The LAST MILE

See this Instagram video by @_marco_santini_ instagram.com/reel/DWHOkHPka…

When Chasity (Clayton) Choate entered prison, she believed her future was over. A former mortician, mother, and professional, Chasity went from a stable career to facing 13 years behind bars. But inside prison, she made a decision: if the world was going to doubt her future, she would outwork that doubt. She joined the very first The Last Mile coding class in Oklahoma, dedicating herself fully to learning software development. After graduating, Chasity stayed on as a Teaching Assistant for years, mentoring new students and helping them believe they could succeed too. Today, Chasity is an IT and Data Entry Specialist at PHP Commercial Painting, proving what happens when education, determination, and fair-chance employers come together. Read Chasitie's full Article on rebuilding after incarceration: thelastmile.org/alumni-spotlig… #TheLastMile #TrustTheProcess

The @BrennanCenter for Justice just released a major report on prison reform in the U.S. It covers what’s actually working: unit-based models, staff culture, education, and system-wide change. We are honored to see The Last Mile included in the reentry section - Take a look!

DID YOU KNOW? 5 years ago, @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom signed the Free School Meals for All Act — making California the FIRST state in the nation to guarantee free breakfast and lunch to EVERY public school student. Today, 5.8+ million kids eat at school for free. No cost, no stigma!

A prison wall is usually seen as an ending. For Dan Tinkler, it’s the backdrop of a recording studio. As Senior Program Manager of Audio/Video Production at The Last Mile (TLM), Dan moves beyond basic software instruction. He equips justice-impacted students to reclaim their narratives through technical mastery. In this session, he breaks down how media production serves as a direct pipeline to the creative industry—proving that a professional portfolio can carry more weight than a criminal record. Technical Bridge: Transitioning from incarceration to high-stakes production roles. Narrative Agency: Using audio/video to redefine personal identity. Skill Over Stigma: Building industry-standard work that bypasses traditional barriers. Read our full article on Unlocking Creativity In Prison: thelastmile.org/unlocking-crea… #TheLastMile #EducationBehindWalls #PublicSafety #SQRC

What do we want second chances to actually look like, when on the topic of solitary confinement? As a Reentry Coordinator with The Last Mile (TLM), Mark Velasquez works at the intersection of justice reform and career readiness. The data and lived experience are clear: solitary confinement has no benefit to society. While isolation is a common fixture of the current system, it fails to provide the tools necessary for an individual to successfully return to their community. The real shift occurs when we prioritize prison education. By providing access to high-level technical training while inside, we create a direct pathway to employment. This transition—from incarceration to a career—is what fundamentally creates public safety. When we change the environment from one of isolation to one of education, we change the outcome for the individual and the community alike. Read our latest article on solitary confinement: thelastmile.org/solitary-confi… #TheLastMile #ReentryCoordination #PublicSafety

At The Last Mile, transformation doesn’t happen by accident — it happens because of people like Henry Dillard, people who are willing to return back to prisons to provide education and an example to folks who are ready to transform their futures. As a Senior Remote Instructor, he’s building confidence, restoring belief, and reminding students that their future is still theirs to shape. In classrooms without internet access, he’s helping justice-impacted learners master web development, audio production, and emerging technologies — preparing them to return home workforce-ready and ready to lead. In January, Henry Dillard represented The Last Mile at the Justice Summit in Park City, Utah, joining national leaders for the panel “Reimagining Rehabilitation: How Starting Inside Changes Outcomes on the Outside.” The Summit brought together advocates, corrections leaders, entrepreneurs, and directly impacted voices to explore justice reform, equity, and pathways to meaningful reentry. Thank you to the Justice Summit organizers and partners for creating space for this critical conversation and for elevating voices working to build opportunity from the inside out! This is what second chances look like, get connected: thelastmile.org

The Last Mile is excited to share some groundbreaking news from San Quentin State Prison as it embarks on a transformative journey. Recently, our Cofounder Chris Redlitz and Governor Gavin Newsom announced the unveiling of a new state-of-the-art learning center, which marks a significant milestone in the effort to reshape the prison system into a space that prioritizes education, rehabilitation, and personal growth. Read more about this remarkable facility, and how the proven technology from The Last Mile has made it possible: thelastmile.org/learning-cente… #TheLastMile #SanQuentin #GavinNewsom

When people who are currently incarcerated can train for real careers, interview with employers, and secure jobs before they walk out the gate, reentry becomes a transition with purpose. Too many leave with a small check and no plan. That fuels cycles that harm families and communities. This clip highlights how education, partnerships with employers, and access to tools like AutoCAD and computer-aided design create pathways to employment and stability. By keeping students in classrooms for 30 hours a week and focused on growth, programs are strengthening public safety and lowering recidivism across multiple states. Watch the full episode of the CALCTRA podcast to see how workforce training inside correctional facilities is driving lasting change: youtube.com/watch?v=Aeh5Wx… #TheLastMile #CALCTRA #CDCR

Education is the difference between a life sentence to the system and a pathway to freedom. For decades, this country has invested billions into incarceration while too many people return home without the tools to build a stable future. When someone comes home without skills, opportunity, or support, the cycle keeps turning. Real community safety grows when we invest in education, workforce training, and dignity. Henry Dillard knows that truth firsthand. After entering the system as a teenager and spending 25 years incarcerated, he decided he would do what it takes to get back to the ones he loves. At The Last Mile, Henry continued to hone his skills and his purpose through education and technology. Today, as Senior Remote Instructor at The Last Mile, he is paving the road for others the same way it was paved for him. In January, Henry Dillard represented The Last Mile at the Justice Summit in Park City, Utah, joining national leaders for the panel “Reimagining Rehabilitation: How Starting Inside Changes Outcomes on the Outside.” The Summit brought together advocates, corrections leaders, entrepreneurs, and directly impacted voices to explore justice reform, equity, and pathways to meaningful reentry. Thank you to the Justice Summit organizers and partners for creating space for this critical conversation and for elevating voices working to build opportunity from the inside out! To get involved, go to thelastmile.org

Second chances grow stronger when we invest in real skills, real structure, and real opportunity inside our correctional facilities. Across the country, the cycle of incarceration continues because too many people return home without the tools to build stable careers. Employment is the single most important factor in reducing recidivism, and access to high-demand workforce training can change the trajectory of a life . Programs that provide rigorous technical education, accountability, and professional development inside facilities create safer communities and stronger local economies. Get Involved today at: thelastmile.org Watch the full episode of the CALCTRA podcast to see how workforce training inside correctional facilities is driving lasting change: lnkd.in/gYEbvy32

Chris Redlitz, Co-Founder of The Last Mile, walked into San Quentin in 2010 with a simple question: what if we invested in the talent inside prison? At the official opening of the new Educational Center at SQRC, that question has turned into infrastructure. What started as a small entrepreneurship class grew into the first coding program launched inside a U.S. prison. In 2014, Redlitz partnered with corrections leaders to build a tech center inside the facility. Today, the walls that once blocked access to education have been replaced with secure laptops, a customized learning platform, and a direct employer pipeline embedded throughout the building. For Redlitz, this moment represents proof that rehabilitation drives real public safety. When currently incarcerated people gain marketable skills, communities gain prepared workers, stronger families, and lower recidivism. Across TLM programs, outcomes continue to reflect the power of education as a strategy to break the cycle of incarceration . San Quentin is setting a new national standard for what corrections can become. This is what it looks like to pave the road to success. #TheLastMile #SQRC #CDCR"

At Side by Side, @dignifi recent fundraiser centered on one powerful idea: when people coming home from incarceration are in proximity to the right resources, relationships, and opportunities —… | Dignifi At Side by Side, Dignifi’s recent fundraiser centered on one powerful idea: when people coming home from incarceration are in proximity to the right resources, relationships, and opportunities — transformation becomes possible. We were honored to bring that theme to life with impact artist @MarcoSantiniArt , who created a stunning live mural alongside our guests. As attendees added their own strokes and reflections, the piece became more than art — it became a collective statement of love, belonging, and community. We’re proud to share that this mural will be donated to The Last Mile's new classroom at @SanQuentinNews Rehabilitation Center. Kevin McCracken leads TLM with innovative programming inside prisons nationwide. The painting will serve as a daily reminder to those inside that they are seen and surrounded by a community invested in their success both during incarceration and beyond. Thank you, Marco, for lending your talent and heart to this movement. And thank you to Kevin, The Last Mile, and our justice-impacted community for continuing to build pathways to build together. Learn more about Marco’s work: lnkd.in/gzrnGcc3 and learn more about Dignifi’s mission: dignifi.org

Today marks the opening of the San Quentin Rehabilitation Education Center at San Quentin Rehabilitation Center — a powerful milestone in what As The Last Mile Executive Director Kevin McCracken shared: The opening of the @SanQuentinNews Rehabilitation Education Center marks a significant step in transformation through education. The Learning Center provides opportunities for students to gain digital fluency and marketable skills that result in gainful employment. This will create stronger families, safer communities, and better outcomes for all Californians. The Last Mile extends our heartfelt gratitude to @CAgovernor Newsom, his staff, California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA), and the team at San Quentin for their invaluable partnership in making this vision a reality.

Isaiah is 17 years old. His parent is currently a student in a The Last Mile classroom. While his parent is working to build a new future inside, Isaiah is working just as hard on the outside. He is already sending money home to support his family. He is preparing to become the first in his family to graduate high school and go to college. He lives in southeast Kansas, where many families are under the poverty line. He understands responsibility at a young age. He understands what it means to grow up justice impacted. In his introductory interview for gaining a Turn2U Scholarship, Isaiah spoke about legacy. He does not want his children growing up thinking prison is an inheritance. He wants them to know love. He wants them to experience a rewritten future. He plans to earn a business degree in supply chain management. He wants to build his own business one day. He also wants to give other kids opportunities when they have nothing to fall back on because he knows what that feels like. The Turn2U Scholarship exists for students like Isaiah. It exists to support the children of incarcerated parents who are working to change their lives. It exists to break cycles of incarceration through education, opportunity, and belief. Visit scholarships.thelastmile.org to learn more about the Turn2U Scholarship and contribute to incredible students like Isaiah. Your support helps change futures, strengthen families, and build safer communities.

“What kind of neighbor do you want?” asks @GavinNewsom, unveiling San Quentin Learning Center to help inmates transition once they’re released. Convicted murderer, @SFDAOffice @BrookeJenkinsSF & Warden Chance Andes also speak out. 2nd video: @CAgovernor

@GovPressOffice My man @ChrisRedlitz so proud of you, Bev, Kevin and @TLM

There is nothing yet that compares to the San Quentin Learning Center in the rest of the country.

Proud to have our CoFounder @ChrisRedlitz stand with Gavin Newsom at the ribbon cutting of the new San Quentin Learning Center — where The Last Mile helped lead the Technology & Media Center, building out state-of-the-art coding classrooms and digital production spaces that create real career pathways from inside prison to the tech workforce.

Congratulations to the newest graduates from the Last Mile job training program at Montana State Prison! @MTCorrections pulse.ly/stfug20hhn