Kickin it Off the Grid

Another great interview with my friend Jason Valleen. Jason is in the process of developing curriculum for pre-release and has tapped into some valuable concepts not being addressed by corrections.

This is part 2 of our interview with Jason Valleen where we dive into the complex world of managing relationships after being released from prison. This area just might be one of the greatest contributors to recidivism and yet probably the most neglected.

Justin and I are partners in training! We've been collaborating, writing, and facilitating for the past 5 years and have developed a number of trainings to meet the needs of the recovery and reentry community as well as the general public. You can check out our work here   https://reentrytrainingsolutions.com

The last "R" in the RNR model is often neglected. In fact, it seems to be the last thing we pay attention to when working with individuals coming out of incarceration. Improve your KOG skills by listening to this episode!

Jason and I met many years ago in prison (MCF Rush City) and spent a few years together in a program setting (MCF Lino Lakes) so we know each other well. Jason has been out for years now and has decided to invest his time and energy into the reentry and recovery work here in Minnesota. This first interview is focused on the issues and contrast one faces when leaving incarceration and jumping back...

Start here! Get a feel for what this is about and what we are focused on. I'll be interviewing people and organizations I've known and worked with over the past 3 decades.

Wyatt has been busy since our first interview (episode 6) and has recently started a nonprofit called A Curiae (short for Amicus Curiae, Latin for “friend of the court”).  Wyatt informs us about the pressure of starting a nonprofit and also the rewards that come with creating something that you've thought about for years.

An in-depth look at the track a 24 year old is taking to make a difference in the criminal justice world. Carly has already been on the inside of some pretty interesting and challenging programs that have enabled her to see first hand the ups and downs of working with individuals coming out of prison.

Here are 5 steps you can use to improve the employment experience for the individuals you are working with and the employers you collaborate with. It's not enough to just send someone to a job. There's a lot of preparation and strategy to use if we are going to strive for employment retention.

This is the first episode of KOG Skills. These episodes will center on issues related to the criminal justice systems and the skills needed to maintain some level of sanity if you hope to make some progress and improve outcomes. We take a basic look at what recidivism is and how it's defined. We also look at the reality of change happening within the institution.

Ken Ehling has been involved with business for the past 50 years. He has used this platform to bring services and education to countless individuals who need help or are looking to advance both personally and professionally. Ken started Montage Reentry Solutions in 2018 and works closely with the criminal justice systems here in Minnesota.

We interview Eve Runyon on our first full episode. Eve is the President and CEO of the Pro Bono Institute in Washington D.C. Hear how the D.C. based nonprofit came to Minnesota and started an impactful project focused on reentry.