I've been working at The First 72+ since I moved to New Orleans almost four years ago. I didn't know then just how much this place - and the people in it - would shape me. In those years, I've had the privilege of walking alongside folks coming home from prison, watching them rebuild their lives with courage, care, and a whole lot of strength. I've seen clients get keys to their first apartments, reconnect with family, find purpose, and fight for others still inside. It's changed how I see justice, community, and what's possible when people are given real support.

But, under the current policy landscape -- with Governor Landry leading Louisiana and Trump back in office -- the progress we've fought for is under attack. Harsh sentencing laws, rollbacks on parole, and punitive reentry policies (like restrictions that ban people with felony records from accessing public housing or certain jobs) threaten to undo the hard-won freedom and stability our community members have built. Now more than ever, we need to protect and expand the kind of support The First 72+ provides.

GiveNOLA Day is your chance to stand with us. Your donation helps us keep showing up, for as many chances as it takes for someone to thrive. Every gift, no matter the size, helps us push back against harm and build something better, together.