Welcome to the Day One Challenge

Congratulations! You have been released from prison and have returned to the City of Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole’s Handbook explains:

“As a person who wants to leave your criminal past behind and rebuild your life, it is important that you realize that returning home to your community is a process that [began] from the day you [entered] prison…It is up to you to follow the correctional plan that has been developed specifically to meet your needs.”

You share an identity with a small group of Day One Challenge participants; when you click on your name below, you’ll be given more background details. Try your best to experience the next few hours through the eyes of your given profile. At 10:00am, your small group will leave First Baptist Church and attempt to locate the community supports needed to survive and thrive as you reenter society. You will be given prompts at each stop along the Challenge via QR codes.

Even though you will be using your cell phone’s to scan these codes…remember, you have been away from Philadelphia for many years are now at the intersection of incarceration and homelessness. In this simulation, you do not own a cell phone. For directions, find a map or ask a helpful pedestrian.

At Redemption Housing, we believe that successful reentry happens by way of a caring and supportive community. Today, that community is your assigned small group. Learn with each other, process and reflect together, and remember together the thousands of Philadelphians that return to our community every year.

If at any time your group becomes lost or confused, call Robert at 215-280-2277 for assistance. Good luck!

Click on your name below when your group is ready to begin!

Alberto Alvarez

Alberto Alvarez

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2001, when you were convicted of home invasion. Your mother passed away while you were incarcerated, and you haven’t heard from your father in years. You have one son, who is grown now and was raised by his mother. But you aren’t sure how to get in touch with them. You are relatively healthy but have been taking medication to help calm your nerves. You can’t remember what the medication is called. Spanish is your first language, and you speak limited English. Philadelphia is your home, and you are excited to be back in the city. But as far as you know, you don’t have any family or friends in the area. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

You haven’t been feeling very well over the past few days and have chalked it up to anxiety and hunger. But now you have a cough. Have you been wearing a mask today? If you can find a bed, you’re going to be sleeping in a shelter tonight with maybe dozens of other men. What if they don’t let you stay because of the cough? Outreach mentioned that Project HOME gives away free COVID-19 Rapid Tests at their drop in center in the SEPTA concourse, underneath the Municipal Services Building. They might be able to help and answer a few questions, if you can find them!

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

1. People experiencing homelessness and returning citizens contract COVID-19 at a higher rate than the general population. What are some reasons why they might be at risk?

2. Where would you go if you knew you had COVID-19 but had nowhere to sleep tonight?

3. In what other ways do you think that COVID-19 might present challenges for returning citizens?

Bret Boone

Bret Boone

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2007, when you were convicted of burglary. Your parents passed away when you were a toddler. You grew up in the foster system but have not kept in touch with any of the families you lived with. You are lactose intolerant and are allergic to peanut butter, but you are relatively healthy for your age and have been taking medication for the past 15 years to help you cope with anxiety and depression. You don’t like crowds, but you have never lived outside of Philadelphia. As far as you know, you don’t have any friends left in the city. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

You haven’t been feeling very well over the past few days and have chalked it up to anxiety and hunger. But now you have a cough. Have you been wearing a mask today? If you can find a bed, you’re going to be sleeping in a shelter tonight with maybe dozens of other men. What if they don’t let you stay because of the cough? Outreach mentioned that Project HOME gives away free COVID-19 Rapid Tests at their drop in center in the SEPTA concourse, underneath the Municipal Services Building. They might be able to help and answer a few questions, if you can find them!

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

1. People experiencing homelessness and returning citizens contract COVID-19 at a higher rate than the general population. What are some reasons why they might be at risk?

2. Where would you go if you knew you had COVID-19 but had nowhere to sleep tonight?

3. In what other ways do you think that COVID-19 might present challenges for returning citizens?

Christopher Caine

Christopher Caine

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2007, when you were convicted of burglary. Your parents passed away when you were a toddler. You grew up in the foster system but have not kept in touch with any of the families you lived with. While incarcerated, you were diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. You don’t like crowds, but you have never lived outside of Philadelphia. As far as you know, you don’t have any friends left in the city. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

What’s first? You need to get an ID but have no idea where to start. You need new clothes to wear. You want to look for work, but what phone number should you list on your resume? Where can you get a phone? With so many things to accomplish over the next few weeks, you could use some help from someone who knows how to navigate the systems. Someone handed you a flyer this morning for JEVS Human Services. If they’re open on a Saturday, maybe they can help.

If you had to prioritize housing, medical care, and employment in your first few weeks back from incarceration, what would you focus on first and why?

Derek Dodd

Derek Dodd

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2001, when you were convicted of home invasion. Your mother passed away while you were incarcerated, and you haven’t heard from your dad in years. You have one son, who is grown now and was raised by his mother. You aren’t sure how to get in touch with them. You are lactose intolerant and are allergic to peanut butter, but you are relatively healthy but have been taking medication to help calm your nerves. You can’t remember what the medication is called. Philadelphia is your home, and you are excited to be back in the city. But as far as you know, you don’t have any family or friends in the area. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

What’s first? You need to get an ID but have no idea where to start. You need new clothes to wear. You want to look for work, but what phone number should you list on your resume? Where can you get a phone? With so many things to accomplish over the next few weeks, you could use some help from someone who knows how to navigate the systems. Someone handed you a flyer this morning for JEVS Human Services. . If they’re open on a Saturday, maybe they can help.

If you had to prioritize housing, medical care, and employment in your first few weeks back from incarceration, what would you focus on first and why?

Erik Elkins

Erik Elkins

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You were incarcerated in 1996, at a time when nationwide sentencing reforms were packing more people in prison cells for longer periods of time. This included Pennsylvania’s “three-strike law,” which imposed a harsher sentence for nearly any crime if the offender had two previous serious convictions. Now that you are released, you are most excited about reconnecting with your family. Your three kids are grown and live somewhere in Philadelphia, but you’ve lost touch over the years. For the past four years, you have been exchanging letters with the pastor of a local church. He encourages you to come visit on Sunday and promises to help. His name is Rev. Charles Erickson, and his church, Gates of Praise Christian Church, is in South Philly. Besides high blood pressure and a severe peanut allergy, you are in good health. You’re excited about the prospect of starting a new life.

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Frederick Foreman

Frederick Foreman

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You were incarcerated in 1996, at a time when nationwide sentencing reforms were packing more people in prison cells for longer periods of time. This included Pennsylvania’s “three-strike law,” which imposed a harsher sentence for nearly any crime if the offender had two previous serious convictions. Now that you are released, you are most excited about reconnecting with your family. Your three kids are grown and live somewhere in Philadelphia, but you’ve lost touch over the years. For the past four years, you have been exchanging letters with the pastor of a local church. He encourages you to come visit on Sunday and promises to help. His name is Rev. Charles Erickson, and his church, Gates of Praise Christian Church, is in South Philly. Besides high blood pressure and a severe peanut allergy, you are in good health. You’re excited about the prospect of starting a new life.

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Gregory Gadsden

Gregory Gadsden

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. “Without a decent job,” he tells you, “it’s impossible to move forward.”

Returning citizens often say that a job is one of the first things that they look for when they are released. While you were incarcerated, you worked as much as you could. But it has been a long time since you had to pass out your resume or sit through an interview. Bill tells you that he’s been to a work program that helps returning citizens at Suburban Station. You don’t know where that is, but Bill says you “can’t miss it” and points you in the right direction.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

What challenges do you think that you are going to face in finding and keeping a job?
Do you have any ideas about what jobs are most widely available to returning citizens?

Henry Holmes

Henry Holmes

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 1990. You are an only child, and your parents passed away long ago. You have no other family. You have been suffering from a number of painful health issues for the past few years and have trouble standing or walking for long periods of time. You are allergic to a number of medications as well as shellfish. You have never been homeless before and are nervous about the prospect of spending the evening on the street. Philadelphia used to be your home, but a lot has changed since you saw it last.

What’s next? You need to get an ID but have no idea where to start. You need new clothes to wear. You want to look for work, but what phone number should you list on your resume? Where can you get a phone? With so many things to accomplish over the next few weeks, you could use some help from someone who knows how to navigate the systems. Someone handed you a flyer this morning for JEVS Human Services. If they’re open on a Saturday, maybe they can help.

If you had to prioritize housing, medical care, and employment in your first few weeks back from incarceration, what would you focus on first and why?

Jeremiah Jones

Jeremiah Jones

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 1990. You are an only child, and your parents passed away long ago. You have no other family. You have been suffering from a number of painful health issues for the past few years and have trouble standing or walking for long periods of time. You are allergic to a number of medications as well as shellfish. You have never been homeless before and are nervous about the prospect of spending the evening on the street. Philadelphia used to be your home, but a lot has changed since you saw it last.

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. “Without a decent job,” he tells you, “it’s impossible to move forward.”

Returning citizens often say that a job is one of the first things that they look for when they are released. While you were incarcerated, you worked as much as you could. But it has been a long time since you had to pass out your resume or sit through an interview. Bill tells you that he’s been to a work program that helps returning citizens at Suburban Station. You don’t know where that is, but Bill says you “can’t miss it” and points you in the right direction.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

What challenges do you think that you are going to face in finding and keeping a job?
Do you have any ideas about what jobs are most widely available to returning citizens?

Karl Kolinski

Karl Kolinski

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2007, when you were convicted of burglary. Your parents passed away when you were a toddler. You grew up in the foster system but have not kept in touch with any of the families you lived with. You are relatively healthy for your age, but you have been taking medication for the past 15 years to help you cope with anxiety and depression. You have a healthy appetite but have to be careful due to a fairly severe gluten intolerance. You don’t like crowds, but you have never lived outside of Philadelphia. As far as you know, you don’t have any friends left in the city. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. “Without a decent job,” he tells you, “it’s impossible to move forward.”

Returning citizens often say that a job is one of the first things that they look for when they are released. While you were incarcerated, you worked as much as you could. But it has been a long time since you had to pass out your resume or sit through an interview. Bill tells you that he’s been to a work program that helps returning citizens at Suburban Station. You don’t know where that is, but Bill says you “can’t miss it” and points you in the right direction.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

What challenges do you think that you are going to face in finding and keeping a job?
Do you have any ideas about what jobs are most widely available to returning citizens?

Michael Mastellone

Michael Mastellone

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2011. You were never married and don’t have any children, but your parents are lifelong residents of West Philadelphia. They have been supportive overall, but they told you that you will have to find somewhere else to stay: you can’t live with them. You plan to reach out to them once you are back on your feet. You are a cancer survivor, and the disease has taken its toll on your body. You have a healthy appetite but have to be careful due to a fairly severe gluten intolerance. You’re not a fan of large crowds and prefer to keep to yourself. But there aren’t many supports for returning citizens outside of urban areas. Some of your old friends should also be in the area, but you lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

You haven’t been feeling very well over the past few days and have chalked it up to anxiety and hunger. But now you have a cough. Have you been wearing a mask today? If you can find a bed, you’re going to be sleeping in a shelter tonight with maybe dozens of other men. What if they don’t let you stay because of the cough? Outreach mentioned that Project HOME gives away free COVID-19 Rapid Tests at their drop in center in the SEPTA concourse, underneath the Municipal Services Building. They might be able to help and answer a few questions, if you can find them!

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:
People experiencing homlessness and returning citizens contract COVID-19 at a higher rate than the general population.

1. What are some reasons why they might be at risk?

2. Where would you go if you knew you had COVID-19 but had nowhere to sleep tonight?

3. In what other ways do you think that COVID-19 might present challenges for returning citizens?

Nicholas Neary

ANicholas Neary

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2011. You were never married and don’t have any children, but your parents are lifelong residents of West Philadelphia. They have been supportive overall, but they told you that you will have to find somewhere else to stay: you can’t live with them. You plan to reach out to them once you are back on your feet. You are a cancer survivor, and the disease has taken its toll on your body. You have a healthy appetite but have to be careful due to a fairly severe gluten intolerance. You’re not a fan of large crowds and prefer to keep to yourself. But there aren’t many supports for returning citizens outside of urban areas. Some of your old friends should also be in the area, but you lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

One of your first priorities is to find somewhere to sleep tonight. When you arrived back in Philadelphia, someone handed you a “Where to Turn” pamphlet in the SEPTA terminal. Take a look at the pamphlet. Does it include any information about area shelters? Because it’s a Saturday morning, your options might be limited. You don’t have a cell phone yet, so you can’t call around. Do any of the shelter options catch your eye?

Now you also realize that you’re getting hungry. Very hungry. People in your position usually have a few options. They might panhandle for spare change or a bite to eat outside of the local sandwich shop, or they might use the “Where to Turn” guide to find a local soup kitchen or food pantry. Many soup kitchens are closed on weekends. Perhaps when you arrive, you can ask the shelter if they have any suggestions.

Pick a shelter that houses men, and visit there next. Hopefully, the shelter can give you a place to stay until you are able to find a more long-term solution. Even better would be a meal to hold you over too.

While you are heading there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

Do you have any fears about sleeping in a shelter? What if the shelter is crowded and you have to risk heat exhaustion outside?
What would you say are the main causes of homelessness? Why?
Have you ever been inside a homeless shelter? Tell the group about your experiences.
How many more stops can you make before you need food and water?

Patrick Pillman

Patrick Pillman

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 1990. You are an only child, and your parents passed away long ago. You have no other family. You have been suffering from a number of painful health issues for the past few years and have trouble standing or walking for long periods of time. You are allergic to a number of medications as well as shellfish and peanut butter. You have never been homeless before and are nervous about the prospect of spending the evening on the street. Philadelphia used to be your home, but a lot has changed since you saw it last.

What’s first? You need to get an ID but have no idea where to start. You need new clothes to wear. You want to look for work, but what phone number should you list on your resume? Where can you get a phone? With so many things to accomplish over the next few weeks, you could use some help from someone who knows how to navigate the systems. Someone handed you a flyer this morning for JEVS Human Services.. If they’re open on a Saturday, maybe they can help.

If you had to prioritize housing, medical care, and employment in your first few weeks back from incarceration, what would you focus on first and why?

Ralph Reed

Ralph Reed

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You were incarcerated in 1996, at a time when nationwide sentencing reforms were packing more people in prison cells for longer periods of time. This included Pennsylvania’s “three-strike law,” which imposed a harsher sentence for nearly any crime if the offender had two previous serious convictions. Now that you are released, you are most excited about reconnecting with your family. Your three kids are grown and live somewhere in Philadelphia, but you’ve lost touch over the years. For the past four years, you have been exchanging letters with the pastor of a local church. He encourages you to come visit on Sunday and promises to help. His name is Rev. Charles Erickson, and his church, Gates of Praise Christian Church, is in South Philly. Besides high blood pressure and a severe peanut allergy, you are in good health. You’re excited about the prospect of starting a new life.

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. “Without a decent job,” he tells you, “it’s impossible to move forward.”

Returning citizens often say that a job is one of the first things that they look for when they are released. While you were incarcerated, you worked as much as you could. But it has been a long time since you had to pass out your resume or sit through an interview. Bill tells you that he’s been to a work program that helps returning citizens at Suburban Station. You don’t know where that is, but Bill says you “can’t miss it” and points you in the right direction.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

What challenges do you think that you are going to face in finding and keeping a job?
Do you have any ideas about what jobs are most widely available to returning citizens?

Salvador Salas

Salvador Salas

Congratulations! After many long years in prison, your day has finally come! Freedom! You have been incarcerated since 2001, when you were convicted of home invasion. Your mother passed away while you were incarcerated, and you haven’t heard from your dad in years. You have one son, who is grown now and was raised by his mother. But you aren’t sure where you should go or how to get in touch with them. You are lactose intolerant and are allergic to peanut butter, but you are relatively healthy but have been taking medication to help calm your nerves. You can’t remember what the medication is called. Philadelphia is your home, and you are excited to be back in the city. But as far as you know, you don’t have any family or friends in the area. You lost touch with everyone while you were incarcerated.

You bump into a young man, Bill. Bill is wearing a white, cut-off t-shirt, and a coffee-stained Phillies cap. He asks you for a cigarette as you strike up a conversation. He has been in and out of the city’s shelters for the past three years. “Without a decent job,” he tells you, “it’s impossible to move forward.”

Returning citizens often say that a job is one of the first things that they look for when they are released. While you were incarcerated, you worked as much as you could. But it has been a long time since you had to pass out your resume or sit through an interview. Bill tells you that he’s been to a work program that helps returning citizens at Suburban Station. You don’t know where that is, but Bill says you “can’t miss it” and points you in the right direction.

While you are walking there, take some time to talk through the following questions with your group:

What challenges do you think that you are going to face in finding and keeping a job?
Do you have any ideas about what jobs are most widely available to returning citizens?

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