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Ashely, a 34-year-old single mother of two boys from Pomona, California, grew up in a typical middle-class family. She was a cheerleader in school and spent summers playing basketball with friends. But returning home from incarceration presented a reality far different from her youth. Reentry was never going to be easy, but giving up was never an option.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. It is a day of celebration, yes, but also a moment of reflection. It asks us not just to look back at what was, but to reckon with what still is—and to dream boldly about what could be.

At the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), we know that the path home after incarceration is never walked alone—and for many, it’s shaped by the deep, enduring bond between parent and child. This Father’s Day, we asked a few of the fathers in our CEO community to reflect on their experiences.

Kayla, a young woman from Compton, California, received reentry cash assistance at a critical turning point. Kayla’s early years were shaped by hardship. She experienced frequent encounters with the law and struggled with homelessness. But after her last stint in jail in 2016, she decided to turn her life around.

In 2024, the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) launched the Helping Justice-Involved Reenter Employment (HIRE) initiative, a $50 million investment in nonprofit-led employment services for people returning from incarceration. The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and its statewide reentry partners were awarded $6.9 million, $2 million of which was set aside for direct cash assistance to help participants cover immediate needs like housing, transportation, and bare essentials.

As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms nearly every industry, the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) is leading the way to ensure justice-impacted individuals aren’t left behind. CEO is also pioneering the use of AI to reshape how reentry services are delivered, how staff are supported, and how opportunities are unlocked for thousands of people returning home each year.

In a defining moment for justice-impacted families across Colorado, the state legislature has passed the CDOC Prison Visitation Rights Bill (HB-1013), with Governor Jared Polis expected to sign it into law in the coming days. This trailblazing legislation establishes visitation as a right, not a privilege, for individuals incarcerated in Colorado’s state prison system.

On May 16th, 2025, American Eagle and Pittsburgh Cares teamed up with the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) Pittsburgh for a meaningful day of service, assembling care packages for individuals transitioning back into the community due to reentry after incarceration. We spoke with Ken from Pittsburgh Cares, a dedicated community leader, about the deeper impact of volunteerism and the importance of small acts of kindness.

I had to grow up fast. At 16, I went from playing third base for my middle school team to what we called the Gladiator Camp. We gave it that name because every day felt like a battle. Fighting wasn’t mandatory—but if you backed down, you became prey.

Known affectionately as “Rainbow,” Amy has walked through some of life’s darkest valleys and emerged with clarity, resilience, and a passion for helping others find their light. Originally from Hazard, Kentucky, she now works as a job coach at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in Cincinnati, where she once stood as a participant herself.

In 2023, Cortney was homeless, living in her car with her three children in Denver, Colorado, and struggling with addiction. Soon, her circumstances brought her face to face with the criminal justice system and the very real possibility of losing her family. It was all the motivation she needed to get her life back on track. “I decided to get off the street and put myself into sober living,” said Cortney.

Before her incarcerated, Vianca struggled with addiction and homelessness. When she released from jail in Lynwood County, California in 2024, she was finally sober and determined to rebuild her life. Although ready to find a job and create a new future, she knew she lacked the resources and support needed to succeed, until she was connected to Turning Point.