Since he was released five months ago, James Wood, known as “Silk,” has been surrounded by the EJP community. The skills he learned from EJP while he was inside have also prepared him to be successful. After serving a 31-year sentence, he needed all the assistance he could get. He recently got a full-time job working for a non-profit in Chicago thanks to the recommendation of another EJP alum.  

James was hired as a case manager with Integrity & Fidelity, a community violence intervention organization in Chicago with the mission of reducing gun violence among youth and young adults in Chicago’s most impacted neighborhoods. Augie Torres, EJP alumnus and director of programs and strategic initiatives for the organization, called James and invited him for an interview. “They were impressed and offered me a job,” said James.  

Integrity & Fidelity needed someone who could set up and operate databases. “I have been building out their database,” James said. “Because of EJP, I have a pretty good understanding of databases. I took an EJP class on Python and I created databases while I was in Danville. So I’m familiar with databases, it was just learning a different program. It’s been challenging, but at the same time, it’s something I’ve done before. EJP definitely helped with that.” 

Another EJP alumnus, Raphel Jackson, who is program manager and higher education evaluator for Prison+Neighborhood Arts/Education Project (PNAP), hired James to work part-time for the organization. James is employed by PNAP as an art archivist and is working, he says, “creating a curriculum to teach the next iteration of peer educators, mentors, and facilitators in prison.” 

James got involved in the early days of EJP. As soon as he had the opportunity, “I jumped in and got started.” He was assistant editor with The Amplifier, a publication produced by EJP students. He was a math tutor, a member of the evaluation committee, and worked at the community library. “Just about anything that was going on,” he says, “I was wanting to be a part of it.” 

EJP resources have also benefitted James with his reentry. While he was still inside, he says, “I read the reentry guide, year after year, and I knew what to expect.” After three decades of incarceration, reentry was a “culture shock, but at the same time it wasn’t, because I was made aware of it ahead of time.” His participation in EJP’s Community Anti-Violence Education (CAVE) also trained him to be “emotionally aware.” Things that may have triggered others, “I wasn’t fazed by it as much.” Being around EJP members, “allows you to work your way back into society without a lot of pressure, without all the social awkwardness.”  

The community of EJP alumni in Chicago have been a “big help,” says James. “All the EJP alumni that I know have all reached out, you know, to check in on each other. They call me and ask, ‘How are you doing?’ They say, ‘Hey, we’re having a prison leadership meeting this weekend. Do you want to come by?’ They will even come pick me up and take me there.” 

We are excited for you, James, and congratulations on your success!