Saturday, June 8th, 10:00 a.m. Second Chance Tucson – Two Formerly Incarcerated Persons Share Their Stories
Second Chance Tucson was co-founded in 2014 by former Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and retired US Magistrate Judge Charles Pyle. The mission of Second Chance Tucson is to break the cycle of recidivism and intergenerational harm by facilitating connections for justice system-involved people through employment, housing, volunteerism, and referrals, while educating the community in order to reduce stigma and unfairness. Learn more at www.secondchancetucson.org.
Our speakers are Veronica Torres and Keifer Ames. Their bios follow. These individuals are willingly sharing their stories of incarceration and subsequent probation, but we as an audience must honor their privacy: NO QUESTIONS about why they were incarcerated, please.
Veronica Torres is proud of her Tohono O’odham, Pascua Yaqui and Mexican American heritage. Veronica was raised in Barrio Libre in South Tucson. Arrested at 14 years of age, she was tried as an adult and sentenced to life without possibility of parole. Years later, the US Supreme Court ruled that sentencing juveniles to life without parole was a violation of the 8th Amendment proscription against cruel and unusual punishment.
Veronica was subsequently paroled after being incarcerated from age 14 – 39. Since release, Veronica has worked to help people incarcerated with life sentences and has been awarded a George Soros Fellowship to pursue this work. Veronica has become certified as a White Bison/Wellbriety counselor, a Peer Support Mentor and an Auricular Acu-Technician and plans to use this training to help others.
Keifer Ames grew up in Avra Valley. He went to work in his dad’s automotive repair shop at a young age and was exposed to drugs, alcohol and pornography. First arrested at 14, he was a cocaine addict by 18, and ordered to his first drug treatment center at 21. At 29, he was sentenced to 5 years and released just before his 34th birthday. He continued a path of drug addiction and self-destruction.
Just after his 40th birthday he was broken and crushed and knew he could not continue to live as he was. He wanted to have a normal life without the bondage of addiction. He cried out to God who not only rescued him but has given him life in abundance. He has been clean and sober since December 18th, 2009 and has had all his rights reinstated. He is a Certified Minister with the Assemblies of God.
Keifer now owns and co-owns two businesses. He maintains and repairs vehicles for Tucson Teenchallenge Men’s Rehabilitation Center & Gap Ministries Transportation Vehicles. His purpose is to share the good news of what is possible.
We’ll meet LIVE at The “L” Offices, 1840 E. River Road. We’ll provide coffee and treats, you provide the questions–remembering the above guideline.
The meeting will run from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., with time for catching up from 11:30 to noon.
Costs for members is $10, $15 for non-members. Bring extra cash for the book raffle. Raffle proceeds help offset the meeting room costs. Should you have books to donate, bring them as well.
