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About the episode
Today’s guest is Carrie Kurtz, CEO of Reentry Synergy. Carrie has spent her career at the intersection of justice, housing, and human dignity—building real second chances for people returning home from incarceration. From Ban the Box to Justice Bridge Housing, Carrie explains why reentry only works when agencies, families, and communities coordinate—not silo.

What you’ll learn

• Why collaboration > “referrals” in reentry (coordination is the unlock)
• How housing first stabilizes employment, mental health, and family reunification
• Trauma-responsive reentry: language shifts, safer spaces, and trust-building
• Fair housing, landlord education, and reducing hidden discrimination
• The power of lived experience: multiple seats at the table, not a token voice

Why it matters
Reentry isn’t a program—it’s an ecosystem. Carrie shows how aligning stakeholders (people, families, providers, probation/parole, landlords, health systems) produces measurable stability and fewer returns to custody.

Perfect for
Anyone working in justice, social services, housing, policy—or anyone who believes redemption should be real and reachable.

Join the movement
If this episode challenges you, share it with a colleague or friend who cares about second chances. Let’s turn reentry from a buzzword into a blueprint.

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