Summit of Hope, a community-driven exposition and resource fair, held its 152nd state gathering Tuesday at the Interstate Center in Bloomington.
What started in 2008 as a reentry fair has evolved into what organizers call a “one-stop shop” for parolees and probationers. The program is run by the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department of Public Health.
The fair provided a number of services, including fresh produce, housing resources, employment opportunities, health care and a station where attendees could renew or obtain an ID card for free.
A decade later
Michael Gaines, Illinois Department of Public Health corrections coordinator, said Summit of Hope had not visited the Twin Cities since 2013.
“We're hoping to bring it back every other year so that we can, you know, help our returning citizens come back to the community with open arms,” said Gaines.
The purpose of events like these, he said, is to remind people there is always support available and that asking for help is acceptable.
“You know, sometimes folks need a first chance, second chance. Sometimes they need a third chance,” Gaines said. “This gives them that chance to say, 'Hey, we're here to help you and that this is for you and that you can do this.'”
More than 65 vendors provided resources at the event, with nearly 500 returning citizens invited.
For many vendors, this was not their first Summit of Hope event. Some return year after year to help community members successfully reenter society.
“I've been to plenty of events,” said Jasmine Slattery, a representative of Summit of Hope. “I don't even know how many, but I've been to a lot of Summit of Hopes.”
On-the-spot affordable services
Juan Huerta, Secretary of State deputy director for public engagement, said he has attended Summit of Hope events since Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias took office in 2023.
“This is one of the events that we go to, all of the events in Bloomington, Decatur, Cahokia, the Chicago area, because it's so important to help individuals,” Huerta said.
Huerta was one of many attendees helping parolees and other community members obtain new identification cards.
“With an I.D., you can obtain housing, medication and employment. You can start building your resume to get employment,” Gaines said. “A lot of people make mistakes, but at the same time, they want to do something different and they learn and they want to be successful in life. So, we've got to help people.”
For parolees and people leaving the justice system, obtaining proper identification can be one of the most difficult steps in the reentry process.
The Illinois Department of Transportation also offered employment opportunities for people with a CDL license through its Highway Construction Careers Training Program.
Illinois Department of Transportation Recruitment Manager Deborah Williams said the program is free.
“We offer opportunities from everything to a highway maintainer to civil engineering,” Williams said. “We provide a resource so that students can attend that program free of charge.”
At another table, a wide range of fruits and vegetables was on set up for attendees to take home. Fresh zucchini, lemons, apples and oranges lined the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois table, resembling a miniature farmers market.
“You know that if you eat healthy, it will help decrease some of your illnesses,” said Heather Briggs, a community outreach specialist with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, who said she's attended more than a half dozen Summit of Hope events.
“Plus, you know, this could be one of the more expensive items at the grocery store.”
Briggs said Blue Cross also provided health literature to answer questions about health conditions community members may have.
“The resources and the health screenings that they have at this event is just unmatched,” she said, referring to free Narcan, blood pressure screenings, HIV testing, hepatitis C testing and safe-sex kits available at the event.
Turning a new leaf
Many of the parolees who attended the event were required to do so, while others attended voluntarily. But after walking around and exploring the available resources, some attendees chose to stay longer and connect with others.
Valenzuelle Jordan attended Summit of Hope while on mandatory supervised release.
“I'm very appreciative of the resources that have been provided because coming into the situation, I felt pressure because being a person recently released from incarceration, it was mandatory that I come and it was kind of intimidating and once I got here,” said Jordan, adding, “I feel the support from the community and I'm very thankful.”
Jordan thinks everyone deserves a second chance, including people like himself.
“There's lessons and there's blessings and if you've made mistakes and you've learned your lesson, maybe you can catch a blessing,” Jordan said.
Some parolees recognized vendors at the event not because of the organizations they represented, but because they, too, had spent time in the criminal justice system.
“I did 28 years in prison for a wrongful conviction,” said Roosevelt Myles, a representative of ABC Reentry. “This organization is built up on three exonerees and one of our attorneys.”
Myles said he and others co-founded the organization with one goal in mind — helping others.
“I ain't getting a dime to do this,” Myles said. “I'm doing this to help others. And to do this, to help others, is important.”
ABC Reentry is a nonprofit organization focused on connecting legal advocates, community resources and people returning from incarceration.
Other barriers
Mental health was another focus of the event, with therapy resources and health care options available for attendees.
Gregory Williams, director of reentry and housing at Gro Community, said transportation often is a barrier to receiving mental health care.
“One of their barriers is being able to make it to and forth to therapy,” Williams said. “So what we do is we eliminate that by allowing the therapists to come to where they're at.”
Williams said therapists and case managers also can help people secure housing and comply with parole stipulations.
“This gives them a better chance,” he said. “Without this, there would be more people returning to prison.”
Gaines said recidivism rates in Illinois have declined since programs like Summit of Hope were introduced.
“IDOC [Illinois Department of Corrections] recidivism rate used to be about 53%,” he said. “It is like 40% now.”
Curtis Bowling was another parolee whose attendance was mandatory.
“I had to come out here,” Bowling said. “But I'm glad I came out here because it's a lot of good resources. He didn't realize how many resources were available in the community, saying “I really didn't realize all the resources. It's actually pretty cool.”
Another attendee, Michelle Tinch, said she came to Summit of Hope specifically for the available resources.
“There's a lot more health care options that I didn't know, and health care coverage that I didn't know was there,” Tinch said.
Like many attendees, Tinch left carrying a large bag filled with resources and giveaway items from vendors.
“It was fun,” Tinch said. “I actually had a good time today.”
Myles said events like Summit of Hope are important because formerly incarcerated people can help guide others through reentry.
“Some of these people, we were locked up together,” Myles said. “You don't forget your friends. You come home. If you made it, help out. Pay it forward. It's easy.”
