Progressive Prison Ministries November 2016 Newsletter

Progressive Prison Ministries

 

November 2016 Newsletter

 

White-Collar Ministry I Advocacy I Service

Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead  

  

The first ministry in the United States created to provide confidential  

support and counseling to individuals, families and organizations with  

white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues    

 

Significant Outcomes: Since Jan. 2015, We have Served Over 140 Individuals and Families in 25 States:  

   

Since Jan. 2015, we have served individuals and families in twenty-five states, including:     

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

We typically communicate with individuals and families before, during and upon reentry from prison in person or by phone, email, Skype, FaceTime, GoToMeeting or, if in a Federal prison, via CorrLinks. Please click image for our information package. 

 

 

Press Release: Jeff Grant Appointed New Interim Executive Director at Family ReEntry

    

The Board of Directors of Family ReEntry has appointed Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, as interim Executive Director of Family ReEntry of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Grant served on Family ReEntry's board of directors since 2009 - his new appointment marks

the first time in the United States that a person formerly incarcerated for a white-collar crime has served as the head of a major re-entry agency.

"It's a tremendous step, and a bold decision on the Board's part," Grant said. "This is a transformative period for Family ReEntry. I owe them my fresh start, so of course I said yes when they offered me the position." 

Please click image to press release. 

Guest Blog: From Collared to White Collar, by Monsignor Joseph Ciccone 

    

"The need for criminal justice reform and even religious reform on every level is long overdue. We need only turn on the nightly news to see the great divide between police, clergy and community. Not upper middle class communities, but communities of color, the inequity and mistreatment of women, Latinos, LGBTQ, those with special needs, and all other minorities being "not" represented in the Criminal Justice System or being treated more harshly within the walls of our overcrowded and differential correctional institutions, or being left out or denied access to practices of faith, worship, and liturgy."  Please click image to read Fr. Joe's guest blog. 

 

News: Family ReEntry Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program in Bridgeport & New Haven, CT

    

We would appreciate your referrals! Our best-practices Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is available in Bridgeport and New Haven. The program is 12 weeks, 3 days per week, 3 hours per day.  Clients come to Family ReEntry for an intake and full assessment. Assistance with enrollment will be provided to clients eligible for Medicaid (HUSKY). Licensed clinicians will determine the most appropriate level of care and treatment for each client - a tailored approach is based on the RNR principles of risk, needs, and responsivity. Please click image for details. 

 

News: Our White-Collar/Nonviolent 

Online Support Group celebrates its twenty-sixth weekly meeting!     

If you have been convicted of a white-collar or nonviolent crime and have served your sentence, please consider joining our confidential online white-collar/ nonviolent support group [As this support group is being run by clergy as part of a program of pastoral counseling, we consider it to be confidential and privileged]. We hold our weekly group meetings on Tuesdays, 8 pm Eastern, 7 pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5 pm Pacific. Click image for details.

 

News: Michelle Alexander, Renowned Legal Scholar & Author of The New Jim Crow, Joins Union Seminary in NYC!

Congratulations to Michelle & to our Alma Mater! Click image for information about this important news.

Guest Blog: Meeting Alger Hiss:

Reflections by a 

White-Collar Criminal  

by Jean Valjean, 24601 - 

Guest Blogger

   

"...Thousands of us who have made a mistake recognize the extraordinarily high price for committing a felony--

the sentence not spelled out at sentencing so to speak. The price we pay goes way beyond incarceration and humiliation.  We lose our place in society, our professional careers, friends and sometimes our families. We live our lives with the  constant reminder of our mistakes.  Society is not forgiving or felony friendly..." Click image to read article. 

News: P.R.I.D.E. Entrepreneurial 

Program in Connecticut:

People Reentering Into 

Doing Entrepreneurship

    

A course filled with information on how to go into business. It is exclusively for inmates, released inmates & people with a criminal background.  It covers all areas such as Banking, Law, Insurance, Accounting, Marketing , Sales, Life Lessons, Business Plan, Positive Mental Attitude & more.  What makes it unique is that it is 60% business data & 40% Life lessons. Click image to article.

 

Interview: Jeff Talked Criminal Justice with Felipe Luciano, WBAI Radio FM 99.5 NYC    

   

Click image to listen to Felipe & Jeff discuss faithful responses to criminal justice issues in America (at 19.00). Jeff & Felipe were classmates at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. 

 

 

Article: Our Ministry Featured in Business Insider 

   

Rachael Levy wrote a powerful article about our ministry, "This is What it's Like When the 1% go to Jail, According to a Couple that Ministers to Their Families." Click image to read article. 

 

Donations: Thank You For Your Support & Generosity!

We are grateful for all donations made to our ministries. Donations can be made by Credit Card/PayPal or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We are a CT Religious Corp. with 501(c)(3) status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.   

Contact Information:  

If transformation and redemption matter to you, a friend or a family member with a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope.

Blessings, כן, מאוד

Jeff & Lynn 

  

Prisonist.org: Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.  

  

Mailing Address: 

P.O. Box 1232 

Weston, Connecticut 06883 

(o) 203-769-1096

Rev. Deacon Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Director 

jgrant@prisonist.org

(m) 203-339-5887

 Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Instagram 

 

Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate
Innocent Spouses, Children & Families

lspringer@prisonist.org 

(m) 203-536-5508

Rev. Monsignor Joseph Ciccone, Ed D, M Div
Supervising Minister
stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com
(201) 982-2206

Jacqueline Polverari, MBA, MSW, Advocate
Women's Incarceration Issues
jpolverari@prisonist.org
(203) 671-5139

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats 

gbresnan@prisonist.org 

(m) 203-609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development 

jgabal@prisonist.org 

(m) 203-858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact 

mediababz@gmail.com 

(m) 203-645-9278

Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead

Family ReEntry Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program in Bridgeport & New Haven, CT

Family ReEntry Behavioral Health

Intensive Outpatient Program

Bridgeport & New Haven

 We welcome all IOP referrals 

Family ReEntry Behavioral Health Intensive Outpatient Program Our best-practices Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is available in Bridgeport and New Haven. The program is 12 weeks, 3 days per week, 3 hours per day. Clients come to Family ReEntry for an intake and full assessment. Assistance with enrollment will be provided to clients eligible for Medicaid (HUSKY). Licensed clinicians will determine the most appropriate level of care and treatment for each client - a tailored approach is based on the RNR principles of risk, needs, and responsivity. As required and appropriate, individualized monthly progress reports and the results of any toxicology reports are shared with authorized supervisory agencies (e.g. Parole, Probation). Timely notifications of noncompliance with applicable stipulations are standard practice. Services Provided: Intake and Assessment by Licensed Clinicians Intensive Outpatient Services Individual, Couple, Group and Family Therapy IOP utilizing Matrix model for Criminal Justice Medicaid Eligible Clients (HUSKY) accepted Urinalysis on site Individualized Monthly Progress Reports to Referral Source as required and appropriate The goal of Family ReEntry is to meet the behavioral health needs of our clients and also provide a positive and empowering experience that will assist them with their reintegration into the community. This treatment helps to reduce recidivism and support families and communities.  We welcome all IOP referrals For more information please contact: Bridgeport location: 75 Washington Avenue, Bridgeport, CT  Tel.  203-290-0873  Fax: 203-908-4618   New Haven location: 50 Fitch Street, New Haven, CT Tel.   203-361-9166   Fax: 203-691-9672

Our Mission Family ReEntry's mission is to lead in the development and delivery of effective solutions that empower individuals and strengthen families impacted by the criminal justice system. Our Vision Healthy Supportive Communities Free from Crime and Violence Strong Resilient Individuals and Family/Relational Systems To Create Social Innovation To Develop and Operate Effective Programs To Inform Policy and Practice with Sound Research To Provide Education and Advocacy

Please feel free to contact me to discuss any behavioral health or criminal justice issues.

Sincerely,

Jeff

Jeff Grant, JD, M Div 

Executive Director (interim)
Family ReEntry, Inc. 

FRee 

75 Washington Avenue 

Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 

familyreentry.org 

jeffgrant@familyreentry.org 

(office) 203-290-0855 

(mobile) 203-957-0162 

(personal mobile) 203-339-5887 

From Collared to White Collar, by Monsignor Joseph Ciccone - Guest Blogger

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

From Collared to White Collar

by Monsignor Joseph Ciccone 

- Guest Blogger

This past Sunday, was the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time in the Christian Calendar. I celebrated Mass with my White Roman Clerical Collar on.  However, it was anything but an ordinary time.  

The Mass was the ancient Catholic Rite ordaining one to the Diaconate, a call to serve your fellow humans in the most humbling way.  A call to wash the feet of those in need, those who are broken, who are in the margins, those who have sinned and hope to find forgiveness, redemption, and salvation.  The place was Saint Joseph Mission Church, the newest addition to the United State Old Catholic Church movement.  A part or level of Catholic tradition (there are three; Roman, Old, and Orthodox), that differs only in the doctrine of fallibility of Papal authority.  Meaning, we believe that everyone is capable of making a mistake, even the Pope.

The newest Deacon was my classmate from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York, Jeff Grant. The Presiding Bishop Edmund Cass, would lay hands on Jeff, as he lies facedown prostrate upon the cold stone floor in front of the Altar.  I, a Priest now for only over a year, after the having completed 7 years of seminary training and formation, would assist in the miracle happening in a church full of friends, family, and believers.  I would swing the heavy brass Censer with the gothic aroma of frankincense smoke billowing to the heavens over the Altar, the Bishop, and my friend Jeff, who was in deep prayer and I am sure reflection on the ritual that was happening before us all and hoping God is calling him to do something great.

Jeff and I have a great deal in common, we both started

Seminary much later in life. We both had major careers before that, advanced degrees, and reached the pinnacle of success. Both of us focused our life work within the Criminal Justice System, Jeff a prominent Attorney, and myself a beat cop that rose to the top as Sheriff of one of the largest counties in New Jersey.  

Also, we both share another common event, we both made one small mistake in our lives, and because of that mistake found ourselves on the opposite side on the Criminal Justice System.  We are among the nearly 70 million people in America who find themselves sentenced to life as convicted criminals and are forever changed, stigmatized, and often shunned.

Both Jeff and I now, nearly 16 years later, have come to see and recognize the great challenges, problems, and most of all the tremendous inequity that is within the criminal justice, the correctional system and even the system of organized religion. The need for criminal justice reform and even religious reform on every level is long overdue. We need only turn on the nightly news to see the great divide between police, clergy and community. Not upper middle class communities, but communities of color, the inequity and mistreatment of women, Latinos, LGBTQ, those with special needs, and all other minorities being “not” represented in the Criminal Justice System or being treated more harshly within the walls of our overcrowded and differential correctional institutions, or being left out or denied access to practices of faith, worship, and liturgy.

I do believe that most cops and clergy go to work every day, trying to make the world better. But I also believe that reform, more education, and sensitivity training are long overdue.  I also believe, that we as a society need to recognize the need for reform of ourselves, to be better than we are, to be more forgiving, more understanding, and more than we can even expect from ourselves.  

The United States Old Catholic Church and the Saint Joseph Mission is a call to share the Gospel with ALL people, to affirm and celebrate our diversity and embrace our difference, and most of all to welcome and forgive those who have fallen, have made a mistake, or who are broken.  Our hope, prayer and goal is to not only forgive, but to empower, to raise up, and help those who have fallen to stand tall once again!

From this past Sunday in ordinary time, my brother in faith, Rev. Jeff Grant and I will now try to do the extraordinary. 
We have been given a second chance by God to make the Church, government, and even the police better than they are. 

Jeff as a lawyer and me as a cop, were once called to save lives, now we are called to save souls. We are being called to help shed light on the darkness that is so prevalent in the world in the mistreatments and lack of fairness that exists in the Church, Criminal Justice and Correctional System.  We are going to try to show the importance of giving people a second chance, of offering forgiveness and redemption.  In changing that life sentence of stigma and being cast out to a life sentence of service, love, and grace. We are going to try to do the extraordinary.  

Keep us in your prayers we could use all the help we can get - and if you want to join us, just reach out!

Blessings, Fr. Joe
 

Rev. Monsignor Joseph Ciccone, Ed.D., M.Div.
Saint Joseph Mission Church
Email - stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com
Parish Office -201-754-4GOD
Blessed are the Peacemakers who bring GOD to the People!
Visit us at ~ http://www.saintjosephmissionchurch.org
To learn more about the Old Catholic Church, please visit: https://srocc.org

_____________

Donations

We are grateful for all donations this past year to our Ministries. These donations enable us to grow, reach out and serve this community for which there is far too little understanding, compassion, empathy and accurate information.  Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status -

all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We hope you will consider making a donation to our appeal this year.  Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal here, at the "Donate" button on on our site, prisonist.org or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We have enclosed an addressed envelope for your use. Thank you.

__________ 

 

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox.

The darkest days of a person's life can be a

time of renewal and hope

____________

Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.

Rev. Deacon Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
(o) 203-769-1096
(m) 203-339-5887
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Pinterest
Google+

Tumblr

Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

Rev. Monsignor Joseph Ciccone, Ed D, M Div
Supervising Minister
stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com
(201) 982-2206

Jacqueline Polverari, MBA, MSW, Advocate
Women's Incarceration Issues
jpolverari@prisonist.org
(203) 671-5139

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

Press Release: Jeff Grant Appointed New Interim Executive Director at Family ReEntry

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News 

Press Release: 

Jeff Grant Appointed New Interim 

Executive Director at Family ReEntry

 

Jeff Grant Appointed New Interim Executive Director at Family ReEntry

Bridgeport, Connecticut – Thurs., October 13, 2016

The Board of Directors of Family ReEntry has appointed Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, as interim Executive Director of Family ReEntry of Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Grant served on Family ReEntry’s board of directors since 2009 — his new appointment marks the first time in the United States that a person formerly incarcerated for a white-collar crime has served as the head of a major re-entry agency. “It’s a tremendous step, and a bold decision on the Board’s part,” Grant said. “This is a transformative period for Family ReEntry. I owe them my fresh start, so of course I said yes when they offered me the position.”

“From an advocacy, program and fundraising perspective, it resonates with people to have a formerly incarcerated person at our helm,” stated Jeffrey Earls, Director of Development for Family ReEntry, “with a background in business, law, prison ministry, recovery and prisoner reentry, Jeff brings a wealth of experience to Family ReEntry.”

“We live and work in an area that has the largest disparity of wealth in the country,” said Grant, referring to the economic divide between affluent suburbs such as Greenwich and inner city communities such as Bridgeport. Family ReEntry receives tremendous support from individuals and families who have been very open and receptive to our mission,” Grant said. “We have a message that resonates around the state and the country — to lower recidivism and disrupt the intergenerational cycle of incarceration.”

There is a new sense of energy and purpose at Family ReEntry. The staff and directors are committed to advancing the agency, its core values, and above all its mission.

Family ReEntry provides essential support and programs to individuals and families who have been involved in or impacted by the criminal justice system.  FRE works to reverse the impact of domestic violence, crime, incarceration, drug abuse and mental illness. FRE also offers Youth Mentoring programs that focus on assistance to youth that are impacted by the devastating effect of an incarcerated parent or sibling.

Ronda Muir, Board Chair, said, "Family ReEntry was fortunate to have a long-serving board member with roots in the Agency's Fresh Start program who could step into the Executive Director role. Jeff's own experience and commitment to our mission makes him an ideal choice to quickly and effectively move the agency forward. He has the full support of the board as we build on Steve Lanza's tenure to support those impacted by the criminal justice system."

Mr. Grant replaces Stephen Lanza, who served as Executive Director since 1999.  Mr. Lanza will continue his relationship with Family ReEntry as a senior advisor and consultant. “Steve Lanza has been the heart and soul of Family ReEntry, and has served our agency, community and mission for the past fifteen years with dignity, grace, compassion, empathy and human kindness,” says Mr. Grant.

More information, visit www.FamilyReEntry.org or call Jeffrey Earls, Family ReEntry Director of Development at (203) 576-6924, jeffreyearls@familyreentry.org.

For press inquiries email to: fre-press@usadagency.com
 

P.R.I.D.E. Entrepreneurial Program in Connecticut

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

P.R.I.D.E. Entrepreneurial 

Program in Connecticut

 
People Reentering Into 

Doing Entrepreneurship

Our good friend, Barry Diamond, 

who served time for a white-collar crime, 

is giving back to the people of Connecticut 

in a big way in founding the PRIDE Program. 

We are honored to be on his Board of Advisors. 

_____________ 

A course filled with information on how to go into business.

It is exclusively for inmates, released inmates & people with a criminal background.  It covers all areas such as Banking, Law, Insurance, Accounting, Marketing , Sales, Life Lessons, Business Plan, Positive Mental Attitude & more.  What makes it unique is that it is 60% business data & 40% Life lessons.  

In the first session students are mentally prepared to start receiving & learning information, then each student is guided into starting a business.  Mentors help students get through difficult sessions & also work with them after graduation.  Once a month for 3 months after graduation there is a general mentoring session.  This ensures that everyone can follow through to start a business.  

Classes are once a week for 10 weeks & are given in the mornings usually from 9-11:30 am.  Potential students are individually interviewed for selection.  The selection is based on their desire & commitment to follow through with this multi-subject course.  The business Plan session ends with each student proving that their idea for a business will work.  It is presented to an outside business committee for evaluation.   

The course is currently being taught in Bridgeport, Waterbury & Hartford where the city governments as well as local community organizations help it to run effectively.  Three of the major organizations in the state helping us are Career Resources, CPA & OIC.

I am currently picking a few of my graduate students & training them to become leaders of the training course for February 2017.  We are interested in hiring them because it will allow them to grow as individuals & provide a great teacher for the new students.  They walk the walk & talk the talk.  I you are interested in donating to this campaign please go to tinyurl.com/ht8ozwb, or kind.fund, under "education," click Reentry Graduate Training.

 For more information contact Barry Diamond, Executive Director, at reentrysurvivors.com or theprideprogram@gmail.com, 203-767-4090 

Barry was the owner of a successful 30-year old consulting company, started the Chamber of Commerce in his town, was on the board of the town’s Economic Development Commission, Vice-President of the town’s Tax Abatement Commission, President of the town’s Library Foundation, and was the President–Elect of the Better Business Bureau of the state of Connecticut.  All that ended when he started to think wrongly & make stupid decisions that resulted in being convicted of a white–collar crime & sentenced to six years in prison.

_____________

Donations

We are grateful for all donations this past year to our Ministries. These donations enable us to grow, reach out and serve this community for which there is far too little understanding, compassion, empathy and accurate information.  Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status -

all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. We hope you will consider making a donation to our appeal this year.  Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal here, at the "Donate" button on on our site, prisonist.org or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We have enclosed an addressed envelope for your use. Thank you.

__________ 

 

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox.

The darkest days of a person's life can be a

time of renewal and hope

____________

Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
(o) 203-769-1096
(m) 203-339-5887
Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Pinterest
Google+

Tumblr

Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

Rev. Fr. Joseph Ciccone, Ed D, M Div
Supervising Minister
stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com
(201) 982-2206

Jacqueline Polverari, MBA, MSW, Advocate
Women's Incarceration Issues
jpolverari@prisonist.org
(203) 671-5139

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

Fairfield County Business Journal: Progressive Prison Ministries Head Jeff Grant Takes on Leadership of Family ReEntry, by Kevin Zimmerman - Reporter

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

Fairfield County Business Journal:

Progressive Prison Ministries Head Jeff Grant 

 Takes on Leadership of Family ReEntry

By Kevin Zimmerman - Reporter

 Reprinted from Westfaironline.com

October 6, 2016

 

Support and counseling for white-collar criminals re-entering the general population is a growing business for Jeff Grant. Founder of Greenwich-based nonprofit Progressive Prison Ministries, Grant was recently named interim executive director of Family ReEntry, a nonprofit with offices in Norwalk, Bridgeport and New Haven.

Founded in 1984 as a re-entry support group for men at the Isaiah House in Bridgeport and with a budget of over $4.5 million, Family ReEntry is principally involved with helping people convicted of street crimes and their families re-enter society. The organization has some 15 intervention, re-entry, and family and children programs. Services are provided in Bridgeport, Derby, Norwalk, Stamford, New Haven and Norwich and in three prisons in Cheshire and Niantic.

Grant’s elevation — he’s served on Family ReEntry’s board of directors since 2009 — marks the first time that a formerly incarcerated white-collar criminal has served as the head of a major re-entry agency.

“It’s a tremendous step, and a bold decision on the board’s part,” Grant said. “This is a transformative period for Family ReEntry. I owe them my fresh start, so of course I said yes when they offered me the position.”

He is replacing Steve Lanza, who as the group’s executive director for the past 15 years “was the heart and soul of Family ReEntry,” Grant said. “He had some family issues he had to attend to and is starting a consulting practice for nonprofits in general and criminal justice nonprofits in particular.”

Family ReEntry is also in the midst of weaning itself from state support, as much of that was reduced as part of the recent budget cuts, which Grant termed “adverse and dramatic.”

“We’ll miss having that overabundance of state contracts,” Grant said, “but now we can be more creative in fulfilling our mission.” The nonprofit’s private fund raising department is already finding donors in that area, he said. “The miracle is that we’ve been able to use our experience and learning from the inner-city and white-collar communities to make each of them stronger and more empathetic, which is part of our mission of advocating for public awareness of the issues surrounding criminal justice and re-entry.”

In 2006, Grant, a former corporate lawyer with an office in Mamaroneck, N.Y., served 14 months in a low-security prison after pleading guilty to federal fraud charges. He was charged with falsely claiming in a loan application to the U.S. Small Business Administration to have had an office on Wall Street that was impacted by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

After his release, Grant volunteered with several nonprofits that helped rehabilitate former convicts as they re-entered society. After attending a 2009 Family ReEntry benefit in Greenwich, he and his wife Lynn Springer joined the group and began working to transform a blighted block across from Bridgeport’s First Baptist Church that had been home to drug addicts and prostitutes into a community park and garden.

In 2012, he graduated from the Columbia University-affiliated Union Theological Seminary, and holds a Juris Doctor and Master of Divinity degree. “It was a big deal that they accepted someone who’d been convicted of a white-collar crime,” he said. Now a [Rev. Deacon at St. Joseph Mission Church in Cliffside Park, NJ], Grant and his wife created Progressive Prison Ministries in 2013.

Both Progressive Prison Ministries and Family ReEntry have benefited from “individuals and families, who have been very open and receptive to our missions,” he said. “People who live in the affluent suburbs in particular have wanted to step up as a way of recognizing their civic responsibility and, frankly, for the tax savings” their donations can realize. “We have a message that resonates around the state — to make sure these people don’t recidivate.”

The cost benefits to society could be significant: according to the FBI, white-collar crime is estimated to cost the U. S. more than $300 billion annually.

Grant said he’s uncertain how much time he’ll be able to devote to Progressive Prison Ministries with his new responsibilities at Family ReEntry, though he pointed out that the former is still moving ahead with a number of ambitious projects.

One of those is an ongoing online support group for white-collar and nonviolent criminals, the first in the country, which began six months ago. Held on Tuesday evenings, the confidential videoconference sessions have had 25 participants from nine states logging in, with most from Fairfield County.

Since January 2015, Progressive Prison Ministries has served and individuals and families in 25 states, with consultations taking place before, during and upon re-entry from prison in person or by phone, email, Skype, FaceTime, GoToMeeting or, if in a federal prison, via CorrLinks.

On Oct. 15, Family ReEntry is serving as Connecticut sponsor of “Emerging Leaders Training,” a daylong event at the University of New Haven presented by New York City-based nonprofit JustLeadershipUSA, which is dedicated to cutting the U.S. correctional population in half by 2030 while also reducing crime.