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Hear the full conversation with Rob DeLeon and Dr. Serena Martin.

What does it take to build a more just and supportive system for people returning home?

In the latest episode of New Hour’s Empower Hour, Executive Director Dr. Serena Martin sits down with President and CEO Rob DeLeon, for a powerful conversation about reentry, advocacy, leadership, and the future of criminal justice reform in New York. Mr. DeLeon brings more than two decades of experience working with people involved in the criminal legal system. He also brings lived experience of incarceration, before building a career in advocacy and reentry services.

One of the central themes of the conversation is the importance of seeing people beyond their involvement with the criminal legal system. As Rob puts it, “We believe in people first.” He emphasizes that Fortune Society’s doors are open to anyone who has experienced the system and that people should not be defined by their past. The conversation also highlights the incredible talent and potential of people with lived experience. Rob describes people who have experienced the system as an “untapped pool of genius and of talent.”

When Rebecca Figueroa gave birth to her fourth child, her right leg was chained to the hospital bed so tightly that the shackle left cut marks on her skin, she said.

Figueroa, then in her twenties and addicted to drugs, was awaiting trial in Suffolk County on low-level charges that were ultimately dismissed, she said. Nineteen years later, she still tears up as she thinks about how lonely and helpless she felt in that moment.

Michel Blot was reassigned from Bedford Hills Correctional Facility to Sing Sing after prisoners and advocates raised concerns.

Migrant arrest rates have been high in places like Long Island, where federal agents benefit from stealth and the aid of local politicians.

Prison reform advocates are ringing the alarm bells about the conditions at a state correctional facility after several recent deaths. It just might not be the one you’re thinking of.

There is an urgent and escalating crisis inside Bedford Hills Correctional Facility.

In just four weeks, three women have died—two by suicide—amid increasingly inhumane conditions. People inside are being denied basic necessities, including access to daily showers and meaningful time out of their cells, while pathways home remain obstructed. Since the arrival of DSS Michael Blot—who faces serious and troubling allegations—conditions have worsened significantly.

We are coming together to demand immediate accountability, the removal of DSS Michael Blot, and an end to the conditions that are costing people their lives.

In this webinar, our host Tiffany Vulcain and panelists Serena Martin, Leah Faria, and Helen 'Skip' Skipper spoke about the challenges women face upon reentry from incarceration and the unique support that communities and service providers can offer.

Representatives from more than 20 Long Island community groups urged Nassau County to sever its partnership with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday, and asked New York lawmakers for legislation to bar state and local agencies from collaborating with federal immigration officials.

In this special episode, we sit down with Erin George, National Director of Policy at The Bail Project, for a powerful conversation straight from the annual SOMOS conference.

Erin breaks down how bail creates a two-tiered system — one for people with money and one for everyone else — and shares how The Bail Project is working to dismantle this injustice every day. Their model is simple but transformative: they pay bail for people who can’t afford it, for free, while pushing for policies that take money out of the justice process entirely.

Together, we explore what true “innocent until proven otherwise” should look like in practice, the real impact of pretrial freedom on individuals and families, and the bold vision for a fairer, more equitable system.

Welcome to Empower Hour — New Hour’s brand new podcast!

In our very first episode, we sit down with Dee and Christi from the Louisiana Parole Project, two incredible women and partners in our mission who recently came to visit us at New Hour. During their visit, they met with our EMERGE class, joined us inside the jail for programming, and shared their powerful journeys.

Once sentenced to 25 years to life, Dee and Christi are now thriving — leading, mentoring, and giving back to women impacted by the justice system. Their stories remind us that healing, hope, and transformation are always possible.