THE FORTUNE SOCIETY
MISSION
The Fortune Society’s mission is to support successful reentry from incarceration and promote alternatives to incarceration, thus strengthening the fabric of our communities. We do this by:
• BELIEVING in the power of individuals to change
• BUILDING LIVES through service programs shaped by the needs and experiences of our participants
• CHANGING MINDS through education and advocacy to promote the creation of a fair, humane, and truly rehabilitative correctional system
SERVICES AND PROGRAMS Services that Rebuild Lives
The Fortune Society provides culturally competent services and lifetime aftercare to people with incarceration histories. Our services include:
HOUSING
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH (Outpatient Mental Health Treatment, Outpatient Substance Use Treatment, Peer Recovery Center (the NEST))
SKILL BUILDING (Education, Employment Services, Digital Literacy, Creative Arts)
WELL-BEING (Food and Nutrition, Benefits Access, Healthcare Coordination, HIV/AIDS Health Services, Family Services)
DECARCERATION (Alternatives to Incarceration (ATI) & Court Advocacy, Transitional Services (RISE), Supervised Release)
ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH (The David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy (DRCPP), Center for Research, Inquiry and Social Justice (CRIS-J))
Receive
EYE ON FORTUNE
BREAKING GROUND ON CASTLE III
This past June, The Fortune Society broke ground on our new permanent affordable housing site, Castle III. Located in East Harlem, this 82-unit site will be built with high performance building envelope and onsite renewable energy. The project is designed to serve formerly incarcerated individuals experiencing homelessness and community members with low incomes, ensuring they have stable homes and the support they need to thrive. Castle III is expected to open in 2026.
NEW HOPE WITH ATLAS HOPE
In 2024, United Way of New York City provided The Fortune Society with a grant to implement the Atlas HOPE program, which aims to add to the existing community violence intervention and prevention strategies in New York City by creating a continuum of care for adult men most likely to engage in serious community violence and least likely to receive the supportive services necessary to end cycles of trauma and violence. This investment will aid in the development of individualized
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IN THE NEXT ISSUE:
Justice for All – What does the term “justice for all” mean to you? What impact does the word “justice” have when talking about the justice system? Do you feel heard as an American? This theme is open for interpretation through written and visual responses.
Send written (800 words or less) or visual art responses to: development@ fortunesociety.org or mail them to: Fortune News Editors c/o The Fortune Society 29-76 Northern Boulevard Long Island City, NY 11101
plans that will provide the necessary services and resources to reduce barriers to engagement, along with transitional
employment opportunities that will create a pathway to stable, unsubsidized employment.
FACES OF FORTUNE
CARLER, SENIOR DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
I began my career in criminal legal reform as an intern at Osborne Association before being hired as Billing Coordinator in Fortune’s
transitional services, now our RISE Transitional Services. I’m grateful to have had incredible growth opportunities at Fortune, taking on the role of Director of Contracts, Data, and Special Projects and, most recently, being promoted to Senior Director of Workforce Development upon reaching my fifth anniversary at the organization.
In my new leadership position, I oversee the Education program and Employment Services program. Adjusting to the role has been challenging, as I previously supervised a team of two which has now grown to a team of 32, but I’m grateful for the support from Fortune’s Executive leadership team and my colleagues.
INTERN
I first began interning at The Fortune Society over a year ago with Employment Services (ES). I learned about Fortune through the Career Services Center at my college, and I was interested in
pursuing a career serving system impacted people. With ES, I enjoyed assisting during mock interviews and with resume building. Getting to know the participants and hearing their stories helped solidify my interest in working in the criminal legal space.
During my time with Fortune, I’ve explored several departments as I prepare for my future after graduation. After completing my internship with ES, I came back to intern at the Supervised Release Program (SRP) office. My primary role was working in the food pantry. Returning to the community was important to me, as I wanted to continue building my relationships with the participants and staff members.
As the child of a justice-impacted parent, I bring a unique perspective to my work at Fortune. I consider how our participants feel at every part of the process during their time with us. Society often pushes justice-impacted people aside in a way that can severely diminish their confidence. My goal is to empower our participants and provide a haven to rebuild that confidence and flourish.
Everyone deserves another chance. I believe that we all make mistakes and, whether it takes one try or 20 tries, we all deserve the opportunity to move forward.
While with SRP, I toured a courthouse in the Bronx where I was present during some of our participants’ arraignments. It was a perfect introduction to SRP because it showed me how we support participants in a multitude of areas, from transitional and court services to housing and employment assistance. I’ve already learned so much, and I hope to continue exploring Fortune’s reach in the future.
ELOISE,
WAR AND PTSD
BY B.A.
Indiana Prison Writers Workshop student
In 1963, I lived a normal life in Indianapolis, Indiana, but like many young men, I was eager to grow up fast. I joined the United States Marine Corps at 17. For two years, I trained in California in various warfare tactics, focusing heavily on guerrilla warfare. Unbeknownst to me, America was preparing for the Vietnam War. Rumors about Vietnam and the possibility of war were rampant. Suddenly, it became real when, in 1965, my Marine company received orders for Chu Lai, Vietnam. In 1965 and 1966, I fought in Vietnam. I lost my company commander, Captain Bruce Webb, whom I admired, along with many other close friends in combat.
Throughout my life, I never quite recovered from those losses.
When I returned home in 1967, I struggled to adjust to civilian life. I began drinking alcohol, something I had never done before. Later, psychologists said my alcohol abuse was an attempt to self-medicate. Recovery was slow. Upon returning to Indianapolis, I worked for Indianapolis Power and Light Company. One day, one of my
crew members, just 19 years old, was killed in my sight. I quit the power company that day and stayed drunk most of the time. I felt miserable and had no idea what was happening to me.
“I felt miserable and had no idea what was happening to me.”
In 1972, I committed a crime that would change my life forever. I robbed a bank and shot it out with a sheriff’s deputy. The officer died. There was a trial— some of which I don’t remember— and I was found guilty of murder and sentenced to life in prison. The
bank robbery and trial were like a bad dream, except it wasn’t a dream. Many days, I woke up in a cold cell with the horrible realization that the robbery was real. During the day, I stumbled around in silence, but inside, I was overwhelmed with grief and sadness. The first years of my life in prison were spent submerged in a foggy haze.
In Vietnam, I never drank alcohol, although many of my Marine friends did. When I went out on the town with them, I drank Coke. I was their insurance policy to make sure they got back to base on time because I was sober. My reasons for not drinking alcohol stemmed from childhood—my father was an alcoholic, and I swore I would never touch alcohol. And I didn’t, until the miserable life I was living became the devil’s playground, and I was out of control. What I swore I would never do, I now did.
Looking back, I realize I was never able to recover from the trauma of Vietnam.
I’ve spent 52 years in prison. Although I have been eligible for parole for 32 years, Indiana does not
easily forgive someone who shoots a police officer. Since being in prison, I discovered that I had suffered from severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD was diagnosed after 20 years of government studies because too many Vietnam veterans were experiencing similar symptoms. After the findings were made known, my family hired several psychologists specializing in PTSD, and they all concluded that I suffered from full-blown, chronic PTSD at the time of the crime. There was no help for Vietnam veterans when I came home.
My fellow Hoosiers made it worse by spitting on me and calling me a baby killer at the airport, which hurt more than the trauma I was suffering inside. I was left alone to endure a miserable existence. I had no criminal record until after Vietnam. It was then that my world began to shatter. Before that, I was a
proud Marine, but I became ashamed and afraid to wear my uniform in Indiana. I went to war for my country. I killed America’s enemies. And for the record, I never killed any babies. But I couldn’t rationalize why my friends died, and I didn’t. The guilt overwhelmed me, and drinking alcohol became my escape.
My recovery took time. I’ve read many self-help books while in prison, attended many Alcoholics Anonymous classes, and spent many days in a cell, alone, meditating on life. They say time heals all things, but a man lost his life that day.
“I no longer have nightmares. I no longer drink alcohol. I can talk about the war and what happened now.”
I no longer have nightmares. I no longer drink alcohol. I can talk about the war and what happened now. Today, I’m wiser. War is hard; it leaves behind hidden scars. And I don’t watch war movies before bedtime because I want to sleep.
NAVIGATING FRIENDSHIPS AND RECOVERY
The NEST at The Fortune Society, or the Networking and Engagement Services Team, is the peer recovery center for Fortune participants, offering a safe space for individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder. The non-clinical setting promotes long-term recovery through skill-building groups, recreation and the opportunity to connect with peers with similar life experiences.
In the NEST, participants will find both individual and group support. The weekly groups discuss numerous topics including relapse prevention, anger management and reentry support, all guided by the needs and experiences of those present at each group meeting.
Peer recovery coaches offer one-onone guidance for participants as they navigate reentry. Whether providing help finding employment, rebuilding relationships with family or offering
a listening ear during times of vulnerability, they want participants to succeed.
Ingrid, a participant at Fortune, is a welcoming presence at many of the group meetings and has found critical support from the NEST as she focuses on developing healthier habits and relationships.
Coming home after 12 years of incarceration, Ingrid vowed never to repeat her past mistakes. Instead, she prioritized family, health and healing. She surrounded herself with positive people who offer support and encouragement during her recovery journey.
A secure support system is crucial to sustaining lasting sobriety during long-term recovery. Ingrid shared some insight into how she developed healthy and rewarding relationships.
WHAT IS A HEALTHY FRIENDSHIP?
including nonjudgemental support, respect of boundaries and shared interests beyond substance use. Maintaining healthy relationships can play a critical role in long-term recovery, increasing feelings of acceptance and encouraging sobriety and healthy habits.
FIRM BOUNDARIES
“While physical distance is not the only way to maintain boundaries, it’s important to find friends who offer mutual respect without judgement.”
Coming home, Ingrid reconsidered what a healthy friendship looked like as she sought uplifting and fulfilling relationships. A healthy friendship should have trust, honesty, good communication and understanding.
Spero Recovery Center also shared some characteristics of healthy friendships for people in recovery,
Ingrid decided that physical distance was necessary during recovery as she chose to focus on healing relationships with her family. She realized that many of her friends were unsupportive of her recovery journey or encouraged her to fall back into negative patterns. Though she didn’t want to hurt anyone, Ingrid knew that setting clear boundaries was a crucial step toward long-term recovery. While physical distance is not the only way to maintain boundaries, it’s important to find friends who offer mutual respect without judgement. This may mean setting limits on the amount of time you spend with someone, only seeing them at certain times and locations, or clearly communicating your needs and expectations from the relationship.
“Ingrid has made significant strides by surrounding herself with positive influences and remaining committed to learning. She is proud of the positive role models and friendships she has found at Fortune.”
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Ingrid has found comfort in a healthy and sustainable routine. By keeping in mind her goals of finding a home, getting a job and, eventually, starting her own business, Ingrid has gradually developed healthy habits that put her on the path toward success. She begins each day with prayer and meditation, journaling and speaking positive affirmations.
Ingrid comes to The Fortune Society for daily support groups and workshops. Through Fortune, she has learned coping skills and has gained a secure support system to
celebrate her recovery milestones. Ingrid has made significant strides by surrounding herself with positive influences and remaining committed to learning. She is proud of the positive role models and friendships she has found at Fortune.
DISCOVERING NEW HOBBIES
Avoiding negative influences may push you to explore new hobbies and interests during recovery. Ingrid began to prioritize new hobbies like bowling, crocheting and writing. She focuses on hobbies that spark joy and align with her long-term goals.
The Walker Center shared some ideas for how to combat boredom during recovery, which can increase the risk of hazardous decisions and relapse, especially for those in the early stages of recovery. They compiled a list of 50 things to do instead of using a substance, including gardening, cooking, learning a new skill or going for a bike ride. Hobbies like these can be a great opportunity to meet others or spend time with loved ones. Ingrid shared that, as she develops new skills and hobbies, she is grateful to have friends to share them with.
THE HARDEST BATTLE, THE HARDEST TRUTH
BY DANI HARRIS Teague, TX
Addiction was written in bold script on my DNA in my mother’s womb. Both my parents had addictive personalities. My oldest sister, Claudia, died from liver cancer attributed to her having been an alcoholic and a drug addict for most of her life. It’s inherited, and we pass it on to our children.
It only takes a few random events to trigger our addictive potential and leaves us battling against our selfdestruction. Many of us lose that battle. That’s the hard fact no one likes to face.
My battle with addiction began when I was 5 or 6 years old when my parents began to allow me to drink beer at family gatherings. My dad would hand me his bottle of cheap Scotch on frosty mornings at the hunting club so he and his friends could laugh as I guzzled it like water.
the next year on morphine and other painkillers. Every surgical procedure brought the needle that would send me spiraling away into euphoria. I learned it was worth the pain between shots for the oblivion the shots would bring along with neon dreams.
just want to blur the edges of my reality and forget the pain for a time.
I’ve been sober for nearly a year now and have hated every day of it. I have had to admit that I no longer do drugs to get high. I was doing them in search of that final oblivion.
“It only takes a few random events to trigger our addictive potential and leaves us battling against our self-destruction.”
For the next ten years, I would resist the needle and only indulge in the addictions of pot and beer, lots of pot, with a few pills thrown in for kicks. Then, my youngest sister died in 1983. My world died with her. A year later, estranged from my family, my Uncle Joe died, and a girl I knew told me she could get me pills that would make me feel better. I agreed, and then she told me they had to be shot up with a needle.
I’m tired of living the life drugs gave me. I have spent the last 32 years in prison and have no idea when I’ll be free. There was a time when I’d tell people about my escapades on drugs. Now they tell me, and I don’t remember. Yet, I crave the escape every time I see or smell drugs. And in prison, I can’t avoid drugs. They are everywhere.
The hardest truth is that the battle I fight today is one I will ultimately lose. It’s a battle already lost because drugs have destroyed my very soul. I’m an empty shell trying to survive one more day while never knowing when I’ll fall, but knowing I will, and it’s only a matter of time before I fall and never rise again.
Dad was always so proud of his little alcoholic as he took the bottle away. This was the sixties before such behavior was frowned upon. We’ve learned since then that the younger a person is when they start drinking, the more likely they are to become alcoholics and drug addicts.
In 1975, I was hit by a car and broke both legs. I would spend
Life wasn’t worth living anymore, and for the first time, I shot up a speedball concoction made up of an opiate pain pill and a prescription asthma medication. The pain evaporated, and all I wanted was to stay high forever so the pain in my soul would stop tearing me apart.
Since then, I’ve tried every drug I could find and liked them all. No rehab has ever worked for me because I don’t want to be sober. I
The hardest truth of all, I look forward to it because then the pain of life will be over.
A CLOSER LOOK AT MEDICATION-ASSISTED TREATMENT FOR OPIOIDS
The Fortune Society offers FDA approved medications to treat opioid use disorders (OUD), including buprenorphine (Suboxone, Sublocade) and naltrexone (Revia, Vivitrol), and can also provide referrals to programs offering methadone. These medications are vital tools for gaining control over opioid use disorders avoiding overdose and living healthy and productive lives. Robust evidence supports their effectiveness: 60% of people remained opioid free while on Buprenorphine treatment opposed to only 20% of participants remaining opioid free when they had no treatment or were on placebo treatment.
• Patients on Methadone had 33% fewer opioid-positive drug tests and were 4.44 times more likely to stay in treatment compared to controls.
• MAT patients reported a 31.7% decrease in heroin use
post-treatment, and a 11.3% decrease in prescription opioid use compared to 22.3% prior to treatment.
• People with OUD taking prescribed methadone or buprenorphine are 50% less likely to die of overdose compared to no treatment and compared to those taking naltrexone.
An estimated 5.6 million people aged 12 or older in the US had an OUD in 2021. Yet, only about 1 in 5 received medications to treat their OUD. Among adults with past-year opioid use disorder, some groups were found to be less likely to receive medications for opioid use disorder, including Black adults, women, those who were unemployed, and those in nonmetropolitan areas. For instance, non-Hispanic White adults were 14 times more likely to receive medications for opioid use disorder than non-Hispanic Black adults; men were 6 times more likely
than women; those with fulltime employment were 14 times more likely than those who were unemployed; and those living in large metropolitan areas were 3 times more likely than those living in nonmetropolitan areas. 63% of approximately 3,000 local jails across the country screen people for OUD when they are admitted, according to the 2019 Opioid Use Disorder Screening and Treatment in Local Jails report.
However,
• Only 24% of jails continued MAT for people already engaged in treatment.
• 19% initiated MAT for those who are not.
• 10% of prisons offered clinical treatment in the form of a residential treatment program, professional counseling, detoxification unit, or MAT, suggesting the programming available in prison facilities is primarily self-help or peer-based.
SOURCES
Outcomes from the medication assisted treatment pilot program for adults with opioid use disorders in rural Colorado
2021 NSDUH Annual National Report
Only 1 in 5 U.S. adults with opioid use disorder received medications to treat it in 2021
THE VOICES YET TO BE HEARD
BY MARINO K. LEYBA Hobbs, NM
Somebody pointed a gun at me. I’m having dreams, like getting shot.
I keep getting anxious.
It’s like I am not able to trust anybody at this point.
The world has taken a toll on me.
Anxiety, depression, feeling sad and hopeless.
Listen!
Who’s going to have my back? I was trying to suppress the feeling of having a gun shot right next to my head, of having a knife held to my throat.
I keep running into problems.
Hiding, afraid of uncertainty, and the threat of violence.
I keep surviving!
Isn’t that the purpose of life?
Survive at all costs?
I can still remember sitting on the floor, thinking that when I die I will ask god for all the answers.
How are we supposed to respond to things that seem impossible?
High stakes deal with truth and justice, life and death.
We are the voices yet to be heard!
How do you view the world?
Were you shaped that way?
Some people are always trying to right their wrongs.
We don’t live long enough to do it.
We all have hearts of gold, yet the world is cold.
-We are...
-We are haunted!
We know about despair and dark alleys, dead ends.
This is just a glimpse into the lives of some of the people you know, some of the things we’ve seen.
-Some of us are known for telling the truth to the world!
-For examining why bad things happen to good people!
-For sharing the grief that comes with sudden violence and mourning the empty space once occupied by a loved one.
-We are the voices yet to be heard!
PRE-TEEN SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PRISON
BY CRAIG MOBAYED Napanoch, NY
There are two tragic themes to my life story: The first is about my substance abuse at the ridiculously young age of eight years old, and the other is about my life in prison on the “installment plan” as a direct result of that pre-teen substance abuse.
I was raised in an alcoholically dysfunctional home where I suffered childhood psychological and emotional abuse, as well as the neglect that enabled me to roam the streets of Brooklyn from as young as six years old. By age eight, I was smoking cigarettes and marijuana and sniffing glue; by age nine, I was sexually assaulted on those same streets. How I didn’t end up on a milk carton then is astounding. By the age of sixteen, I had been steadily blowing my underdeveloped brains out with marijuana, alcohol, glue, nitrous oxide, LSD, uppers,
downers and angel dust. Of course, I didn’t know that all those previous years of substance abuse, especially the pre-teen years from age eight, had caused severe damage to my brain and instilled in me a life-long susceptibility to chemical dependency. I had no idea just how “susceptible” I was until cocaine found its way into my life and my brain at age seventeen. After snorting just one line of cocaine, I became immediately and severely addicted to the drug. I was suddenly like the infamous lab rat which chooses cocaine over food until it dies. Every thought and
action from that point on revolved entirely around getting more and more cocaine, pretty much for the rest of my life.
“I had no idea just how ‘susceptible’ I was until cocaine found its way into my life and my brain at age seventeen.”
Four months later, I got arrested for an attempted robbery on the street with a toy gun to get money for more cocaine. I had never been arrested before, and neither my father nor I knew about the justice system or lawyers. Our first mistake was not knowing that I was eligible for a Legal Aid Lawyer, and instead, my father mistakenly retained an apparently ineffective private lawyer who got me a one to three-year prison sentence in exchange for my guilty
“Recovery is synonymous with and conducive to mental wellness. I am proof that it is never too late to achieve sobriety.”
plea. I learned much later that as a seventeen-year-old with no record and with a drug problem since the age of eight, along with childhood sexual and psychological abuse issues, I never should have been sent to prison. Due to all those “mitigating circumstances,” I should have gotten a drug program as an alternative to a prison sentence and even probation. I also should have gotten a youthful offender status, which would have sealed that conviction. That is, “if” my lawyer would have informed the court of those mitigating circumstances. I had gotten good and railroaded.
Almost forty years later, they changed the law on prosecuting and sending sixteen and seventeenyear-olds to prison because of the damage it causes to them. In 2019, a “Raise the Age” movement became legislation in New York where sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds can no longer be held criminally responsible for their actions. The legislation also includes mandatory Youthful Offender Status to seal these cases so young individuals
can recover from their mistakes and move on as independent, lawabiding citizens. This will allow young people to receive the ageappropriate treatment they deserve. Legislators also indicated that: “there is an increasing recognition that adolescents are immature and impulsive and it is unconscionable that they are forced into a system that focuses on punishment; overwhelming medical and psychological evidence proves that sixteen and seventeen-year-olds don’t have the same faculties as adults in criminal matters and the practice of treating juveniles as adults in the criminal justice system have caused irreparable damage to their development and any prospects they may have had for successful law-abiding futures.”1
Prison-instead-of-treatment at age seventeen, concurrent with my existing, unresolved childhood abuse, resulted in a life-long progression of my disease of addiction, and the struggles that I faced with repeated relapses resulted in my serving four prison sentences
over the next forty years for robberies committed with toy guns for drugs. But there is good news.
At age sixty, now on my fourth incarceration, I have been clean and sober for the first time since I was eight years old. I share my life story through magazine and newspaper articles to help struggling addicts recover from addiction and to educate parents on the tragedy of pre-teen substance abuse. I am pursuing certification as a recovery coach/ peer advocate with the prospect of working with recovering people with an addiction upon my release, as well as maintaining my sobriety for the rest of my life.
Recovery is synonymous with and conducive to mental wellness. I am proof that it is never too late to achieve sobriety.
SOURCES
1 New York Raises the Age of Adult Criminal Responsibility
HELP IN YOUR POCKET
Apps to support mental health and aid in recovery
Mental health apps are emerging as valuable tools in managing mental well-being, especially with their accessibility through the internet and smartphones. They offer a range of features, from tracking moods and journaling to providing guided meditations and connecting users with support networks. This evolving landscape of mental health apps encompasses diverse functionalities, each tailored to specific needs.
It’s crucial to remember that these apps are valuable tools for self-care and can be beneficial complements to professional therapy, but they should never be considered a replacement for the guidance and expertise of qualified mental health professionals. All apps are available on IOS and Android.
CALM
Calm can help manage stress, balance moods, improve sleep and refocus attention. The app features an extensive library of guided meditation, Sleep Stories, soundscapes, breathwork and stretching exercises.
calm.com
I AM SOBER
I Am Sober is a sobriety tracking and support app, assisting millions of people on their journey to maintain sobriety each year. Members utilize it as a sober day tracker and milestone logger for all types of addictions from quitting alcohol, drugs, nicotine and more.
iamsober.com
HEADSPACE
Focused on meditation and self-care, Headspace aids in improving sleep, managing everyday anxiety and offering services like the ability to text with a mental health coach.
headspace.com
SOBER SIDEKICK
Sober Sidekick is an app and social network that helps you maintain your sobriety by connecting with a community of people who can empathize with where you are. The app features 24/7 virtual AA meetings for support and daily monitoring and milestones.
sobersidekick.com
HAPPIFY
Happify’s science-based activities and games can help overcome negative thoughts stress, and life’s challenges, developed by leading scientists and experts who’ve been studying evidencebased interventions in the fields of positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy for decades.
happify.com
PTSD COACH
PTSD Coach was created by the VA’s National Center for PTSD and the U.S. Department of Defense’s National Center for Telehealth & Technology. The PTSD Coach app was designed for Veterans experiencing symptoms of PTSD and includes reliable information, tools for screening and tracking symptoms, easy-to-use tools, and direct links to support and help.
ptsd.va.gov/appvid/mobile/ ptsdcoach_app.asp
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