Breaking Barriers: How Reentry Support Changes Lives | Episode 219

Breaking Barriers: How Reentry Support Changes Lives | Episode 219

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The journey from incarceration back to community living isn't what most people imagine. There's no automatic setup for housing, employment, or basic necessities. The path is fraught with unexpected barriers—from lacking a simple ID to navigating technology that didn't exist when someone entered prison.

Summit County's Citizen Circle stands as a beacon for those navigating this complex terrain. Co-leaders Shawn Bonner and Lisa Dolan join us to reveal the profound simplicity behind their approach: they listen. "We listen so deep that before we respond to anything, we go into prayer and ask God to direct our conversation," Shawn explains, highlighting how this intentional listening forms the foundation of their work.

Shawn brings the powerful perspective of lived experience, having transformed his own incarceration into a calling to serve others. His journey through social work education and volunteer service eventually led him to co-lead this vital community resource. Lisa's path emerged unexpectedly through her work in child support services, where she discovered how criminal backgrounds created barriers to employment and, consequently, to child support payments.

Together, they've created a program that prioritizes mental health and addiction recovery while respecting participants' autonomy. "We don't tell them what to do," Lisa emphasizes. "We offer suggestions. I wouldn't want to go somewhere and somebody tell me you've got to do this, you've got to do that." This respect for choice and dignity permeates everything Citizen Circle does—from accepting walk-ins to carefully matching individuals with the right resources from their network of over 50 providers.

What's particularly moving is how the Circle transforms relationships. Parole officers who refer individuals often see their relationships with those individuals improve after they experience the care and support of the Circle. The program creates ripples of positive change that extend far beyond immediate needs.

Want to make a difference in reentry work? Lisa offers this encouraging perspective: "It doesn't take a lot of training or education. There's something really simple about it, and that is: do you have the heart for it? Do you have the capacity to be nonjudgmental?" Join us for this eye-opening conversation, and stay tuned for part two coming soon.

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