In this inspiring episode, Arti Finn, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer, sits down with Tanaine Jenkins—TEDx speaker, award-winning recidivism strategist, and national advocate for probation and parole reform. Her journey spans military service, banking, incarceration, and ultimately finding her voice as a national leader.

Today, Jenkins serves as Director of the Florida Safety Coalition and State Organizer for Reform Alliance, the nonprofit founded by Meek Mill and others after Meek’s probation case exposed deep flaws in the system. Since 2018, Reform has helped pass 18 laws in 11 states, creating real second chances.

Jenkins shares stories from her childhood in Jacksonville, her military service, and the financial struggles that led to her incarceration. But it’s her post-release journey that stands out. She explains the "second sentence"—the 33,000 invisible barriers justice-impacted individuals face after prison, from employment discrimination to blocked access to licenses and insurance.

She also breaks down the hidden traps of probation and parole: monthly fees, drug testing costs, and violations for things like crossing county lines to reach a hospital. It’s a system stacked against success—and one Jenkins is working hard to change.

But her story isn’t just about barriers—it’s about breakthrough. During the pandemic, she paid off nearly $20,000 in restitution by delivering DoorDash orders. She invested in herself, refined her public speaking skills, and began sharing her story—first at the Florida Capitol, then on the TEDx stage.

Today, she's leading change. In Florida, Jenkins helped push for SB 752, which rewards probationers with time off their sentences for maintaining steady work or earning credentials like a GED or vocational certificate.

Jenkins and Finn discuss what’s needed to break the cycle: fair chance hiring, mental health support, and ending the stigma facing returning citizens. Jenkins reminds us that justice-impacted individuals aren’t liabilities—they’re often the hardest-working people, if given a real shot.

She leaves listeners with this powerful message: "Starting over isn’t starting from scratch. It's starting with experience. Forgive yourself, make a plan, and know that your best days are still ahead."

Whether you're a correctional leader, policymaker, employer, or someone rebuilding after incarceration—this conversation is for you.

Tune in to hear Tanaine’s incredible story and be part of the change.

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