When it comes to reentry success, it truly takes a village. A caring community can transform the most disillusioned of individuals with justice involvement, bridging the gap between hopelessness and a secure ability to thrive. Fortune participant Michael discovered this kind of community in the least likely of places: Rikers Island.

It wasn’t easy in the beginning. “I wasn’t engaged with the world,” he notes. But that quickly changed when he enrolled in The Fortune Society’s I-CAN (Individualized Corrections Achievement Network) program. For the first time, he was able to articulate his feelings in a positive group environment. With encouragement from his case manager, Michael found the power of his inner voice.