release date.

Not the bus ride home.

Not even the first night back in a real bed.

It’s the interview.

Fifteen minutes. Sometimes less.

A table. A chair. A question: “Tell me about yourself.”

For a returning citizen, that moment carries weight most employers will never fully understand.

At the Muslim Chaplain Services of Virginia’s Hijrah House in Richmond, that moment isn’t left to chance.

It’s prepared for intentionally, repeatedly, and with purpose.

More Than Employment… A Reintroduction

Work is not just a paycheck.

It’s structure.

It’s accountability.

It’s identity.

Without it, days blur. Temptations return. Confidence fades.

With it, something stabilizes.

But here’s the part many programs overlook: wanting a job is not the same as being ready for one.

Hijrah House closes that gap.

Residents are trained to:

* Build resumes that are honest yet forward-looking

* Speak about their past without being trapped in it

* Present themselves with clarity, composure, and direction

* Walk into interviews prepared, not hopeful, but ready

Because readiness shows.

And employers notice.

Job Search Tips for Returning Citizens

This is where preparation becomes practical.

Not theory. Not motivation. Strategy.

Look for “Fair Chance” or “Ban the Box” employers

These employers are more likely to understand your background and evaluate you based on your present, not just your past.

Be honest, but don’t overexplain

Say what needs to be said. Then move forward.

Focus on what you’ve learned and what you bring to the table now.

Highlight your strengths

Punctuality. Adaptability. Willingness to work.

These matter more than people think, and they often separate candidates.

Use your resources

Hijrah House mentors are not just advisors. They are part of your preparation team.

Resumes, applications, interviews, use them.

Because preparation alone is powerful.

But preparation with guidance is transformative.

The Casual Power Suit: Interview Outfits That Impress

You don’t need an expensive suit.

You need intention.

Clean. Coordinated. Thoughtful.

Clothing doesn’t just cover you, it communicates before you speak.

Example 1: Classic Baby Blue

* Shirt: Light blue button-up

* Pants: Khaki trousers

* Shoes: Brown dress shoes

* Optional: Subtle-pattern tie

Simple. Reliable. Professional.

Example 2: Light & Calm with White Kufi

* Shirt: Light blue button-up

* Pants: Light khaki trousers

* Shoes: Brown dress shoes

* Optional: White kufi headwear

Balanced. Calm. Grounded in identity.

Example 3: Crisp White & Grey

* Shirt: White button-down

* Pants: Grey khakis

* Shoes: Brown belt and shoes

Clean lines. Clear impression.

Final Tip: The Ascot Advantage

Not everyone is comfortable wearing a tie.

That’s where the ascot comes in.

* It elevates your look without feeling restrictive

* Adds sophistication without being loud

* Signals thoughtfulness and attention to detail

* Helps you stand out… quietly

Pro Tip: If ties aren’t your style, try an ascot.

It’s smart, clean, and memorable without trying too hard.

Interview Success: Practical Strategies to Stand Out

Preparation doesn’t end with what you wear.

It continues in how you move, speak, and respond.

Be observant, build rapport

Pay attention. If the interviewer shares something, connect naturally.

People remember how you made them feel, not just what you said.

Flip the final question

When they ask if you have questions, respond with:

“Was there anything in today’s interview that made you hesitate about hiring me?”

It does two things instantly:

* Shows confidence

* Opens the door for honest feedback

Most candidates never ask this. That’s why it works.

Practice in the mirror

Rehearse your answers. Watch your posture.

Reduce filler words like “um.”

Get comfortable with yourself before expecting others to be.

Mock Interviews, Real Transformation

At Hijrah House, interviews are practiced before they are lived.

Residents go through:

* Simulated interviews

* Real-time feedback

* Repetition until confidence replaces hesitation

By the time the real opportunity comes, it’s not unfamiliar.

It’s something they’ve already faced.

Why This Work Matters

When one man becomes employable, something bigger happens.

He stabilizes.

His family stabilizes.

His future shifts direction.

And others notice.

That’s how change spreads in a community, not through speeches, but through visible outcomes.

The Interview Before the Interview

Most people believe second chances begin when someone says, “You’re hired.”

That’s not where it begins.

It begins earlier.

In preparation.

In mentorship.

In the quiet work done before opportunity arrives.

Hijrah House understands that.

And because of that, when the moment finally comes…

Their residents don’t just hope for a second chance.

BUSY & FULL | As a follow up to yesterday's post, here is the promised update from Melissa on her life post-PPP & incarceration. If you’d like to join PPP in supporting brighter futures, make a gift  in honor of #GivingTuesday.

"Prison Pet Partnership prepared me in a multitude of ways for life outside of WCCW. So much of the work that PPP accomplished in my life was internal. I learned how to participate in healthy relationships, I learned coping skills, good communication, how to show up for myself and those around me and I learned professional skills that allowed me to enter the workforce as a groomer immediately upon my release. In fact, with the help of PPP staff, I was able to connect with an amazing employer (Grateful Dogs - Grooming and Daycamp!!) prior to my departure from prison so that I had a job awaiting me when I arrived in Olympia. Because of this, I walked out of prison with pieces of the foundation for my success already in place.

While incarcerated, PPP staff also assisted me in applying for enrollment at the Evergreen State College. More importantly, they built me up to believe that success in a 4-year university was within my reach. They encouraged me to dream beyond what years of incarceration taught me to believe possible.

Two months after release from custody, I walked onto the Evergreen campus in pursuit of my bachelor’s degree. I am currently a senior on track to graduate in Spring 2021!I now work as a Peer Navigator for the Familiar Faces program in Olympia. I have discovered a passion for working with women who’ve been impacted by incarceration, domestic violence, poverty, substance use, and mental health challenges. In my work, I have the opportunity to build people up the way I was built up by PPP.

Perhaps the greatest gift I received from PPP is Harper—my best friend. Harper and I were paired together during my final year at PPP. I raised her and trained her for a career as a service dog, but in the end, Harper decided she would rather be with me. Six months after my release, Harper was “paroled” and I was given the chance (of a lifetime) to adopt her! She and her fur-brother Ernie and my two recently adopted kittens (Atticus and Riot) make up the heartbeat of my home! (Our story is soon to be featured on the new television program To the Rescue—so, stay tuned!).My life is busy and full and beyond anything I could have hoped it could become in the three years since I left WCCW and PPP."

We couldn't be more proud of the work Melissa is doing now, and of course, it warms everyone's hearts to see the bond that she built with Harper carries on! Updates like these are what keep us going at PPP. If you’d like to support brighter futures for incarcerated women, community members in need of assistance, and animals, head to the link below to make a gift  in honor of the upcoming #GivingTuesday, global giving event! 

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/prison-pet-partnership-program/looking-forward-to-brighter-futures-with-ppp

SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS This brighter future update comes from former program participant A. Curtis, "After 5 years of a successful grooming career, I transitioned nearly a year ago to a career in software development. I have so much gratitude in my heart for the opportunities PPP offered me, not only while incarcerated for several years but also the support provided after my release.

Representing Justice Impacted Women Hosted by New HOUR for Women & Children LI A dialogue about the challenge is just as impact of women and their children face on Long Island