Changing Perceptions

THE NEED: According to the DC Department of Corrections' October 2023 report, over 5,300 individuals were released from jail in FY2023, with 87% being Black and 94% male. Most incarcerated individuals face significant challenges, with 57% of men and 55% of women being unemployed at the time of incarceration and a 20% recidivism rate among FY2023 intakes. Many come from low-income backgrounds with limited access to education, employment, and housing. Additionally, due to the absence of a prison in DC, individuals convicted of felonies are sent to over 100 federal institutions across 35 states, with a range held as close as Cumberland, MD (133 miles from Union Station, D.C.), or as far away as Victorville, CA (2,581 miles from Union Station, D.C.). This extreme distance isolates them from their families, making visits difficult and phone calls prohibitively expensive, which only complicates their reentry. This distance further isolates them, making reentry more challenging as they struggle to secure housing and employment upon release, key factors in preventing re-incarceration.

ABOUT US: Changing Perceptions is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to providing comprehensive support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. With many of our clients facing significant barriers like unemployment, low educational attainment, and the challenges of reentry after serving time in federal prisons located far from home, we offer a wide range of services during their pre-release and reentry transitions. Our programs are designed to help individuals rebuild their lives, secure employment, find housing, and reintegrate successfully into their communities. We aim to reduce recidivism by addressing the systemic challenges returning citizens face, empowering them to thrive despite the obstacles of their past.

OUR VISION: Our vision is that the Washington metropolitan area welcomes our returning citizens with open arms through a coordinated community-based system that provides the tools and opportunities they need to thrive and succeed. 

OUR MISSION: Our mission is to ensure the smooth reintegration and success of returning citizens in the Washington metropolitan area through hands-on and authentic mentoring, guidance, training, networking, and other supports and referrals to needed services.  

OUR VALUES: Respect and Dignity, Trust and Accountability, Empathy, Authenticity.