The people who work daily to help formerly incarcerated individuals lead productive lives were honored with a proclamation at Richmond City Council Tuesday as part of National Second Chance Month.
Organizations recognized in the proclamation for providing reentry services include 100 Years Enterprise, A Place to Call Home, Men and Women of Purpose, Men and Women of Valor, Rubicon Programs and Safe Return Project. Representatives of each organization attended.
The city proclamation also declares April 2025 as National Second Chance Month, noting how resources, mentorship and support for formerly incarcerated people are important for public safety.
“It is a feeling of pride and purpose to be before you as we declare April 2025 as National Second Chance Month here in Richmond,” said Richmond Councilmember Jamelia Brown. “This moment is more than just a proclamation, it’s a reflection of who we are as a community. But second chances don’t happen by accident. They happen because of people who care enough to walk alongside someone in their hardest moments.”
Ricky Godfrey, a representative of 100 Years Enterprise, expressed gratitude to the city for acknowledging this important work. His organization, headquartered at the downtown CoBiz Richmond, consists of formerly incarcerated individuals who now provide roadmaps for successful re-entry to others returning to society.
“The work that we do is important to me,” said Godfrey, who said he spent 31 years in prison and found his purpose as a mentor while he was incarcerated. “I helped to destroy some of this city. So I have an obligation…to help repair that by all means.”
Lily Rahnema, Chevron Richmond community engagement manager, attended the proclamation hearing to laud the efforts of organizations like Rubicon and 100 Years Enterprise, both of which the company supports with funding. Over the last 13 years, Chevron donated over $550,000 to support the work done by Rubicon, which Rahnema described as “truly life-changing.” Other local re-entry organizations indirectly receive Chevron grant funding from the 10-year, $90 million Environmental and Community Investment Agreement (ECIA) program connected to the $1 billion refinery modernization project.
You can watch the full presentation of the proclamation by clicking play on this video:
