Re-Entry Support Group Provides Space for Healing

Ramone Semorile, an intake specialist from Bronx Community Solutions, Cary Grant, floor manager of Striver House, Woodrow Wilson researcher for The Bronx Reentry Working Group, Selina Fulford M.S.W. and Cramon Millan counselor for Harlem Reentry court hosted a returning citizens anonymous support group in the south Bronx on January 10, 2019

By Angel Fulgencio 

Reentry Anonymous is a support group for people who have been formerly incarcerated and are looking to make a positive change in their lives and communities.  On this night, the Reentry Anonymous group was an open group for returning citizens, allies, and community members to attend.  In future meetings, the group will be a close group that plans to meet on every other Wednesday at the Bronx Community Solutions office on 95 East 161^st Street. 

Returning citizens and community members shared their experiences, their concerns, and what brought them to the meeting.  A consistent theme of the evening was finding support within their communities and family members.  Being formerly incarcerated had created a culture within the prison walls that only certain individuals can understand.  A culture in which prison guards order people on where to eat, sleep, and shower.  Daily task and decision making often become mundane to the general public, but they must be relearned by returning citizens.  A family member shared incident at a restaurant in which she had to help and guide the returning citizen because “he did not know where to sit.” 

While in prison, returning citizens become dependable on one another for protection and to pass their leisure time within those close walls.  Returning citizens dream of returning home while being incarcerated, but once they are home, some find themselves lost within society.  They no longer have anyone ordering them to perform daily tasks.  They no longer have those close-knit friendships they developed for survival.  For some, the transition can be difficult to readjust, and some people find themselves back in prison.  Support groups are needed to assist returning citizens successful transition back into their community.  The Returning Anonymous provides support by focusing on rethinking careers, relationships, and lifestyles.  Returning citizens have a unique story and will need the support of their communities, family members, and each other.   

After attending the returning citizen anonymous support group and hearing the stories, I thought about my own transition as a veteran.  I can recall that it took me years to readjust to civilian life; as a veteran, my transition was fully supported by my family, agencies, and veteran support organizations.  Agencies like Google sent recruiters to help student veterans with their resumes at my university.  I received a professional head shot for my LinkedIn account and how to even use LinkedIn.  However, I understand that it’s the opposite for returning citizens in their transition.  For example, when I identify my status as a veteran in the job applications, I get preference points, and it’s the opposite for returning citizens.

 Yet, both of these groups have formed friendships or tight-knit bonds over harsh environments.  A returning citizen stated, “sometimes people want to go back to prison.”  I heard a similar phrase from a combat veteran of wanting to return to battle; I don’t think either group truly wants to return to those environments.  I think what they miss is having that bond they develop for survival.  The general public will not understand what its like to be isolated from the world.  Being secluded, without the use of social media or any digital technology forces people to communicate with one another to pass the time.  Returning citizens need their support from their peers to have smoother transition.