Julie Moore, Certified Peer Specialist (pictured) at the new Ituha Stabilization Center (Ituha) in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island, shared a story with us about the second person admitted to the new center after it was....Read more >>
Our Mission: We are a social enterprise that partners with communities to transform society by honoring the humanity of people, reducing the impact of discriminatory mass incarceration and empowering people to live safe, healthy, productive lives through inspiration, affirmation and by overturning barriers.
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Labels Create Barriers
We believe that words are powerful and can be very stigmatizing and harmful when used to label our citizens who are or were formerly incarcerated. Let’s be clear, the individuals are first and foremost human beings!
We all need to remember that people released from prison or jail share common and descriptive names with everyone else in society to include: grandparent, parent, son and daughter, extended family member, friend, neighbor, colleague and employee. These are the only type of names that should ever be used to describe a person.
When talking about people who have been involved in the criminal justice system, here are labels to avoid and terms that are acceptable:
NEVER USE
|
Convict |
ex-Con |
Inmate |
ex-Inmate |
|
Offender |
ex-Offender |
Criminal |
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Pioneer Human Services is a nonprofit (501c3) social enterprise. One-hundred percent of our revenues are reinvested within the organization.
NEWS
The National Parks Service's permanent installation, " The Big Lockup - Mass Incarceration in the United States " had a private opening today on Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Two former Pioneer Industries' employees....Read more >>
Stephen Garten, founder/CEO of Charity Charge talked with Karen Lee, CEO of Pioneer Human Services, on his podcast. Pioneer provides career paths and living wage jobs for a population many disregard. They believe every....Read more >>