Why Reentry Matters to Me

​By Amy Ramiza, Community Reentry Parole Agent

Amy Ramiza is a community reentry parole agent based in the Williamsport District Office. In honor of Second Chance Month, share shared about why reentry matters to her:

Reentry matters to me because our communities deserve to thrive, and we can only truly thrive when every community member lives up to their potential. When I help a reentrant make the transition back into their community, I am helping someone take control of their future. I always try to empower the reentrants I work with and show them their true self-worth. Helping them become independent and successful boosts their self-efficacy and helps put them on a track of new life choices. Reentrants who feel empowered and capable of change will oftentimes have the courage to try new things and change bad habits. Empowerment can come through helping them find a new job, helping them establish new healthy choices, or simple life skills such as budgeting and positive decision making. These changes reunite families, loved ones, and mentors.

Every member of our community holds a piece of the bigger picture, and when those who have had troubles in the past make a conscious effort to forge a new path, those around them learn from their life experiences how to make our communities safer and stronger.