Support Second Chances. Donate Now.
Helenia, Resilience Education Graduate from Fluvanna Correctional Center
“Resilience Education and the Darden MBAs helped me to discover the potential I really had. It helped me build my confidence, self-esteem, and belief that I could do anything I set my mind to.”
Talent is everywhere. Opportunity isn’t.
At Resilience, we turn business education into real career outcomes.
We’ve been breaking cycles of incarceration for over 15 years with in-prison and post-release programs. Through business education, mentorship, and a professional support network, we have seen first-class talent pursue careers, start businesses, and gain financial independence.
Second Chance Month was established to unlock opportunities for the 70 million Americans with records. Barriers to reentry and scarce opportunities make rebuilding tough, but the Second Chance Act (2007) is proving effective: reincarceration rates have fallen by 23% across US states.
1000s of Resilience learners have become entrepreneurs, law students, higher education graduates, and business professionals, charting new pathways with their second chance.
This April, let’s turn attention into action.
Resilience Education (Tax ID 46-1134670) is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization incorporated in the state of Virginia.
Prefer to give by check? Please mail your donation to our address: 2043 Wilson Blvd #17050, Arlington, VA 22216
For donor-advised funds, corporate sponsorships, and legacy giving, please contact finance@resilience-education.org
Can’t donate but want to support our work? Sign up to volunteer
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Second Chance Supporter
Boost learning opportunities for justice-impacted people. Your gift empowers individuals to benefit from the wealth of resources available in the Resilient Professional Community.
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Programming Advocate
Help us deliver high-quality business and financial education courses. Your generous contributions uplift justice-involved learners who are ready to rebuild their careers.
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Career Growth Champion
Power our 1:1 career and education services, including advisors to help entrepreneurs get started and admissions counsellors to help with college applications.
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Mentorship Mobilizer
Your donation provides systems-impacted individuals with experienced mentors from different industries, building career connections and amplifying long-term impact.
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New Business Visionary
Invest in the creation of brand-new business education and workforce development programs, such as entrepreneurship incubators and other innovative initiatives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime.
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Observed every April, Second Chance Month is a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the challenges faced by over 70 million Americans with a criminal record. It focuses on the importance of helping individuals successfully reintegrate into society after incarceration.
The initiative aims to highlight that a person’s past does not define their future. By focusing on "second chances," the movement seeks to:
Reduce Recidivism: Ensuring people have access to jobs, housing, and education lowers the likelihood of returning to prison.
Remove Barriers: Addressing the "collateral consequences" (legal and social restrictions) that prevent formerly incarcerated individuals from becoming contributing members of their communities.
Promote Safety: Stronger support systems for reentry lead to more stable families and safer neighborhoods.
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Both terms are used to promote reentry, but they carry different historical and social weights:
Second Chance implies that an individual had a "first chance," made a mistake, and is now being granted a reset. It focuses on redemption and the idea that people can change their lives through hard work and support.
Fair Chance is often preferred by advocates who point out that many incarcerated individuals—due to systemic poverty, lack of educational resources, or over-policing in specific ZIP codes—never actually had a "First Chance" to begin with.
At Resilience Education, we recognize that for many of our learners, our classes are the first time they have received professional-grade resources. We don't just provide a "second" opportunity; we offer a fair chance to access the same business and financial literacy that others receive in elite institutions.
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There are many ways to champion the mission of reentry and equity, ranging from raising awareness to providing direct professional support.
1. Advocacy
You can support the movement by changing the narrative around incarceration in your everyday life:
Educate your circle: Share statistics on how education reduces recidivism and strengthens communities.
Support fair-chance hiring: If you are a business owner or hiring manager, review your HR policies to ensure they don't reflexively exclude qualified candidates with a record.
Use humanizing language: Shift from using labels like "inmate" or "ex-con" to person-first language, such as "incarcerated student" or "returning citizen."
2. Invest in transformation
Financial contributions to Resilience Education directly fund the high-quality business and financial literacy curriculum we provide in correctional facilities and our post-release programming in the Resilient Professional Community.
3. Volunteer with us
We are always looking for professionals to share their expertise with our learners:
Mentor: Work one-on-one or in small groups to help students navigate their career paths and build professional confidence.
Business advisor: Help our students refine their entrepreneurial ideas, critique business plans, or provide "real-world" feedback on their coursework.
Panel speaker: Share your industry insights and personal career journey to inspire students and show them what is possible.