Happy Second Chance Month!

April marks Second Chance Month, a time to recognize the resilience of the one in three Americans with a criminal record and to break down the barriers that stand in their way. Even after serving their time, more than 44,000 legal restrictions make it harder to access jobs, housing, education, and other necessities for a stable life.

At The First 72+, we know that one second chance isn’t always enough – because reentry is a journey, not a single step. People leaving incarceration face enormous obstacles, and real stability takes time, support, and opportunities. That’s why we’re committed to standing by people for as long as it takes, providing the resources, community, and advocacy necessary to break the cycle of incarceration.

How You Can Support Second Chances:

• Take Action with the Protected Class Campaign – Join VOTE at New Orleans City Council on April 7th (and hopefully again on April 9th) to push for an amendment to the NOLA Home Rule Charter Bill of Rights, protecting people with conviction histories from discrimination in housing and employment.
• Use Humanizing Language – Words matter. Ditch harmful labels like “felon” or “offender” and instead use language like “formerly incarcerated person” (FIP) or “system-impacted” to affirm dignity and humanity.
• Support FIP-Led Businesses – Invest in the success of those directly impacted by the system. Whether it’s shopping at their businesses or advocating for fair chance hiring, your support creates real economic opportunity.
• Learn from Directly Impacted Voices – Read books, listen to podcasts, and engage with the stories of people who’ve lived through the system. Centering their experiences helps reshape how we approach justice and reentry.

The First 72+ Annual Fish Fry is Back for Its 10th Year!

So far this season, we've served up 867 plates – and we're not done yet! What started as a small fundraiser to keep the lights on in our transitional house has grown into our biggest fundraiser of the year. The Fish Fry is more than just a meal: it’s a tradition, a community gathering, and a way to directly support our mission.

There are three Fish Fry Fridays left, so if you haven’t had a chance to stop by, now’s the time! Pre-order your plate by Thursday at 4 PM to skip the line, or swing by Friday from 11 AM to 3 PM to grab a plate fresh off the fryer.

While you're there, consider bringing a non-perishable food item to donate to our food pantry – we’re still accepting items to support clients experiencing food insecurity. We can’t wait to see you there!

Transitional Housing Client Highlights

Meet Mr. Rolmell:

Our transitional houses have been busy! We are currently at capacity, welcoming our most recent housing client, Rolmell Blanks, on March 11th. On describing his first night here, Rolmell shared: "I'm more than comfortable… this is definitely like home to me."

Rolmell is looking forward to reuniting with family and making decisions for his future. With dreams of owning his own coffee shop or barbershop one day, Rolmell is focused on securing employment and working toward his CDL license while staying with us. He’s committed to laying the foundation for a stable, independent future—“I want to prepare so when I do leave The First 72+, I can be in my own house… I just want to build whatever I can build that’s beneficial for me, for my family. I ain’t rejecting nothing.”

We are honored to walk alongside Rolmell on this journey and can’t wait to see all that he accomplishes. Welcome to The First 72, Rolmell!

Meet Mr. Ronday:

As new clients move in, we are committed to ensuring that clients have a stable living situation as they transition from our housing.

Ronday was introduced to the First 72+ by his friend, a current service client of ours. Through our partnership, Ronday was able to secure a job through Thrive’s job training program and hopes to open his own seafood catering business when he has more economic stability. When asked what his experience was like at The First 72+, Ronday reflected, “Y’all got a beautiful staff, I respect y’all so much it brings tears to my eyes sometimes cause I didn’t think I could get this far."

Thanks to generous community donations, Ronday was able to furnish his new apartment with a bed, dining room table, and couch. Long term, Ronday is looking forward to giving back. “You can’t do this by yourself. You can make the money but you still gonna have to get somebody to share it with… until we come together as a whole we're going to see better days."  We are so proud of Ronday’s progress!

Programming Highlights

Financial Literacy Education

We held a number of Financial Literacy Classes this quarter, including Managing your Public Benefits and Rebuilding Credit After a Conviction.  A conviction can significantly impact an individual's financial standing, making it difficult to secure housing, employment, and loans. These classes are specifically designed to equip justice-impacted individuals with actionable steps to rebuild their financial freedom.

Many attendees of our financial literacy classes are also participants of re-entry court with Judge DeLarge and Caseworker Troy Delone. With the experience of formerly incarcerated people themselves, we hope to broaden access to financial literacy, giving systems-impacted individuals the economic stability they need to stay out of prison.

Re-entry Court Docket Day

Every month, our Re-entry Coach and Social Worker, Troy Delone, partners with Judge Marcus DeLarge in re-entry court for Docket Day. This partnership encourages and holds folks accountable to meet their goals. This month, we celebrated the progress of several clients making big steps towards meeting their goals.

Mr. Carter has made big strides since his release in July of last year; obtaining a driver’s license, housing, and 2 jobs, all while consistently showing up for meetings on time! Mr. Meyers is expected to begin working soon and has an upcoming appointment to get his driver’s license.

After Docket Day, we headed over to The First 72+ to attend our Financial Literacy Class: Rebuilding Credit After a Conviction. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Judge DeLarge and all who support The First 72+!

New Opportunities Ahead

B4

Second Chance Cooking School

"B4" is a new initiative at The First 72+, designed to address the challenges facing Louisiana’s youth, especially in light of recent legislative changes that allow 17-year-olds to be tried as adults. This preventative program aims to intervene before a tragedy strikes – before a young person is lost to the system or prison. Through proactive mentoring, staff and alumni visit schools across the city, sharing personal stories of hardship and growth to inspire better choices. By providing relatable role models and fostering open conversations, "B4" helps youth avoid the life-altering consequences of a single bad decision, working to break the cycle of incarceration.

The First 72+ Cooking School honors founder Ben Smith by offering tuition-free culinary training to formerly incarcerated individuals, helping them secure stable jobs in the restaurant industry. Ben, who believed in second chances, gave many their first job on his Mardi Gras-colored grill trucks. Our program teaches essential skills such as cooking, customer service, kitchen safety, and menu planning, while providing holistic reentry support. By preparing participants for roles with growth potential, we continue Ben’s legacy of creating opportunities for advancement. We're excited to welcome our first cohort this spring!

Building Stronger Futures: Exciting Grant Announcements

Impact 59

‍

As New Orleans hosted Super Bowl LIX, The First 72+ was honored to be selected as one of 65 incredible nonprofits in the Greater New Orleans area to receive an Impact 59 Grant! Powered by Entergy and the Super Bowl LIX Legacy Program, this initiative is investing in our community’s future, awarding over $3.5 million in grants to local organizations dedicated to making a lasting impact.

As part of the celebration, Courtney and Tasha had the incredible opportunity to represent The First 72+ in the Super Bowl Host Committee Parade alongside Entergy, showcasing the heart and spirit of New Orleans to visitors from across the country!

NBA Foundation

Thanks to a grant from the NBA Foundation, we’ve launched our Justice-Impacted Youth Program, a transformative initiative designed to support young adults (ages 18-30) in New Orleans as they navigate reentry. This program provides comprehensive reentry services, entrepreneurship training, and pathways to high-wage careers, ensuring participants have the tools they need to build stable and successful futures.

In March, we had the honor of welcoming NBA Foundation representatives to our offices for a site visit, where we shared the impact of our work firsthand. We’re incredibly grateful for this partnership and the opportunities it’s creating for justice-impacted youth in our community!

Avodah Service Corps Visit

In February, we had the privilege of welcoming this year’s Avodah Service Corps cohort to The First 72+! Together, we explored the roots of our work with Co-Executive Director Pastor Tyrone Smith, took a guided tour with Re-entry Coach Wayne and Intake Specialist Steve, and heard a powerful firsthand story from one of our transitional housing clients about his re-entry journey. Our Senior Case Manager Demetrius also shared insights on the complexities of this work, reflecting on her experience as a former domestic violence advocate. To wrap up the day, the Avodah cohort rolled up their sleeves and helped us organize our clothing closet!

We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Avodah and their commitment to learning and action.

Support Us Today

Mark your calendars—The Greater New Orleans Foundation’s annual giving day, GiveNOLA Day, is coming up on May 6th! This is your chance to make a direct impact for formerly incarcerated individuals rebuilding their lives. You can support by give early from April 29th – May 5th, or by donating on May 6th to help us maximize matching funds.

Additionally, we’re always accepting donations through our Amazon Wishlist, which helps us provide Welcome Home Kits filled with essentials like razors, shampoo, and more to those transitioning back into the community. Thank you tremendously to everyone who has already donated -- every contribution, big or small, makes a difference!

‍