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MISSION AND VALUES

Our mission is to provide the support and services that men and women who have been incarcerated need to rebuild their lives. We work with our clients to develop and strengthen their connections to their families and the community.

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We are guided by compassion and empathy for our clients and committed to helping them build the capacity and courage to change their lives—regardless of their past choices, present struggles, or future obstacles.


We tailor our services to clients' unique needs, risks, and strengths. We recognize the importance of evidence-based, culturally appropriate, family-focused, and trauma-informed programs. 

HISTORY

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History

Our organization was founded in 1969 as the Visitors’ Services Center (VSC) by a small group of passionate volunteers who recognized the difficulty families experienced locating their loved ones while waiting in the D.C. Jail “visiting line.”  At its inception, VSC’s focus was to help people who were incarcerated stay in touch with their families and their community. The family connections provided by VSC were a valued source of hope to those incarcerated and their families.

As VSC’s mission expanded to include comprehensive services for people returning from incarceration, collaborative relationships were developed with DC’s criminal justice system and community stakeholders. As a result, in 2015, VSC changed its name to Voices for A Second Chance. VSC continues to work with DC residents incarcerated before and after their release. We have also continued to focus on maintaining and strengthening family and community ties while providing a wide range of reentry services and programs. Our support and services for over 50 years have made it possible for tens of thousands of men and women to rebuild their lives.

OUR TEAM

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Paula Thompson
President & CEO

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Our Team
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Diane Jones
LICSW, LCSW-C

Clinical Director

 

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Dr. Michelle Sermon MS, MSW, LGSW, PhD
Clinical Supervisor 

 

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Nancy Ware

Organizational Development 

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Linette Woods

Director of Reentry Program

 

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Warren Strother
Director of Finance 

 

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 La’Nasa Clarkson

Executive Assistant

 

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Isabelle Garcia
Data & Office 
Manager

 

Lennox Dasilva

Reentry Case Manager

 

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Eric Franklin

Billy Chandler

Justice Fellow

 

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Basimah Caldwell

Reentry Case Manager

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Charles Hopkins
Peer Engagement & Advocacy Coordinator

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board of Directors

President

Jeremy Wiley
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Treasurer

Ingrid gardiner
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General Counsel

brandon myers, J.D.

 

Board Secretary

Clayton Kolb, M.a.
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Board Members

lauren zehyoue, M.A.
Kevin Glandon, J.D.
Amia Trigg, J.D.
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