We wish to extend congratulations to Johnny Page, EJP alumnus, who was recently named Director of Reentry in the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention and Services at the Illinois Department of Human Services. That sounds like a long title, and his job is not a simple one. His position is to connect different state agencies, community organizations, and impacted families to make sure those released from Illinois prisons have not just resources, but dignity and healing during their reentry into society.  

Among EJP’s first cohort in 2008, Johnny played an important part in helping to launch our college in prison program at Danville. He was released in 2014 and quickly got involved in violence prevention in Chicago neighborhoods. We last published a profile of Johnny’s work in 2022 when he took over as executive director of ConTextos. There he promoted storytelling, healing, and youth leadership development to counter dominant narratives about violence and incarceration in Chicago.  

In his new role as Director of Reentry, Johnny says he is the “band leader” in bringing multiple agencies across the spectrum to work together. “How do I get the trumpets and the drummer on the same page?” he says. “How do I get the flutes and the trombone on the same page? How do I get these folks so we’re moving to the beat of one?”  

The first step, he elaborates, is doing research, “understanding the landscape of reentry in the state, what’s already being done, and what is not being done.” The goal is to create a “pathway and a continuum of care for folks who are recently released and folks who have been released in the state of Illinois.”  

Being a part of EJP helped to prepare him for this position, he says. “I think being a part of EJP helped me understand how to navigate multiple systems at once.” 

Congratulations, Johnny! We look forward to seeing what you accomplish in your new state level position!