JP Barre-Lead Men

After completing 18.5 years of incarceration and entering society on GPS monitor, JP, wants to use his experiences to broaden the skillset of incarcerated individuals preparing for successful re-entry.

Having navigated the complexities of the carceral system firsthand, he possesses a unique, ground-level understanding of the hurdles facing returning citizens and those preparing for a second chance.

This initiative is born from the belief that a "second chance" requires more than just a release date; it requires a blueprint for success.

By focusing on holistic preparation, transparent thoughts, and practical resource mapping, JP Barre is dedicated to empowering formerly incarcerated individuals to transform their lives, break the cycle of recidivism, and become leaders within their own communities.

Sarah Carter-Lead Women

Sarah,  is a reentry and family justice advocate with Texas Prisons Alliance where she supports individuals and families navigating incarceration, reentry, and system barriers. Drawing from her lived experience and hands-on advocacy work, she brings a practical, solutions-focused approach to bridging the gap between release and successful reintegration.

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Through the Second Chance Freedom Initiative, Sarah is helping lead the development of a platform that amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated men and women through podcast storytelling, resource connection, and community outreach.

Her work focuses on expanding access to reentry tools, supporting collaborative initiatives such as reentry fairs, and creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to rebuild with dignity and stability.

Johnny "Rambo" Crawford

Rambo, is formerly incarcerated, who understands firsthand what real change requires. During his time of incarceration, he made the decision to take full responsibility for his actions and began the difficult work of rebuilding his life from the inside out. Instead of allowing his past to define him, he focused on personal growth, accountability, and preparing for a better future.

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Since returning home, he has remained disciplined, focused, and committed to living a positive and productive life. Today, he uses his lived experience to guide and encourage other men coming home from prison, helping them stay focused, avoid returning to old habits, and understand that true transformation is possible.

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Through mentorship, honest conversation, and leadership, he works to inspire others to take ownership of their future and build a life rooted in purpose, responsibility, and second chances.

Kaleigh Sitz

Kaleigh, brings real life experience, resilience, and firsthand insight into the challenges of incarceration and reentry to the Second Chance Freedom Initiative.

Having recently been released from prison and previously serving with Texas Prisons Alliance on the inside as an Inside Ambassador, Kaleigh understands both the realities individuals face while incarcerated and the barriers they encounter when returning home.

Her experience gives her the ability to connect with justice-impacted individuals in a meaningful and authentic way, while offering encouragement, peer support, and a voice of hope for those working toward change.

Through the Second Chance Freedom Initiative, she can help strengthen mentorship, reentry support, advocacy efforts, and communication between formerly incarcerated individuals, families, and support networks, making her a powerful asset in promoting restoration, accountability, and successful reintegration.

Joshua Fuentes

Joshua,  has lived experience, professional recovery support training, and a deep commitment to reentry advocacy to the Second Chance Freedom Initiative.

As a Recovery Support Peer Specialist, Prison Consultant, and founder of R.I.P. (Reaching Inside of Prisons), Joshua has dedicated his work to helping individuals and families navigate incarceration, recovery, and the transition back into the community.

With experience in reentry advocacy, pre-incarceration consulting, family support, behavioral coaching, and sobriety planning, he offers practical guidance and compassionate support rooted in real-life understanding.

His certifications in Recovery Support Peer Services, SMART Recovery facilitation, anger management, suicide prevention, and victim impact training further strengthen his ability to mentor, encourage, and equip justice-impacted individuals with the tools needed for restoration, accountability, and long-term success.

Charles Hill

Charles Hill is a passionate advocate for the incarcerated, driven by his own lived experience of serving over 12 years in prison. He believes that education is the most powerful tool for rehabilitation, because it transformed his life.

Through earning his Bachelor’s in Humanities and pursuing his Master’s, he discovered a world beyond his circumstances. Education helped him mature, grow, and develop into a well-rounded individual, giving him the clarity to understand the world around him and find genuine peace.

His mission is to ensure that every person behind bars has access to that same transformative power, because an educated mind is the foundations to rebuilding life. 

Penny Dutton

Penny Dutton is a volunteer member of the Texas Prison Alliance dedicated to supporting individuals transitioning from incarceration back into the community.

She is passionate about rehabilitation, recovery support, and helping connect people with stable housing opportunities through Oxford House programs.

Through advocacy and community outreach, Penny works to encourage second chances, accountability, and long-term success for individuals rebuilding their lives.

George Helms-Veteran

George Helms brings a powerful voice of lived experience, resilience, accountability, and transformation to the Second Chance Freedom Initiative. After serving 16 ½ years in the Texas prison system on a 20-year non-aggravated sentence, George understands firsthand the realities of incarceration, parole, reentry, family separation, institutional culture, and the emotional toll of being denied parole year after year.

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When George entered TDCJ in 2007 at 32 years old, newly divorced and facing an uncertain future, he made a personal commitment to become better and to make a positive impact wherever he was placed. During his incarceration, he became a Peer Educator, taught classes, trained others to become Peer Educators, and completed every program available to him, not for appearance, but for genuine personal growth. At the Billy Moore Unit, he also served as a Unit Artist and helped create a community-impact art program, using creativity to support local schools, retirement homes, and city holiday projects with the support of unit leadership. Through education, service, and art, George worked to influence the culture around him in a positive way.

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Since his release on parole in March 2024, George has faced many of the barriers that justice-impacted individuals encounter, including SISP monitoring, placement in a halfway house, unexpected SOTP requirements, financial pressure, housing instability, limited resources, and the fear of returning to prison despite doing everything required of him. His transition from Houston parole supervision to the Temple Parole Office also gave him a deeper understanding of how reentry experiences can vary drastically depending on location, resources, and supervision practices.

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Today, George is continuing to rebuild his life with purpose. As a veteran, he is receiving medical and mental health support through the VA, pursuing a BFA in Animation and VFX through the Academy of Art University, and working toward successful completion of parole. His journey gives him the ability to speak honestly about incarceration, parole, reentry, trauma, healing, education, family restoration, and the importance of real second chances.

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Through the Second Chance Freedom Initiative, George can contribute mentorship, advocacy, creative programming ideas, and meaningful insight into the needs of youthful offenders and long-term incarcerated individuals. His story shows that people are capable of growth, change, service, and leadership when given the opportunity and support to rebuild.

Jory Carrasco

Jory Carrasco brings a powerful lived-experience perspective to the Texas Prisons Alliance Second Chance Freedom Initiative. Having personally experienced incarceration and addiction, Jory understands the hopelessness, fear, and uncertainty that many individuals face when trying to rebuild their lives after prison. He knows what it feels like to lose confidence, question personal worth, and believe that past mistakes may forever define the future.

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Jory’s life began to change when he made the decision to educate himself, transform his mindset, accept responsibility for his choices, and pursue a vision greater than his circumstances. Through perseverance, personal growth, and a commitment to living with purpose, he discovered that his past did not have to determine his future. His journey is a reminder that lasting change is possible when a person is willing to take accountability, seek healing, and move forward with determination.

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Today, Jory’s mission is to support men and women returning home from incarceration by offering encouragement, mentorship, and guidance as they navigate the challenges of reentry. He is passionate about helping second chancers understand that they are not alone and that someone is willing to walk beside them as they rebuild their lives, restore their confidence, and work toward a successful future.

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Jory also recognizes the serious impact that addiction, depression, and unresolved trauma can have on individuals both inside and outside of prison. His goal is to help others find hope, embrace recovery, heal from their past, and understand that their mistakes do not define who they are. Through faith, determination, accountability, and the right support system, Jory believes every person has the opportunity to overcome the storm, begin again, and build a meaningful, productive, and purpose-driven life.