Second chances deserve recognition.
For thousands of Illinois residents returning home after incarceration each year, rebuilding their lives often begins with finding housing, employment, and a community willing to believe in them.
That is the purpose of Illinois Citizens Reentry Day, an annual observance that recognizes the challenges people face after incarceration and highlights the organizations, advocates, and community members who help returning citizens rebuild their lives.
In Joliet, Holston Human Capital Development (HHCD), in collaboration with Joliet Unity Movement, celebrated the occasion with a community cookout at HHCD’s River Walk Homes office.
Residents enjoyed food, laughter, raffle gifts, and a community spades tournament while connecting with members of Joliet Unity Movement, who shared information about supportive resources available throughout Will County.
Joliet’s first Poet Laureate, Uxmar Torres, also participated in the celebration, performing original poetry and hosting an open mic session that invited residents to share their voices and experiences. The performance added a creative and reflective element to the day’s focus on healing, resilience, and second chances.
Illinois Citizens Reentry Day was first observed on July 3, 2017, after the Illinois House adopted a resolution recognizing the importance of successful reentry and honoring Congressman Danny K. Davis’ leadership on second-chance initiatives.
The annual observance also raises awareness of barriers to successful reentry, including housing, employment, mental health support, and family reunification. It encourages communities to become active partners in helping returning citizens rebuild their lives.
“Reentry is about more than coming home, it’s about staying home. Rebuilding lives, reconnecting families, and creating opportunities for success,” said Willie Ervins, President, Chief Executive Officer for Joliet Unity Movement.
“Justice-impacted families are part of who we are. We don’t simply serve this community, we represent it, we build alongside it, and we’re committed to ensuring every person has the opportunity to move forward with dignity.”
Ervins said partnering with HHCD was an easy decision after witnessing the organization’s impact on residents at River Walk Homes.
“Liz Protich and HHCD are doing a fantastic job with the residents,” Ervins said. “The reentry program is much needed and very much appreciated. They’re helping people connect with programs, careers, and the resources they need to be successful. Just knowing someone believes in you and is there to guide you can make all the difference.”
At HHCD, supporting returning citizens extends far beyond one day of recognition. Through partnerships with Northern Illinois Food Bank, Lewis University, Catholic Charities, Family Guidance Centers, and the Will County Health Department, the organization provides workforce development, supportive housing, behavioral health resources, food assistance, and other wraparound services that help residents, including returning citizens, achieve long-term stability.
Liz Protich, HHCD’s senior program manager, says helping returning citizens has always been more than a career—it’s her personal ministry.
“I’ve been in social services for 40 years,” Liz said. “I’ve been fortunate enough throughout my career to work in places where my supervisors allowed me to do it, and sometimes it even became part of my job. But I always kept it as a personal ministry because, in my heart, I felt that when you start combining money with your passion, the focus sometimes shifts from your passion to the money. I didn’t want to taint something that I felt I was called to do.”
She credits her father with teaching her to treat every person with dignity and compassion, regardless of their circumstances.
“He was probably the greatest humanitarian in my life,” Liz said. “He treated everyone the same, whether they walked in with one dollar or one million dollars. Watching him care for people without judgment inspired my own commitment to public service.”
One childhood memory has stayed with her for decades.
“All I saw as a child were sad faces,” Liz said. “It bothered me. I insisted my mother drive me past so I could wave. They would wave back, and they would laugh because here’s this little kid waving at them. I didn’t want anybody to feel like nobody cared. Like they were just forgotten.”
Those early lessons continue to shape HHCD’s approach to reentry. Rather than focusing on a single need, the organization helps returning citizens overcome the many barriers they face as they rebuild their lives.
“We take a very holistic approach,” Liz said. “You can’t just heal a part of it. If there’s one thing going on, there’s usually a number of things going on.”
That same belief remains at the heart of HHCD’s work—and the purpose behind Illinois Citizens Reentry Day.
“We’re more than one action,” she said. “People are too quick to write people off as throwaway people. One action shouldn’t define a person’s life.”
For more information on reentry and HHCD services, contact HHCD.
