By Alexandra Fradelizio | m/Oppenheim Media Writer
Every day, individuals with criminal records aim to transition from their pasts and rebuild their lives and futures. The Fortune Society of New York City not only provides tools to help incarcerated individuals re-enter society but also works to reduce sentence times and improve prisons.
“Our mission is to help people return to their communities as constructive citizens, and we have a whole array of services to do that,” said Fortune Society President and CEO JoAnne Page.
“We make a commitment to people for a lifetime of aftercare because most of our people come to us with extensive behavioral health issues, substance abuse and mental illnesses that are often multi-generational.”
The Fortune Society, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, helps nearly 7,000 men and women per year who are referred to the organization by judges, probation officers, and others in the justice system. Anyone with a criminal justice history may access the various services provided by the organization. In particular, employment and schooling programs are available to the participants as well as housing, mental health, drug, and family services.
“We have a two part mission. A piece of it is advocacy, and a piece of it is services,” explained Page.
“The advocacy side is about trying to make our criminal justice system more just, and we also have an alternative set of programs where we are trying to keep people with open cases from being incarcerated.”
The organization offers housing and services for individuals in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Additionally, Fortune Society has 300 employees who organize outreach programs in these areas. More than half of the staff has been previously incarcerated themselves, creating a mentorship program between volunteers and recipients of the services.
“They serve as a bridge for people coming home, especially for long-termers, because they help people who they did time with,” Page said of the mentorship program.
“That’s a very personal connection.”
The Fortune Society is largely funded by government sources as well as federal and state agencies. The organization also benefits from individual donors, including the Robin Hood Foundation which helps to prevent poverty in New York City. Additional funds received by Fortune Society help in advertising projects to recruit those who need assistance.
“We have a very active set of media strategies because we are advocates as well,” explained Page.
Throughout her life, Page has continuously contributed to improving the social justice system. As a teenager, she volunteered in prisons and eventually became a law student during which she began to contribute to Fortune Society.
“I love the way they treated people,” she said of her initial experiences with the organization.
“It’s been a tremendous learning and growth experience, and it’s also a real joy, because I get to work on doing what matters most to me.”
Due to current changes in the justice system, Page plans to implement more housing structures to help as many previously incarcerated individuals as possible. In particular, the organization is providing technical support to replicate a successful housing model in Syracuse, New York and plans to eventually duplicate their programs on a national scale.
“It’s a strange time politically,” she said.
“We may go back as a country to making the same mistakes that made us the country that incarcerates the highest percentage of our population in the world. The issue of returning to ridiculous long sentences and overuse of incarceration when we were just starting to move away from it is something that we are really committed to changing.”
However, Page remains optimistic the work of Fortune Society will allow the justice system to improve for the benefit of all society.
“If you care about issues concerning institutions that do human damage, I think the criminal justice system is the center of that.”
“You see people develop hope.”
Learn more about the Fortune Society and Donate.