Wrongful convictions and recidivism are issues in America that are not discussed often. Oftentimes we see on the news stories of individuals being released from prison after being convicted of a crime they did not commit.While this is a wonderful thing, we must truly look into why this is the case. Our criminal justice system is constantly throwing individuals in jail, innocent or not. These individuals are released into society to just go on about their lives, forgetting that this is not as easy as it sounds. Family members become distant, jobs become lost, etc. Once you’re back into society, how are you supposed to move on? This is where I come in. Having an education is a powerful tool if you use it right the way. I plan to use my education to change the lives of others. Helping my community has always been something I have participated in. I get this sense of happiness from helping others, even if there is no direct benefit to myself. I grew up in a community that was primarily made up of individuals from different countries trying to make a living for themselves. I may not be the wealthiest person alive, but I always try to help in ways that I can. It is one thing to live in a community, but it is another to actually take care of it. After graduating undergrad, I will continue my journey to law school in hopes of getting my JD and opening my own law firm. Down the road, I hope to open my own non-profit organization for those who have been incarcerated to make it easier for them to reintegrate in society and help reduce the rates of recidivism. Recidivism rates are usually less than 50% but I think it is an issue that still needs to be addressed. Being released back into society with no help, makes individuals feel lost and confused. Some even commit crimes just to return back to prison so they can have that sense of stability and routine. The goal of my non-profit would be to help them get back on their feet. This could be through mental health counseling, help with substance abuse, or even signing up for basic services. Once you get convicted of a crime, there are a lot of doors that can become closed. With my help I hope to make their lives easier.

My name is Kenyatta. I am a 20 year old college student entering my final year of my undergraduate studies at SUNY Old Westbury. As a Haitian woman, being able to complete college is one of my greatest accomplishments. My parents were born and raised in Haiti, moving to America during their early teens. My mother is a registered nurse and my father is a school bus driver who also managed to open his own successful Graphic design business. I have 2 siblings, one is in 6th grade and the other is currently getting her master’s in education. I am a Christian who is active in my church, Sinai Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Growing up as a Christian, I was always taught to give back to others even if it may not serve you any type of benefit directly. I’ve always kept this idea in mind throughout my life, it has helped form me into the person I am today. I am active in my community through my church. Participating in the community is something that I do enjoy. I like giving back to others, seeing the smiles on their faces and their gratitude gives me more joy than money ever could. I realized that not everyone was as fortunate as I was, to have hard working parents who help me achieve my dreams no matter what it takes. Considering this, helping others in whatever way I can, whether that be through donations or a simple 2 minute conversation, is my version of showing appreciation for my parents. I currently volunteer as a teacher for the Sunshine Adventurer’s Club, a children’s club that helps raise children to become Jesus’ disciples. In this club we often do community service in our area. We go to nursing homes and create gift baskets for the elderly. We also hold several food drives so we can donate it to soup kitchens. My church is very open, we constantly host events that bring the community together to share God's glory After graduating college, I will continue to participate in my church but I do want to branch out and do more. One of the main goals for my career as a lawyer is to serve the community, ensuring justice is being served to those who deserve it. I hope to provide a voice to those who do not have one and overall help fix my community. Once I start making more money, I hope to open a few non-profits. I would like to open one for my community, but also a center for those who have recently been released from prison. I’ve learned that it is hard to integrate into society after prison, that's why I hope to open a non-profit that will aid people in getting back on their feet. I do not plan on ever ceasing my community involvement, especially not in the community I was raised in. I may be taking baby steps now, but it’ll all work out in the end.