Second Chances Q&A
What is your name, and what do you do at CHOOSE 180?
My name is Henok Gebreyohannes, and I work for Restorative Community Pathways (RCP) as a Community Navigator, giving first-time offending youth a second chance, rather than being prosecuted for a crime through a harmful court system.
Why should people be given second chances?
During my twenty-eight years of life, I have not once met somebody who has never made a mistake. Mistakes come with life. However, it is the actions and steps you take after that define you. Giving somebody that opportunity or second chance is a necessity of life. Imagine if you are five minutes late to your job and you get fired immediately, imagine all the mistakes you made in life. Without a second chance, where would you be?
Second chance matters because it is a necessity in life. Forgiveness and second chances go hand and hand. If there is a world with no forgiveness or second chances, where would we be as a society?
How does RCP offer second chances?
RCP offers second chances by straying away from the court system and using a community-based approach. Working rather than a focus on punishment, RCP recognizes that all individuals are deserving of healing and restoration. Things such as healing circles, therapy, resource sharing, and mentorship can help shift a youth’s mindset into positive outlets rather than negative ones, especially during their Prefrontal Cortex Development stages!
What are the barriers to second chances for young people?
I feel as if the lack of support, sense of belonging, addressing mental health and substance abuse issues, the juvenile justice system making it difficult to provide consistent support for young people, peer judgement, discrimination from society, and economic hardship are things that can be barriers.
How does RCP help remove these barriers?
Navigators serve as a support person for youth by building meaningful connections and being a bridge between them and resources. RCP is a consortium of 7 organizations in which we have access to things such as counselors, therapists, and substance outpatient addiction treatment resources. The RCP community is also predominantly minorities in which discrimination is not welcomed in our spaces. We are big on a sense of belonging for all of our youth/partners that make sure the community we serve feels welcomed at all times, regardless of their gender, culture, or skin color! Every navigator has a unique story and background when it pertains to incarceration, mental health, and barriers that we once had to get through when we were youth, which gives us lived experience. Through lived experience, we can all speak from a non fictional standpoint and guide these youth to a long path of everlasting success!
Learn more about RCP on our website here or on the Restorative Community Pathways website. Join us on our journey to heal from harm, and support our work here!