"Leading with Heart in Reentry" Symposium

Team members from Lambent Data attended the Mercer County Reentry Coalition (MCRC) 2025 Symposium with the theme “Leading With Heart in Reentry.” The Lambent Data team members in attendance included Lambent’s Co-founder and CEO Kirsten Hund Blair, Intern Vincent Etherton (Computer Science, Princeton '26), and Intern Layton Lee (Molecular Biology, Princeton '28). Hosted by the CEO of Morph Mentoring, Dr. Chelsey Tanner, the event was an exciting, fulfilling day that invigorated attendees with gratitude and energy to continue their important work in the reentry field. 

The MCRC was formed through a 2022 collaboration among WorkWell Partnership, TASK (Trenton Area Soup Kitchen), and The Father Center of NJ, and officially established in 2023 with seven organizations focused on holistic reentry support. It has grown significantly since then, to over 75 members (roughly 60 organizations and the rest are individuals supporting the MCRC but not affiliated with an organizational member). The Coalition is led by Chair Seyi Ola, a Vice President at JP Morgan Chase, and Vice Chair Jeannette Rizk, the Executive Director of the WorkWell Partnership. The MCRC serves as a way to discuss and share information between member organizations regarding reentry resources, programs, and employers. The MCRC activities have since expanded to include governmental and corporate organizations, allowing members to more efficiently and holistically support those at every stage of the reentry process, including pre-release, release, and reintegration. Since Lambent Data, Inc. joined the MCRC in 2024, we have been able to connect with reentry staff and program participants, learn about various initiatives in the region, and partner with fellow MCRC organizations to support their reentry programs, including building a customized version of OurREACH™ relevant for the MCRC organizations.  

The 2025 Symposium began with opening remarks, followed by community-bonding activities led by Marge Smith and Blanche Brann. For example, their ripple effect activity involved all participants who received rocks labeled with character traits such as “mindful,” “ally,” and “authentic.” Each person was encouraged to reflect and share how they embodied their traits through their reentry work or personal values. We were also encouraged to give the rocks to other individuals in our community to inspire others and prompt further personal reflection.  In addition, we engaged in other insightful discussion in small groups through questions facilitated by Ms. Smith and Ms. Brann.

The event also presented recorded testimonies from reentry program participants whose lives have been impacted by the work of programs led by MCRC organizations. These testimonies remind us that the collection of services provided by the MCRC are truly effective and transformative. During a poignant "fireside chat," panelists shared about their steps along their reentry journeys, and the importance of support in these challenging and inspiring efforts. "Fireside chat" co-hosts Juan Rolon of Empowerment House and Janet Porter of Trenton’s Department of Health and Human Services facilitated this powerful session. Additionally, keynote speaker Markis Abraham, Esq. spoke about topics such as dedication and commitment to one’s purpose to achieve one's full potential.  

The day concluded with a raffle and closing remarks from Dr. Tanner, Seyi Ola, and Jeannette Rizk. Attendees also received certificates for their participation. Ultimately, attendees of the MCRC 2025 Symposium left with gratitude for their peers in the reentry field and continued resolution to support and serve their communities. 

For more information about the MCRC, please see its Linktree page and/or email MercerCountyReentryCoalition {AT} gmail.com. Photos below include those noted earlier in the article, in addition to (alphabetically) Paulash Banerjee of WorkWell, Sean Ford of TASK, Maya George of HomeFront, Tony Hayes of Salvation and Social Justice, Cynthia Lindsay a Summer Intern at WorkWell, Kyle Page a Summer Intern at Visionary Philanthropy Group, and Andre Thomas of Isles.