A New Industrial Revolution: Forges Socioeconomic & Criminal Justice Reform
Transforming America's $80 Billion Prison System into Economic Engines of Hope
"Liberate Not Incarcerate. Build Homes Not Prisons."
"Teach someone how to fish, they will eat for a lifetime.
Teach someone to build, they will transform communities."
- A. Agustin
This initiative represents more than just a movement; it's a comprehensive, all-inclusive transformation designed to reshape society at its core. Our vision is to dismantle systemic barriers and ensure universal accessibility to opportunities for justice and prosperity, fostering a future where every individual can thrive.
Empowering Futures
Lifers Hope Foundation champions second chances, guiding transformation and successful reintegration.
Our Movement: Justice Through Transformation
"Lifers Hope Foundation champions social, economic, and equal justice. We build self-sufficient, green communities to transform incarceration into opportunity, poverty into empowerment, and inequality into justice. Through housing, renewable energy, regenerative farming, and community wealth, we liberate lives and reshape society from the inside out."
Founder: Forging Purpose
Arthur Agustin's profound personal transformation, forged through incarceration, is the driving force behind the Lifers Hope Foundation. Guided to Beit T'Shuvah, he uncovered his calling: to liberate the marginalized, oppressed, and forgotten.
Arthur is a living testament to this transformation. He is pursuing a Master of Social Work at USC, specializing in addiction medicine, social justice, and policy advocacy, with a current internship at Amity Foundation. His firsthand experience and unwavering commitment to systemic reform make him the Foundation's powerful embodiment and guiding vision.
"My life transformed into something meaningful. I strive to make this possible for everyone who has experienced incarceration, injustice, and oppression." - Arthur Agustin
Arthur honed practical skills and a visionary outlook through the MC3 Pre-Apprenticeship Program and intensive sustainable agriculture training. This learning journey culminates in the Lifers Hope Foundation Integration Model—a holistic framework addressing human needs for shelter, employment, and belonging, guiding individuals toward lasting success and reintegration.
The Problem
Roots of Mass Incarceration
Systemic issues drive mass incarceration, demanding transformative solutions for true liberation and reintegration.
Breaking the Cycle: Understanding the Roots of Criminal Behavior
Criminal behavior stems from systemic breakdowns, societal neglect, and profound disconnections, not individual failure. Understanding these root causes is essential for forging effective, lasting solutions that transform lives and communities.
The School-to-Prison Pipeline
Disproportionate suspension and arrest rates for low-income and minority students funnel them into the juvenile justice system, bypassing critical support for underlying issues like trauma or learning disabilities.
Environmental Factors & Structural Racism
Communities with high unemployment, limited education, and fractured families, exacerbated by structural racism, often see incarceration as a predictable outcome due to normalized criminal activity and lack of opportunity. Black and Brown individuals face higher rates of stops, arrests, and harsher sentences.
Untreated Trauma & Mental Health
Over 60% of incarcerated individuals report childhood abuse or neglect. This unresolved trauma, coupled with mental illnesses (45%) and substance use disorders (65%), often manifests as risky behavior leading to imprisonment, yet fewer than 11% receive adequate treatment.
Addressing criminal behavior demands looking beyond individual choices to confront structural, emotional, social, and historical conditions. Crime often signals the devastating peak of systemic failures and profound societal disconnection. Intertwined factors—poverty, fractured families, underfunded education, community disinvestment, early trauma, and inadequate mental health/addiction treatment—create conditions where incarceration is tragically inevitable.
"I never truly had a chance. My mom was struggling with addiction, my dad was locked up, and school just didn't care. They kept suspending me until I dropped out. I never wanted to be a criminal—but I was already surviving like one."
— Formerly Incarcerated Individual, now a successful journeyman electrician
But what if we could interrupt these cycles before they begin? What if prisons became launching pads instead of dead ends? The Lifers Hope Integration Model transforms these systemic failures into systematic solutions.
Our Solution
The Lifers Hope Integration Model
A revolutionary approach transforming correctional facilities into community-driven economic hubs.
From Correctional Facility to Economic Hub
Lifers Hope Foundation transforms correctional facilities into dynamic, self-sustaining economic hubs, fostering rehabilitation through productive engagement and community building.
This isn't merely rehabilitation; it's a profound economic transformation that builds wealth, empowers individuals, and reshapes society's approach to justice.
The Integrated Community Model
Our innovative approach transforms correctional facilities into thriving economic hubs, fostering rehabilitation by empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to build productive lives and contribute to self-sustaining communities.
Building Futures, Not Prisons: Unleashing Potential, Not Incarceration
Lifers Hope Foundation believes in every individual's profound capacity for change. We are dedicated to restoring dignity, purpose, and opportunity for those impacted by the justice system, fostering communities that champion true transformation.
We envision a society where formerly incarcerated individuals are empowered to thrive. By providing access to education, vocational training, stable housing, union jobs, and mental health services, we create pathways for them to rebuild lives and contribute meaningfully.
Champion Restorative Justice
We embrace healing over punitive measures, focusing on accountability, genuine amends, and rebuilding community trust.
Create Economic Equity
Through union apprenticeships, homeownership, and financial literacy, we empower sustainable economic independence.
Foster Community Self-Sufficiency
Our innovative communities feature modular housing, organic farms, and renewable energy, built and maintained by residents for true autonomy.
Unleashing Economic Potential: From Incarceration to Opportunity
The Cost of Incarceration
—
Total Annual Cost
$80B
—
Recidivism Rate
68%
—
Individuals in System
2.3M
The Opportunity: Redirecting Spending for Prosperity
The annual $80 billion spent on incarceration isn't just a cost; it's an untapped reservoir of potential. By redirecting just 25% of this spending – a staggering $20 billion – we can ignite an economic multiplier effect, transforming communities and empowering individuals.
Imagine what $20 billion could build if invested in people, not punishment.
200,000 Green Jobs
Creating living-wage careers in sustainable construction, renewable energy, and infrastructure development, boosting local economies.
400,000 Affordable Homes
Building high-quality modular housing, providing stable homes and addressing critical housing shortages across the nation.
4 Million Training Scholarships
Funding vocational training, certifications, and higher education for in-demand skills, unlocking individual potential and workforce development.
200,000 Small Business Loans
Catalyzing entrepreneurship and local business growth, revitalizing neighborhoods and creating new opportunities from within.
Impact & Growth
Transforming Lives, Scaling Solutions
Showcasing real impact and our vision for nationwide scaling.
Transformation Stories: The Impact We Envision
Our Integration Model creates profound transformations, showcasing the potential for rehabilitation and societal reintegration.
Marcus Johnson
After 12 years, Marcus graduated from our carpentry program, harnessing his precision and dedication. He now leads a thriving custom furniture business, "Redwood Revival," generating over $500,000 in annual revenue and proudly employing 10 formerly incarcerated individuals. He also actively mentors new program participants, creating a ripple effect of hope and economic empowerment in his community.
Elena Rodriguez
Our regenerative agriculture program propelled Elena from a prison kitchen to an executive chef. Her farm-to-table restaurant, "The Gilded Sprout," has received national acclaim and a Michelin Green Star. She sources ingredients from local organic farms, supporting over a dozen small businesses and inspiring countless women in our culinary training program to pursue their dreams of sustainable entrepreneurship.
Terrell Washington
Sentenced at 19, Terrell transformed his life through education and unwavering determination. He founded "Future Forward," a non-profit that has directly intervened in the lives of over 200 at-risk youth, achieving a 90% success rate in keeping them out of the justice system. His advocacy has also led to policy changes, unlocking significant funding for youth programs in underserved communities.
Sofia Al-Farsi
Through our tech skills initiative, Sofia, a formerly incarcerated individual, founded "Connect & Code," a successful tech startup specializing in accessible web design. Within three years, she's generated $750,000 in revenue and hired 15 developers, many of whom are also from marginalized backgrounds, proving technology can be a powerful equalizer for social and economic mobility.
These successes highlight the power of second chances and how community belief redefines futures.
Beyond the Walls: Empowering New Beginnings
The Lifers Hope Foundation Integration Model provides a definitive framework for successful reentry, redemption, and regeneration for formerly incarcerated individuals ready to build a new life.
This initiative transforms incarceration from punishment to purpose, offering a pathway from prison to community through education, vocational training, secure housing, and economic empowerment.
Join Our Movement
Implementation Phases of the Integration Model
Our model transforms incarceration into a pathway of opportunity, establishing a comprehensive ecosystem for training, stable housing, and economic empowerment. Here are the key phases:
Pre-Apprenticeship Training
Participants gain union-track skilled trade training in high-demand fields like construction and solar installation while incarcerated, ensuring career readiness upon release.
Productive Work During Incarceration
Incarcerated participants build modular home panels, water capture systems, and solar equipment, turning their time into tangible community contributions.
Trust Fund Savings
Earned wages are deposited into trust accounts, building crucial savings for housing, transportation, and business launches post-reentry.
Community Reentry & Support
Upon release, individuals transition into self-sustaining communities they helped construct, providing immediate housing, food systems, energy, and income.
Union Apprenticeship & Employment
Participants swiftly embark on union apprenticeships, earning living wages and benefits, contributing to community growth and securing their futures.
Achieving Economic Independence
Within five years, participants aim for home ownership, journeyman status, and mentorship roles, creating a powerful ripple effect for future generations.
This initiative represents a commitment to economic justice, not charity. Our closed-loop system—where individuals build their own communities, cultivate food, generate power, and manage finances—cultivates true self-sufficiency and restores dignity, proving that empowerment, not just punishment, leads to lasting change.
Program Components
Integrated Programs for Success
Encompassing housing, agriculture, vocational training, education, and entrepreneurship.
Modular Homes: Building Foundations for a New Start
Our program utilizes modular homes to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with a tangible foundation for a transformed future, often built with their own hands. This innovative approach offers cost-effectiveness, rapid construction, and environmental efficiency.
The Build Process & Skill Development
Modular homes are prefabricated structures, built in controlled environments. Through our pre-apprenticeship program, individuals within correctional facilities manufacture these homes, gaining invaluable construction skills.
Residents gain skills fabricating wall panels, insulation, and roof segments, building their own path to stability and preparing for union apprenticeships.
Sustainable & Adaptable Unit Features
  • 600-1,000 sq ft, adaptable for evolving family needs and multi-generational living.
  • Rooftop solar panels with battery storage & integrated rainwater harvesting.
  • Energy-efficient appliances and modern fixtures.
  • Constructed with recycled steel, hempcrete, and green-certified materials.
  • Adaptable for permanent foundations or mobility.
Through our unique ownership model, individuals will build their own homes. Financing comes from trust fund earnings, government housing vouchers, and sweat equity from union apprenticeships. After five years, participants achieve full home ownership, establishing generational wealth and profound stability. This is not just a house; it's a legacy.
References
Urban Land Institute. (2023). Modular Construction Offers Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis.
Construction Dive. (2023). Virginia Tech wins $450K grant for modular workforce development.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. (2019). America Working Forward.
Cultivating Impact: Regenerative Agriculture for Self-Sustaining Futures
Regenerative farming empowers communities with food security, revitalizing land, creating economic opportunities, and building resilient futures.
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Empowering Through Training
Participants master regenerative farming techniques, starting during incarceration through partnerships with agricultural educators.
Nurturing Community Gardens
Sites feature vegetable/herb beds, greenhouses, orchards, livestock, and composting for year-round food production and ecological balance.
Connecting Farm to Market
Communities establish "Farm to Market" systems with cold storage, processing, distribution, and farmer's markets.
Building Sustainable Livelihoods
Residents join unionized agricultural cooperatives, earning fair wages while producing healthy food for their community and beyond.
Our agricultural systems target 90% food independence, allowing communities to sustain themselves and sell surplus produce to local schools, hospitals, and state institutions. This creates vital economic opportunities and addresses food deserts.
For many, this profound connection to the land transforms more than a job. It becomes a powerful path to healing, generational change, and renewed purpose.
References
Impact Justice. (2025). Growing Justice: Growing Food, Growing Jobs.
Jefferson, D. J. (2021). Planting Seeds for Success: An Evaluation of Agricultural Reentry Programming for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals. University of San Francisco.
Civil Eats. (2020). The Formerly Incarcerated are Reviving Newark's Cider Industry at Ironbound Farm.
Union Pathways: From Inmate to Journeyman
Stable, well-paid employment is the foundation of successful reentry. Our model creates a seamless pathway from prison-based pre-apprenticeship programs to union apprenticeships upon release, ensuring participants immediately enter high-wage careers with benefits and advancement opportunities.
Inside participating correctional institutions, inmates enroll in the Multi-Craft Core Curriculum Level 4 - In Prison (MC4-P). This specialized version of the nationally recognized Multi-Craft Core Curriculum (MC3) program is designed specifically for correctional institutions, building on the MC3 foundation but adapted for the unique environment and needs of incarcerated individuals. Upon release, graduates are automatically placed into sponsoring union apprenticeship programs through formal agreements with the Department of Corrections and Lifers Hope Foundation.
Union membership provides more than just a paycheck – it offers career advancement, retirement pensions, health benefits, educational stipends, and legal protection. Most importantly, it provides a sense of belonging, identity, and dignity that helps break the cycle of recidivism.
References
National Employment Law Project & In the Public Interest. (2016). Reentry and Employment for the Formerly Incarcerated and the Role of American Trades Unions.
Jenkins, J. (2024). Pathways to Social Mobility: Examining Trades as a Career Path for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals. Portland State University.
NELP. (2016). How Trades Unions Can Help the Formerly Incarcerated Find Good Jobs.
Empowering Futures: Financial Independence Starts Here
True freedom hinges on financial independence. Our model builds economic empowerment within prison walls through progressive trust funds, community-based credit unions, and comprehensive financial literacy education.
Trust Funds: Investing in Dignity
Participants earn wages through vocational programs during incarceration. A portion is deposited into individual trust accounts, providing capital for housing, transportation, or small business ventures upon release.
These funds also serve as collateral for development bonds, financing essential reentry community infrastructure. Personal savings transform into collective capital for the homes and facilities participants will own and build.
Community Credit Unions: Cultivating Collective Prosperity
Each reentry community will operate its own credit union, democratically governed and owned by its members. These institutions offer checking, savings, microloans, credit-building, and business funding tailored to formerly incarcerated individuals.
Unlike conventional banks, our credit unions prioritize financial inclusion and shared prosperity. Members become empowered shareholders with voting rights and a genuine stake in their collective future.
Our financial literacy education is a continuous journey, beginning during incarceration and extending beyond release. We cover budgeting, credit building, debt management, entrepreneurial skills, homeownership, and tax preparation. By addressing financial trauma and providing practical tools, we transform participants into confident, thriving economic stakeholders.
References
Prison Entrepreneurship Program. (2025). Transform lives, restore families, rebuild communities.
U.S. Minority Business Development Agency. (2024). Entrepreneurship Education for Formerly Incarcerated Persons.
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. (2018). Innovative Prison Entrepreneurship Program is Creating Wealth, Reducing Recidivism.
Transportation & Logistics: Pathways to Economic Empowerment
Transportation and logistics are powerful engines for community growth and high-value careers. Addressing critical industry shortages, our program provides vital mobility solutions and equips individuals with stable, in-demand skills.
CDL Skill Mastery
Comprehensive Commercial Driver's License preparation, DOT safety certifications, and essential logistics education are provided during incarceration, utilizing advanced simulators and focused classroom instruction.
Expert Diesel Mechanics
Specialized training in diesel engine repair, preventative maintenance, and advanced fleet management prepares individuals for thriving careers in a high-demand field.
Building Freight Systems
Our communities establish and operate logistics hubs, managing agricultural products and building materials, while providing vital local distribution.
Union Career Pathways
Strategic partnerships with unions offer apprenticeships with immediate earnings of $23-28/hour, progressing to $48/hour with comprehensive benefits.
The American Trucking Associations reports a nationwide deficit of over 80,000 drivers. Our program directly addresses this labor crisis, empowering formerly incarcerated individuals with stable, well-compensated careers that foster true mobility, independence, and renewed purpose.
Witnessing someone once incarcerated now freely traversing the state—delivering goods, food, and hope—carries profound symbolism. Each mile driven is a powerful testament to their transformation and boundless possibilities.
Education & Creative Healing: Core to Rehabilitation
True rehabilitation demands profound personal restoration. Our model integrates education and creative expression as powerful avenues for healing, empowerment, and successful reentry.
Higher Education: Earning Futures
Partnerships with universities and colleges enable participants to earn degrees and certifications, unlocking professional advancement and personal growth, and significantly reducing recidivism.
Creative Arts: Healing Trauma
Programs utilizing theater, music, and digital media help participants process trauma, cultivate emotional regulation, and share their stories, fostering empathy and reducing negative mental health impacts.
Digital Media: Unleashed Voices
Modern recording studios and media labs empower participants to create original music, podcasts, and digital stories, producing art that educates, inspires, and helps them forge new, self-defined identities.
Through these dynamic creative and educational pathways, formerly incarcerated individuals reclaim their voices, process trauma, and rewrite their narratives, emerging as empowered authors, performers, artists, and entrepreneurs impacting their communities.
Empowering Civic Leaders: Governance & Engagement
True rehabilitation empowers individuals to shape their community. Our model fosters democratic participation, allowing every resident to shape decisions and contribute meaningfully.
Empowered Governance
Elected Governing Councils will manage vital community areas like housing, education, and conflict resolution.
Healing Justice
Community circles and dialogue resolve conflicts, fostering growth and accountability through restorative practices.
Active Service
Volunteer initiatives connect residents with surrounding neighborhoods through cleanups and mentorship programs.
Driving Policy Change
Participants champion legal reform, advocating for expungement, clemency, and voting rights restoration.
This comprehensive approach provides formerly incarcerated individuals their first opportunity to vote, advocate, and lead, transforming their relationship with society from exclusion to invaluable contribution and true stakeholdership. By deeply engaging in political, social, and economic processes, participants will lead community transformation, forging a new civic identity rooted in responsibility and shared purpose.
Unlocking Economic Power: Building Entrepreneurial Futures
We forge pathways to economic independence, empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to become business owners and cooperative leaders, cultivating generational wealth and collective prosperity.
Launching Dynamic Ventures
We equip individuals to lead diverse entrepreneurial ventures in growing sectors:
  • Modular home construction
  • Organic farming and food distribution
  • Trucking and freight services
  • Solar installation
  • Landscaping and gardening
  • Culinary incubators and cafés
  • Artisanal goods and crafts
Empowering Worker Cooperatives
Our model centers on worker cooperatives – businesses owned and democratically operated by their workers. This structure champions equity, fair profit sharing, community reinvestment, and empowers participants to become co-owners, building personal equity and securing crucial business loans.
"After 8 years, I became a certified electrician, built my own home, and now co-own a solar installation company employing five other returning citizens. I'm not just surviving – I'm building a legacy for my children." – Program participant
By dismantling outdated licensing barriers, providing comprehensive training, and establishing accessible financing, we empower formerly incarcerated individuals to rise from laborers to leaders, from workers to wealth creators, igniting transformative change.
References
Prison Entrepreneurship Program. (2025). Transform lives, restore families, rebuild communities.
U.S. Minority Business Development Agency. (2024). Entrepreneurship Education for Formerly Incarcerated Persons.
Initiative for a Competitive Inner City. (2018). Innovative Prison Entrepreneurship Program is Creating Wealth, Reducing Recidivism.
National Transformation: Scaling California's Reentry Blueprint
Building on the proven success of California, the Lifers Hope Foundation Integration Model is strategically expanding to redefine reentry nationwide. We are targeting states with high incarceration rates and robust community infrastructure to maximize impact.
Model Validation: California
Our concept demonstrates measurable outcomes: reduced recidivism, sustainable employment, and enhanced community self-sufficiency.
Strategic Regional Expansion
We'll adapt our model for key states, establishing "Centers of Excellence" as vital training hubs for national growth.
Forging National Alliances
Powerful partnerships with federal agencies, unions, and nonprofits will champion multi-state implementation.
Driving Policy Change
Advocacy for Second Chance Hiring Incentives, tax credits, federal grants, and clemency reform will secure legislative support.
Immediate expansion priorities include Texas, New York, Illinois, Georgia, Michigan, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Arizona—states with substantial incarceration challenges and urgent reentry needs. A comprehensive replication toolkit ensures a standardized, adaptable framework for seamless national deployment to each new site.
This initiative is more than an expansion; it's the genesis of a powerful movement. We are fundamentally reshaping America's approach to justice, rehabilitation, and equitable community development.
Lifers Hope: A Modern Industrial Revolution for All
Lifers Hope is a bold vision for national economic transformation, sparking a modern industrial revolution. We reimagine the correctional system, turning a societal burden into an engine for growth and opportunity for every American.
Our framework builds an inclusive, sustainable, and equitable transformation. It empowers formerly incarcerated individuals with vital skills and genuine ownership, rebuilding communities with lasting value.
By converting prisons into vocational training centers and dynamic social enterprises, we transform them from holding pens into potent economic powerhouses. This dramatically reduces recidivism, generates wealth, creates well-paying union jobs, and develops affordable housing, fostering authentic community self-sufficiency.
Building on a Proven Path to Transformation
Lifers Hope synthesizes decades of success from pioneering rehabilitation and reentry programs into a scalable, nationwide framework.
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Holistic Skill Development
Integrates vocational training, modern tech skills, and entrepreneurship to equip individuals for meaningful careers.
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Community & Peer Support
Fosters powerful, peer-led communities and robust support networks vital for successful reintegration and long-term stability.
3
Self-Sustaining Economic Models
Leverages social enterprises to provide real-world job experience and generate revenue, ensuring program sustainability and participant ownership.
4
Reduced Recidivism
Demonstrates significant reductions in re-offending rates by addressing root causes and providing comprehensive support pathways.
These integrated principles, drawn from models like Delancey Street, Homeboy Industries, and the Prison Entrepreneurship Program, confirm that comprehensive, community-based approaches deliver profound human and economic transformation. Lifers Hope scales these proven successes to create unparalleled impact nationwide.
References
Delancey Street Foundation. (2024). About Us - Who We Are. Retrieved from delanceystreetfoundation.org
Gov1. (2019). Top 5 recidivism reducing programs.
Success rates, where available, are derived from program-specific research and data, demonstrating significant reductions in recidivism compared to national averages.
Proof of Concepts & The Lifers Hope Foundation Vision
Your vision integrates what already works, scaled into a movement, not just a program.
Transformative Impact: Building Freedom, Not Prisons
Envision correctional facilities empowering a skilled workforce, with every parole leading to real opportunity. This proven model is ready for nationwide implementation.
62%
Reduced Recidivism
Pilot programs dramatically cut return-to-prison rates, outperforming traditional approaches.
90%
High Employment
Participants secure stable, well-paid union jobs, often within days of release.
72%
Achieved Homeownership
Within five years, most participants achieve homeownership, building lasting stability.
Our integrated approach delivers tangible results, proving that investing in rehabilitation and opportunity leads to safer, more prosperous communities.
Call to Action: The Time is Now
The success of the Lifers Hope Integration Model is proven. Now is the moment to scale this transformative impact nationwide, building pathways to freedom and prosperity for all. Your involvement is crucial.
Policymakers
Champion legislation, allocate funding, and reform policies that support rehabilitation and reintegration.
Business Leaders
Invest in vocational training programs, offer employment opportunities, and partner with LHF sites.
Philanthropists
Provide critical financial support, enabling the expansion of LHF's comprehensive model and community sites.
Community Members
Offer mentorship, volunteer your time, and welcome formerly incarcerated individuals into your neighborhoods.
The Cost of Delay
Every year we delay, the social and economic costs of recidivism escalate. The opportunity for change is immense, but it requires immediate, collective action. Join us in building a future where freedom, opportunity, and community thrive.
Uniting for Impact: Our Collaborative Ecosystem
Lifers Hope builds change through a powerful ecosystem of visionary nonprofits, labor unions, universities, government agencies, philanthropies, and industry leaders, transforming incarceration into opportunity.
Nonprofits
Catalyzing justice & reentry. (e.g., ARC, Amity)
Government
Shaping policy & workforce solutions. (e.g., CDCR, HUD)
Labor & Workforce
Direct union pathways & apprenticeships. (e.g., NABTU)
Academia & Research
Evaluation & policy insights. (e.g., USC, UC Berkeley)
Philanthropy
Fueling our mission. (e.g., Weingart, MacArthur)
Corporate & Industry
Pathways in tech, energy & agriculture. (e.g., Tesla, Google.org)
Get Involved
Join the Movement
Transform lives. Build stronger communities.
Empower Change: Join Our Movement
Unlock your potential and amplify your voice. Our membership integrates formerly incarcerated individuals and their families into a powerful community, empowering you to drive systemic change. Join us to contribute to justice and opportunity.
Share Your Vision
Articulate your goals for systemic change through lived experience.
Discover Your Strengths
Discover your talents; we connect you with programs to empower leadership and mentorship.
Your membership is a vital step toward building a future beyond incarceration.
Amplify Your Voice: Share Your Story, Drive Change
Your journey from incarceration to freedom is a vital tool to inspire, educate, and drive systemic change. By sharing your story, you:
Shape the Narrative
Challenge stereotypes, humanize statistics, and shift public perception.
Influence Policy
Ensure authentic voices directly shape decisions impacting thousands of lives.
Foster Community Healing
Create connection, dismantle isolation, and enable collective healing.
We provide platforms and resources to amplify your unique experiences and advocate for justice.
Connect with Us
Our team is here to support your journey.
Call Us
(510)206-1521
Email Us
admin@lifershopefoundation.org
Our Office
2219 Hauser Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90016
About Lifers Hope Foundation
Lifers Hope Foundation is a movement led by and for formerly incarcerated people, their families, and allies. We transform incarceration into liberation by creating community-driven sites.
We are not a traditional service provider, but rather a movement for systemic change, building pathways for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people to reclaim dignity, purpose, and opportunity.
Our vision is to build community sites as living models of hope, where individuals can access education, vocational training, build homes, grow food, and qualify for union jobs upon release.
Getting Involved
Membership
Membership is open to formerly incarcerated individuals, their family members, and allies who believe in justice and second chances. Becoming a member connects you to a collective voice for change, creating opportunities for healing, empowerment, and community-owned solutions.
You can get involved by joining as a member, participating in visioning projects, sharing your story, and supporting collective efforts in housing, training, and advocacy.
Privacy & Representation
All membership information is confidential, ensuring a safe space for all. Families and allies can represent loved ones who are currently incarcerated, ensuring their voices are part of the movement.
Our Evidence-Based Approach
Grounded in Research and Proven Models
Our initiatives are meticulously designed and supported by a robust foundation of research and successful program models. We draw upon:
  • Extensive Data on Mass Incarceration & Recidivism: Understanding the systemic challenges and the critical need for effective reentry solutions.
  • Evaluated Program Models: Learning from proven strategies that successfully reduce recidivism and foster rehabilitation.
  • Best Practices in Sustainable Development: Integrating innovative approaches in housing, construction, and agriculture for community self-sufficiency.
  • Pathways to Economic Empowerment: Utilizing successful frameworks from union, trade, and entrepreneurship programs to ensure financial stability and social mobility.
This presentation is grounded in peer-reviewed research, government data, and evidence-based program evaluations to ensure accuracy and credibility, reinforcing our commitment to informed and impactful interventions.
Phase 1: Youth Pilot Program Launch
This critical first phase will rigorously test and refine our program model in a real-world setting, ensuring maximum impact before full-scale implementation.
Launch & Enrollment
Initial rollout in select communities, enrolling participants through partner organizations.
6-Month Timeline
An intensive pilot commencing in Q3, focusing on program delivery and early outcomes.
Testing & Refinement
Continuous feedback from participants and mentors drives iterative adjustments for optimal effectiveness.
Pilot Success Metrics
Measured by participant engagement, program completion rates, and feedback for refinement.
Transforming Lives: Explore Our Impact & Join Us
The Youth Pilot Program has exceeded expectations, proving the power of community and dedicated mentorship. We're proud to share the early successes and the profound impact on our participants. Their journey is a testament to the program's effectiveness and the bright future we're building together.
300+
Youth Empowered
Participants successfully completed the pilot program.
85%
Program Completion
Demonstrating high engagement and dedication among participants.
70%
Job Placement Rate
Helping youth secure meaningful employment and new opportunities.
"This program changed my life. I learned invaluable skills and found a job I love. It gave me hope for the future."