“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
— Maya Angelou
By us, for us, with us, always.
Second Life is an autonomous, self-determined intentional community project, built around transformation and empowerment, by, with, and for formerly incarcerated humans, and manifesting alternative justices approaches and values.
Entering the Commons
The commons, which is our shared world, and all that it offers must be open to all who wish to participate, care for, and contribute to them. It is our hope that returning citizens are not returning to the same systems that led them into a difficult trajectory, but into a different social fabric, centered around solidarity, mutual emancipation, and collective power. For us, the goal is not just to re-enter an existing society, but to reshape society using the unique skills, critical reflections of the world, and emotional intelligence gained through incarceration. Our commons and communities support returning lifers to find meaningful work, heal from their traumatic experiences, and build independent community life-lines and help all of us move beyond the themes of domination, competition, extraction, and individualism that often dominate our worlds.
Space for Everyone
The Second Life Project creates and nurtures post-transitional homes that are sober, parole-ready, community centers that house folks who have been released from the prison system alongside those who have not experienced incarceration.
Transforming Harm
Some members of our Second Life community participate in The Alternative Justice Project, which focuses on harm prevention and transformative justice.