How long should a person be made to pay for the worst thing they’ve ever done?

Not forever, if Coop and Laura have anything to say about it.

On this episode of the By Little podcast, Coop shares the story of his life leading up to his imprisonment. He explains how this experience led him to founding Operation Gateway, an Asheville, NC-based nonprofit aimed at reshaping the futures of formerly incarcerated people.

Dr. Laura Chavez, Director of Research and Data at Clean Slate Initiative, join us too. She explains why Clean Slate is on a mission to unlock second chances for the over 14 million formerly incarcerated people across the U.S.

Together, Coop and Laura offer their insights on the realities of life after prison, as well as the structural changes needed to help people to avoid reoffending after they reenter society.

For the latest on Coop’s work, follow him on LinkedIn and find Operation Gateway at OperationGateway.org.

For more on the Clean Slate Initiative, check out CleanSlateInitiative.org. To stay up-to-date on Laura’s research, follow her on LinkedIn.

And to learn how YOU can help smooth reentry for the formerly incarcerated, read our essays on the subject by becoming a paid By Little subscriber for $6.50 per month.

* Read: Unlocking Social Capital - 7 Ways You Can Help the Formerly Incarcerated Rebuild Their Lives

* Read: Normalize Opportunity - How you can help create alternatives for the poverty to prison pipeline.

Visit bylittle.substack.com for details on this and all our offerings.

Here’s to working towards better together.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bylittle.substack.com