Wrapping Up 2024: Celebrating A Decade of the First 72+!

October

Celebrating 10 Years of Impact and Second Chances

This October, we celebrated 10 years of transformative work in New Orleans! Held at the Westin New Orleans, the gala featured testimonials, honoree recognitions, and heartfelt remarks.

Hosted by Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Communications Officer Casey Ferrand McGee, we honored individuals and organizations who have significantly contributed to our mission: United States Congressman Troy Carter, the Greater New Orleans Foundation, former client Harold Johnson, Reentry Case Manager and former client Troy Delone, State Senator Royce Duplessis, City Council President Helena Moreno, City Councilmembers Lesli Harris and Oliver Thomas, Sheriff Susan Hutson, and our Founder, Pastor Tyrone Smith. Through philanthropy, leadership, and community service, these honorees have advanced second chances and changed lives. State Representative Candace N. Newell and City Council President Helena Moreno also presented The First 72+ with proclamations from the City and State, acknowledging our decade of service and advocacy.

We sincerely thank the sponsors who made this gala possible: Freedom Finders, Verizon, Phoenix Project NOLA, Resourceful Consulting, Safety Bound, Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, Baptist Community Ministries, Greater New Orleans Foundation, Gulf Coast Bank, Women With a Vision, Total Community Action, Enterprise Community Partners, Daughters Beyond Incarceration, and Borealis. Additionally, a very special thanks to all supporters and friends who attended or purchased tickets for our clients. Your support means so much to us.

The gala was an inspiring evening—a chance to reflect, celebrate, and recommit to the work ahead. Through partnerships, advocacy, and community support, The First 72+ continues to lead the charge in reducing recidivism and transforming lives. Together, we will make the next 10 years even more impactful, with more opportunities, successes, and lives changed for the better.

Couldn’t make it to the gala? Check out the recap video here!

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November

Thank you Troy! Leadership Updates at The First 72+

We’d like to take a moment to thank our previous Executive Director, Troy Glover, who transitioned out of his role in early November. Under Troy’s leadership, the groundwork was set for our programming and client services to flourish. With his vision and dedication, the First 72+ will continue to thrive for many years to come. Thank you, Troy, for everything you’ve done for The First 72+!

As we look to the future, we are excited to share that Reverend Tyrone Smith, co-founder of The First 72+ and former Senior Advisor, has stepped into the role of Co-Executive Director. He is joined by Courtney Evans, previously our Director of Client Services, who will serve as Interim Co-Executive Director. Together, they bring a wealth of experience, passion, and vision to their roles, and we are eager to continue growing under their leadership.

Stay tuned for updates as we move forward into this next chapter!

Pre-Release Support

In 2024, we continued to expand our Pre-Release program to support currently incarcerated individuals prior to their release. One way we have been able to expand the program has been through the help of transition specialists at correctional facilities across Louisiana, with some of them inviting us to their facilities for Resource Fairs made available to individuals being released in the coming months. These connections help us form a relationship before clients come home, and ensure they understand that we are a safe place for them to seek help during their transition.

If you have a loved one who is incarcerated and may be returning home in the coming months, reach out to our office! Our Pre-Release team will work with the client and the facility to begin crafting a reentry plan before their release. Please refer clients by clicking the form below, and we will reach back out shortly. Currently incarcerated clients can reach out to us by letter to our office at 2915 Perdido Street, New Orleans, LA 70119, or through our Jpay. Questions? Call our office at 504-324-8859.

Members of our team traveled to Rayburn Correctional Center in November for their 8th Annual Incarcerated Veterans Summit. This outreach opportunity allowed us to connect with currently incarcerated veterans and begin preparing for their upcoming release dates and parole hearings.

The team visited Allen Correctional Center for their pre-release job fair, which provided currently incarcerated men being released in the next 12 months with the opportunity to get connected with resources across the state before coming home. Our team members connected with 16 new pre-release clients to help determine what services we can begin working with them on prior to their release.

Access Our Prerelease Referral Form Here

Looking Ahead

This year, we provided Pre-Release support to 57 individuals, including parole board advocacy for 24 of those clients. Of the 24 clients that went up for parole, only 9 of them were granted. Despite providing detailed reentry plans with secured housing, case management support, and wraparound services, the parole board denied several clients for no reason other than needing to serve more of their sentence.

Unfortunately, due to Landry's influx of changing legislation, we plan to continue to see a major decline in the number of individuals granted parole. Despite evidence-based reentry plans and community support, decisions are increasingly driven by political agendas and a punitive focus.  This shift threatens to further limit opportunities for people to return home and rebuild their lives, despite having strong reentry support systems in place. Nevertheless, we will continue to fight for freedom.

December

Gratitude, Giving, and Holiday Cheer

In the spirit of gratitude, The First 72+ hosted a Thanksgiving meal for our weekly 9 Steps To Staying Free class right before the holidays. About 25 current clients and alumni shared a meal cooked and served by our staff. One of our coaches and former First 72+ client, Wayne, fried up some of his famous fish. We also gave each client a gift card to purchase their very own turkey!

This Wednesday we hosted a Winter holiday gathering at our 9 Steps class, with 30+ clients joining us to share a meal, connect with staff, and celebrate the season. Thanks to an incredible donation of over 300 canned goods from Students Against Food Insecurity at Tulane, we distributed 20 bags of groceries to clients experiencing food insecurity or houselessness. This support means so much, especially during the holiday season.

From all of us at The First 72+, we wish you happy holidays!

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Client Spotlights

From Release to Renewal: Isaiah’s Journey Toward a Brighter Future

After spending 12 years incarcerated, Mr. Isaiah walked through our doors on the very day of his release in August 2024. Since that pivotal moment, he has embraced every opportunity to rebuild his life. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I came that first day, and I’ve just been here ever since.”

With the dedicated guidance of his case manager, Miss Demetrius, Mr. Isaiah has made remarkable strides in just a few months. For the first time in his life, he obtained his driver’s license and secured two jobs—working as a delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza and as a valet attendant at the Saenger Theatre.

As he looks toward 2025, Mr. Isaiah is focused on building a meaningful career. In January, he plans to apply for a handyman apprenticeship, a critical step toward his ultimate dream of business ownership. “One thing I really want to do is open my own business…something that could go on for generations,” he shared. “I got nieces, I got nephews, I got family that are going to need to be taken care of.”

We are honored to support Mr. Isaiah as he works toward a brighter future, not only for himself but for the generations who will follow. Here’s to his continued success in the new year and beyond!

From Transition to Triumph: Kevin's Inspiring Path Forward

Mr. Kevin Jones, a former resident of our transitional housing program, continues to benefit from The First 72+ wrap-around services as he works toward his goals. Currently enrolled at Delgado Community College, he is on track to earn his GED in the coming year. With his sights set on steady employment, Mr. Kevin also plans to obtain a TWIC card soon, enabling him to pursue offshore cooking opportunities.

While incarcerated, Mr. Kevin discovered a passion for woodworking—a skill he has since turned into a budding business. He’s already sold pieces to friends and even a few First 72+ staff members! This year, Mr. Kevin is committed to expanding his woodworking venture into a thriving small business.

We are proud to support Mr. Kevin as he pursues his education, career, and entrepreneurial dreams. Stay tuned as we continue to celebrate his journey and accomplishments in 2025!

Community Partner Highlight: Solitary Gardens!

This year we've had the pleasure of collaborating with Solitary Gardens as a site of one of their garden beds. This past week, Cedar, their Garden Manager, led a hands-on session with our transitional housing clients, teaching them how to harvest and cook from the garden beds right in front of our office. Together, we harvested and cooked radishes, turnips, kale, collard greens, and cilantro.

Access to fresh, nutritional food is a challenge for many of our clients. Formerly incarcerated individuals are nearly twice as likely to experience food insecurity in the U.S. (Prison Policy Initiative, 2021). Limited access to green space often means that highly processed food is the only option for individuals experiencing food insecurity or houselessness.

In collaboration with Solitary Gardens, we’re creating opportunities for our clients to connect with the land, learn valuable skills, and gain access to fresh, nutritional foods. This garden is a part of Freedom To Grow's pilot Initiative, Liberation Landscaping. To learn more about the project, check out GrowingAbolition.com. Thank you again to Solitary Gardens and their staff!

Support Our Clients This Holiday Season!

Welcome Our Clients Home

Starting over after incarceration can be overwhelming, especially without basic necessities like a toothbrush, deodorant, a razor, or bedding—items essential for everyday life.

You can help make their transition smoother by supporting our Welcome Home Kits through our Amazon Wishlist. Every purchase goes directly to equipping our clients with the essentials they need to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.

Support Our Food Pantry

We’re relaunching a Food Pantry to support formerly incarcerated individuals as they rebuild their lives. Many of our clients return home with just $10 and a bus pass, leaving them vulnerable to housing instability and food insecurity. We’re calling on our community to help! You can make a difference by donating non-expired, non-perishable food items to our office, ensuring clients have greater access to consistent, nutritional food.

Donate from now until December 20th at our offices, 2915 Perdido Street. Donations will stop for the holidays and resume at our offices on January 6th.

Donate to Our Clothing Closet

We are always accepting clothing donations to contribute to our clothing closet. Many individuals returning from incarceration come home with little more than the clothes on their backs. Professional attire can be a game-changer, especially for interviews and starting new jobs. What we need: Suits, dress shirts, slacks, dresses, skirts, shoes, and accessories. Casual wear is welcome too. We take both men and women’s clothes!

To donate, come by our office any time between 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday through Friday.

Amazon Wishlist

Upcoming Events

December: Check out our December calendar here!

• Our office will be closed from Monday, December 23rd through Friday, January 3rd for the holiday break. If you need to reach the office, please call us at (504)-324-8859 or email us at info@first72plus.org.
• Office hours will resume as normal on Monday, January 6th.

January:

• Financial Literacy in the New Year: January 9th, from 1-2pm in the Ben Smith Welcome Home Center (2901 Perdido Street): Come join our "Start with Banking and a Budget" financial literacy class, led by our Director of Economic Empowerment  Patrick Young, to create a financial plan for 2025.
• Our weekly 9 Steps to Staying Free Class led by Co-ED Pastor Tyrone Smith will resume on Wednesday, December 8th at 11am in the Ben Smith Welcome Home Center & continue on the 15th, 22nd, & 29th.

The Fountain Fund: End of year budget restraints? New goals for 2025? Check out our small loan program!            

In collaboration with the Fountain Fund, the First 72+ assists formerly incarcerated individuals with low-interest loans and financial coaching. Meagan Jordan, our Economic Empowerment Manager, works with clients to provide consumer loans, emergency housing loans, and small business loans, with only 3% interest to help build credit. Applicants are required to show a record of justice involvement, an ability to pay back the loan, and potential elevation in their personal circumstances. If you or someone you know is interested in applying for a loan, reach out to Meagan at Meagan@first72plus.org or 504-252-7885.

Thank you for being part of a decade of change and transformation.

Over the past 10 years, we’ve worked tirelessly to support individuals and communities impacted by the justice system. This work wouldn’t be possible without the love and care of supporters like you.

We’re at a pivotal moment in Louisiana’s history—a time when compassion and action are more important than ever. Together, we can continue fighting for a more just future for all.

In 2025, let’s keep moving forward together.