In Case You Missed It: Helping More People Thrive Post-Incarceration 

Finding a job after incarceration is difficult — but securing employment can keep a person from going back to jail.  

To prepare incarcerated individuals for successful reentry, in 2010 venture capitalist Chris Redlitz and his wife started The Last Mile (TLM). The group began by teaching entrepreneurship and coding at San Quentin State Prison. They have since expanded their program into 23 classrooms across 6 states, serving almost 1,000 students. 

Most recently, TLM is expanding its reach with $10 million in support from Stand Together Foundation and Citadel founder and CEO Ken Griffin. TLM will use the funding to add more than 800 classroom seats, develop five education tracks across specialties like audio-video production, and implement a randomized controlled trial to understand the causal impact of TLM programming on individual outcomes after incarceration.   

“The Last Mile provides the skills and training that those serving time need to reintegrate into society,” said Ken Griffin. “In partnering with Stand Together Foundation to support The Last Mile, it is my hope that these individuals are able to earn an honest living, contribute to their communities, and never again return to crime.” 

“The Last Mile is empowering incarcerated individuals to find valuable ways to contribute when they rejoin society. It’s truly a win/win solution: the students benefit through greater opportunity for themselves and their families and society benefits through their contributions along with dramatically reduced recidivism and safer communities,” said Stand Together Foundation Chairman Brian Hooks. 

Read TLM’s announcement. Read more about the partnership at AXIOS.