This workshop will offer an engaging introduction to supporting the population of humans who have experienced the trauma of navigating the criminal legal system. This training is unique as your presenters, Alicia Givens and Ashley Furst, have experiences from opposing sides of the legal system. A strongly shared belief in restorative community practices has brought them together in the spirit of service to others.
Tailored for direct service providers, this training also builds foundational knowledge about the justice-involved population; emphasizing person-first language, the impact of systemic stigma, and informed coordination of care. Through guided reflection, interactive exercises, and case-based discussion, participants will gain tools to ensure more effective, respectful service delivery.
Some key components of the session include a myth-busting overview of the justice system and an empathy activity that illustrates the harm of stigmatizing labels. Practical guidance will be offered regarding prioritizing core stability factors while coordinating legal system-informed care. Participants are encouraged to adopt a human-centered lens; with language and practices that are rooted in dignity as a form of community healing.
The training also features Ashley's experience. She offers insights on the reality of the reentry journey, as well as useful tips for direct services professionals supporting formerly incarcerated people. Attendees leave with digital checklists and communication aids to support ongoing learning and implementation in their valuable community work.
Eligible for two hours Certificate of Completion.
PRESENTERS
Alicia Givens is a committed advocate for procedural fairness, equitable access to resources, and the healing power of community. She believes that mistakes are inevitable and even still, every second of every day is a chance to reinvent yourself. Drawing from both personal insight and professional expertise, she brings a nuanced understanding of the criminal penal system, client engagement, and transformative leadership. As the founder of Fair Path Collective, Alicia leads the development of tools like "The Outsider’s Companion", a free, custom AI tool, designed to help justice-impacted people access community resources for housing, employment, recovery, and desistance support. Previously, Alicia served as the Director of Reentry Services at Breakthrough, where she designed, staffed, and implemented a peer care-management Reentry Program that reported an 8% recidivism rate.
Ashley Furst deeply and vocally believes that individuals are more than their worst mistakes and that every breakdown has the potential to become a breakthrough. She is a passionate advocate for second chances, grounded in her own lived experience with reentry after justice involvement. She believes deeply that individuals are more than their worst mistakes and that every breakdown holds the potential for transformation. As the Community Engagement Manager at Goodwill of Colorado, Ashley leads efforts to build strong community relationships that uplift the Goodwill brand and create inclusive environments across its retail footprint. Her commitment to advancing opportunity for justice-impacted people is rooted in both personal insight and professional expertise.
Eligible for three hours Certificate of Completion.
