About 600,000 people get out of the nation’s prisons every year. Unfortunately, the formerly incarcerated return to custody in alarming numbers. Recidivism research shows that 6 in 10 will be rearrested within three years of their release. One of the primary reasons they go back is joblessness, either due to a lack of a second-chance opportunity or the necessary skills.

Mentors and volunteers serving as aspirational role models have an enormous impact on the lives of inmates and are often seen as “family.” Inmates overwhelmingly report that mentors and volunteers are essential to their transformation.