Niurka LeBron reflects on her life with gratitude and purpose.
With a stable job, a calling, and a loving home for her children, she is committed to improving her community.
Yet, her path to this fulfilling life was fraught with challenges.
Once ensnared in the criminal justice system, LeBron faced indictment and conviction on fraud charges, which led to a nine-month sentence of home confinement.
It was during this trying time that she met Stacey Borden, the founder of New Beginnings Reentry Services in Dorchester.
Borden’s support proved transformative as she guided LeBron through her judicial journey, assisted with her home confinement, and helped her successfully reintegrate into society.
“Reentry starts with zooming into the prisons, zooming into the jails, letting [people] know, you know, what it’s going to be like on the outside,” LeBron shared passionately.
Her belief is that the journey post-incarceration begins with planning and preparation: “Nobody plans to fail.
They just fail to plan.
And you know that.”
On a humid Thursday morning in July, LeBron, now the owner of SoulSmart Health & Wellness and mentor to those reentering society, spoke at the Ironworkers Hall in South Boston.
The topic of how Boston can support approximately 3,000 individuals returning from incarceration annually has emerged as a salient issue in the current mayoral campaign.
Philanthropist Josh Kraft, who is challenging incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu, announced his strategy to assist returning citizens.
LeBron stood beside Kraft as he unveiled his plan, which advocates for job accessibility for those recently released from incarceration.
Kraft’s proposal consists of a 90-day program offering job training, financial literacy, health insurance, mental health services, and other resources before individuals leave custody.
“In the three decades I worked at the Boys and Girls Club, and through the Patriots Foundation, I met so many people who had done time,” Kraft remarked.
Kraft cultivated relationships with the families of children served at the club, noting that many of them had endured difficult circumstances but possessed valuable contributions to offer their communities.
Criticizing Wu’s administration, Kraft pointed to the closure of “Operation Exit,” a job connection initiative for formerly incarcerated individuals launched under former Mayor Marty Walsh.
“I want City Hall to be a place that supports lived experience, not only when building out a revamped Office of Returning Citizens but across the board,” he urged.
In response, Wu expressed annoyance at Kraft’s critique, clarifying that Operation Exit ceased operations before her term began in 2021.
She highlighted that two programs have since been initiated to fill that gap, emphasizing that improvements have been made.
“This was another example of more irresponsible Kraft macaroni baloney put out on the campaign trail,” Wu stated.
Her administration has introduced programs focusing on the direct placement of returning citizens into specific city jobs with supportive programming.
Additionally, she mentioned a partnership with trade unions designed to streamline job training and placement for returning citizens.
Experts agree that such programming is crucial.
While many returning citizens encounter barriers to employment, housing, and education, research indicates that women—particularly women of color—face even greater challenges.
With approximately 2.5 million women exiting jails and prisons each year, access to opportunities remains limited.
The Northampton-based Prison Policy Initiative reports that this is partly due to more women serving shorter jail sentences, limiting their access to training and educational resources.
Moreover, women with criminal records often find it challenging to secure employment in traditionally female-dominated sectors, such as nursing or elder care.
Consequently, formerly incarcerated women, especially those of color, experience disproportionately high rates of unemployment and homelessness, exacerbating difficulties with reintegration and compliance with probation or parole.
As a result, mentorship is critical, according to Borden.
“I was drug addicted.
I come from early childhood sexual trauma.
I was mentally ill.
I couldn’t function, and I kept stealing,” Borden shared from her heart.
She described the sacrifices she made, saying, “I was hungry.
I was feeding my addiction, and I didn’t know any better.”
Yet, Borden credits the women in prison who raised her and motivated her to support others in their transition from incarceration to freedom.
“The work that we do out here isn’t just, you know, ‘Get out of prison, and now you’re out.’ No, [it’s] ‘Get out of prison and help us.
Let us help you reinvent yourself.'”
Borden attributes her progress to mentorship and is now dedicated to mentoring LeBron and many others.
LeBron acknowledges that she has benefited from New Beginnings Reentry Services, stating,
“If those free resources were not there, I’m not sure what my transition would have looked like.”
The importance of providing supportive resources for reentering citizens cannot be overstated, as evidenced by the stories of individuals like Niurka LeBron and Stacey Borden.
While the political campaign continues, the need for effective programming and mentorship remains critical in transforming lives and facilitating successful reintegration into society.
image source from：masslive
