We are happy to announce that we have a 2015/2016 Annual Report and new officers for the Roundtable! We would like to welcome the incoming officers in their new positions: Helen Gaebler, JD, UT School of Law – Chair Melissa Orren, Community Representative – Vice-Chair Sarah Pahl Worthington, MSSW, JD Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – Immediate Past Chair Reggie […]
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Three words that describe you: Child of God What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? Employment was huge, still is as I am in a temp assignment. Finding that one person to give you a second chance is very difficult and very stressful. Five hundred+ applications submitted, not one interview from any […]
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Three words that describe you. Tenacious, Loyal, and Empathetic What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? The perception people have of individuals with criminal histories and how difficult it is to prove yourself as a worthy member of society in the face of such critical and ignorant judgment from the general population […]
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Three words that describe you: The three words that describe me best would be trustworthy, honest and respectful of others. What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? My challenges when reentering were finding meaningful and stable employment, locating a support group for formerly incarcerated individuals, and facing my fear of the unknown. What […]
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Three words that describe you: Thankful, Honest, Humble What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? Finding stable employment that was decent paying and accessing affordable housing. What resources have you found most helpful for reentering? My family and God have been my number one resources; without them I don’t know where I […]
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Laura Sovine, Past Chair, Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable Planning Council Director of Operations, Austin Recovery What brought you to this work? While I was in graduate school to be a therapist, my mom married a man with two sons in prison; one was incarcerated in Georgia and the other was in Huntsville, Texas. My mom […]
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Kenneth Thompson, Member and Past Co-Chair, Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable Planning Council Fatherhood Program Specialist, Texas Department of Family and Protective Services How long have you been involved with the Roundtable and what brought you to this work? I have been involved with the Reentry Roundtable since about two years after it began. I […]
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Helen Gaebler, Past Chair, Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable Planning Council Senior Research Attorney, William Wayne Justice Center for Public Interest Law, UT School of Law Tell me about your professional background. I grew up in Wisconsin and attended law school there. After graduating and clerking for a year at the Wisconsin Supreme Court, I […]
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Name: Charles Walker Three words that describe you: Considerate, Compassionate, and Determined. What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? Housing. Resources I found most helpful: Family, Church, and the City of Austin. Did you have a mentor or a role model? My two younger brothers. What drives your passion and makes you excited […]
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Name: Lewis Conway Jr. Three words that describe you: Blessed, grateful and appreciative. What are the top challenges that you faced when reentering? The top challenges I faced were employment and a lost sense of identity. What resources have you found most helpful for reentering? The best resource I was able to discover that assisted me the most with […]
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