Office of the Mayor

Mayor's Commission on Reentry

Mission

The mission of the Mayor's Commission on Reentry is to prevent recidivism by strengthening cooperation and collaboration between law enforcement agencies, corrections and supervision entities, resource agencies, social service and non-profit organizations, community members, and other private and public stakeholders.

For more information on the Reentry Commission and to find related resources visit us on Facebook - @ColumbusReentryCommission.

You can also visit www.211uwcv.org for resources - 211 is a service of United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley to connect individuals with local resources. Search online, “text your zip code to 898211 for resources or dial 211 M-F, 7am-8pm for assistance from a specialist.“

Purpose

The purpose of the Mayor's Commission on Reentry is to coordinate local efforts to support adults exiting local and state incarceration facilities in Columbus and statewide that will be released to a Muscogee County residency. The Commission will provide the Mayor, City Council, the public, and any other appropriate agency with accurate and comprehensive information about this population in respect to service programs, barriers that contribute to their return to a life a crime (i.e. lack of employment opportunities, housing, access to education and healthcare, etc.), and best practices for meeting their needs. The Commission shall also publicly recognize programs that excel in service to this population. In addition, the Commission will coordinate information sharing, planning, and engagement among all interested private and public stakeholders to the extent permissible under Federal and State law.

Meetings are held every third Monday of the month at 1:00 pm virtually on zoom. Although this meeting is open to the public, please send us a message on Facebook to get access to join our virtual meetings.

Members                                            
  • Kristin Barker, Chair – BETTER WORK Columbus
  • Pat Frey – Home for Good
  • Rev. Monica Spencer – VoteRiders
  • Baki Muhammad – Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department
  • Cathy Robinson – SafeHouse Ministries
  • Waleisah Wilson – Southern Center for Human Rights
  • Stacy Rivera – Georgia Department of Corrections
  • John Wade – Muscogee County Sheriff’s Department
  • Kecia Cawthorne – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD)
  • Gamaliel Torres

Subcommittees
  • Housing - Pat Frey
  • Employment - Kristin Barker, Tracey Mosely
  • Reentry Resources - Rev. Monica Spencer

Advisors
  • Mayor Skip Henderson
  • Seth Brown
  • Norman Quarles


Projects

FREE THE FUTURE - (Link to freethefuturecv.com)
This initiative has a mission to educate Chattahoochee Valley citizens about the reentry process,
the barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face for gainful employment, and the
opportunity that our area has if we change our thought pattern to see that everyone deserves
a second chance.

Learn more online at freethefuturecv.com