CHICAGO—Community leaders, elected officials, activists, and formerly incarcerated citizens came together at Malcolm X College on Oct. 26 for the Returning Citizens Summit, a city-hosted, but community-driven event aimed at empowering individuals reentering society after incarceration.
Organized by Transforming Reentry Services (TRS), the summit offered a wide range of practical tools, resources, and support to help participants rebuild their lives and contribute positively to their communities.
Founded on the belief that successful reentry begins with intentional support, the summit featured workshops and panels led by formerly incarcerated individuals who had successfully reentered society, offering insights into overcoming challenges.
Sessions addressed housing, employment, entrepreneurship, voting rights, mental health care and legal assistance, providing attendees with practical strategies for success.
“The narrative surrounding ex-offenders often paints a bleak picture,” said Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor (20th Ward), a key supporter of the event. “But we have to shift the conversation and showcase the success stories—the business leaders, educators, and advocates—
Who have returned stronger. We need to foster understanding and reshape public perception because we rarely hear about the 50 percent who don’t return to the system.”
“Today was about the ability to actually hear from people who were impacted by our unjust system,” Alderwoman Taylor added. “You got a lot of brothers and sisters here who have come back, who didn’t even commit a crime, but they choose to live their lives giving back, helping others.”
Detroit-based Student Minister Troy Muhammad of the Nation of Islam delivered an inspirational keynote, reflecting on the power of redemption and self-empowerment. “They weren’t created to be behind bars; they were created in the likeness and image of God,” he said.
“In the many success stories we’ve heard, we see individuals who have reconciled their past with a new present and a bright future.” Student Min. Muhammad encouraged returning citizens to change their self-perception, noting that societal acceptance isn’t necessary for personal success.
“When we get out, we are denied employment because of our incarceration, denied opportunity, housing, and even education,” Student Min. Muhammad said.
“But the dirt, the mud of our past, is not forgiven by this society. Yet, when I look around this room, I see people who have declared, ‘I don’t need your forgiveness. I don’t need your view of me to change because I view myself differently—and based on that view, I know I am strong enough to succeed with or without you,’” he added.
Chicago’s growing efforts to support returning citizens were highlighted throughout the day. Through collaborations with the Office of Returning Citizens and the Interagency Re-Entry Council, the city seeks to eliminate barriers such as housing and healthcare access to ensure smoother transitions for individuals reentering their communities.
Representatives from O’Hare and Midway airports, along with the Secretary of State’s office, offered participants guidance on obtaining commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and starting careers in transportation.
The CTA Second Chance Program also provided information about employment opportunities in public transit, giving returning citizens additional avenues to secure stable jobs. The City of Chicago’s website offers further resources on available programs and services designed to support successful reentry for individuals and their families.
Alderwoman Taylor emphasized that while the city has made progress, more must be done. “What we heard clearly here today is that one of the biggest needs is housing.
So, we are making sure we advocate for State (of Illinois) funding, which is why you had two Senators and other elected officials here today,” Ald. Taylor said. “We’ll be pushing for next year’s budget to fund services and housing, not just programs.”
Lionel Muhammad, a key event organizer spoke about the need to change societal perceptions of those who have been incarcerated. “This event is about showing the world that those society has labeled can rise far beyond those labels,”
Lionel Muhammad said. “Some of these men and women now hold advanced degrees, run businesses, and lead communities—stories we don’t hear enough about.”
Also underrepresented in stories of returning citizens are women and their unique struggles. People like Celia Colón, founder of Giving Others Dreams (G.O.D.) are there to help them. Ms. Colon emphasized the importance of early and ongoing support for justice-impacted individuals.
“We focus on job readiness, entrepreneurship, and mutual aid to ensure people have what they need during their critical first 30 days post-release,” explained Ms. Colón, who has been helping returning citizens since she returned 23 years ago.
She highlighted that for women returning citizens, it is often another nearly impossible ordeal to get their children back. They have to take hours and hours of parental classes, anger management classes, etc., while also looking for or maintaining employment. “What job is gonna give you all these days off for classes? No one,” she said.
“I was thrust into substance abuse because no one would hire me,” said Trenesha Boyd who returned from prison in 1998. “Over these years I’ve been free but still locked up.”
Ms. Boyd currently serves as the pre-release case management supervisor for Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation and holds two master’s degrees from Concordia University. Today, she works to help returning citizens know that there are resources and support for them.
Also present was State Senator Lakesia Collins (D-IL) of the 5th District, who shared her personal connection to the challenges facing returning citizens. “My father was someone who was justice-involved, so I got to watch, up close, the challenges he faced coming home,”
Senator Collins said. “But I also saw the opportunities people gave him—the chance to thrive. Today, he’s a chef, with a wife and family, and contributing back to society.”
Senator Collins stressed that her father’s success was possible because people saw him for more than his past. “They didn’t deny him because of what he’d been through. They invested in him, and now he tells his story to inspire others,” she said.
“As the daughter of someone who was justice-involved, my fight every day is to ensure folks have access to housing, jobs, and opportunities to thrive,” she added. “It will always be my priority because there are a lot of flaws in our system that need fixing. These conversations are crucial for guiding us to the root causes of the problems—and helping us solve them.”
The summit included more than a dozen service organizations offering immediate assistance, from housing programs to employment services, underscoring the collaborative spirit of the event. Participants left with both practical resources and a renewed sense of purpose.
“It was a good day,” Lionel Muhammad said with a smile. “This event proved that with the right support, no one has to walk this path alone.”
Also present in support were 28th Ward Alderman Jason Erving (D-Chicago), 5th Ward Alderman Desmond Yancy (D-Chicago), and State Senator Robert Peters of the 13th District (D-IL).
