named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
DV / Crisis Counseling
Free trauma-informed counseling services for formerly incarcerated survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault; includes individual and group sessions, anger management, parenting skills, and mental health support
Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program
Three-phase program offering training in financial literacy, business development, and tax law to help formerly incarcerated women start for-profit or nonprofit businesses; includes paid internship, business incubator, and tax compliance education
Sentenced to Dance
Creative arts program using dance, theater, and writing to support healing and self-expression among formerly incarcerated women; includes workshops, rehearsals, and public performances
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention Education 1 activity
- Advocacy for domestic violence survivors in the justice systemLeads advocacy efforts to advance the rights of domestic violence survivors in the criminal justice system, including helping to implement the New York Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act, which allows for sentencing discretion and resentencing opportunities for survivors.
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Workforce Readiness Training 1 activity
- Entrepreneurship Fellowship and Business Incubator ProgramOffers a three-phase fellowship program that includes virtual hands-on training in communication, entrepreneurship, and food handling skills, followed by a paid internship and business incubator support to help formerly incarcerated women launch for-profit businesses or 501(c)(3) organizations. Graduates receive case management, mental health support, subsidized New York State Food Handling Certification, and technology support.
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Youth and Community Research Initiatives 1 activity
- Research on domestic violence and criminal justice involvementConducted and published research on the impact of domestic violence on women's criminal justice involvement, contributing to policy and program development for survivors.
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Theater and Performing Arts in Corrections 1 activity
- Sentenced to Dance creative arts programOperates "Sentenced to Dance," an 8-week free creative arts program using movement for self-expression, empowerment, and healing, consisting of 5 workshops and at least 3 rehearsals, culminating in a public performance. Participants are also offered ongoing performance opportunities, workshops in correctional facilities, and community outreach education.
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Child Advocacy and Trauma Support Centers 1 activity
- Therapeutic counseling and support servicesProvides free, trauma-informed individual and group counseling services including domestic violence support groups, anger management, parenting skills, and evidence-based mental health counseling for formerly incarcerated survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and those affected by incarceration, re-entry, substance abuse, and COVID-19. Services are delivered in a strength-based, creative framework to support healing and reintegration.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$103K
Contributions & grants$103K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$165K
Program expenses0%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$137K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$20K
Cash$213K
Investments$0
Liabilities$26K
Net assets$-6K
Liquid reserves15.5 mo
5 years on record · 2018–2023 · YoY revenue -51.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SHARON RICHARDSON | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $64K |
board members · 2
- DORETHA DAWKINS — DIRECTOR
- LELA GORGEN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 9
Who they work with
- Baba Obediah Wright Partner — Collaborated as choreographer for Reentry Rocks' first creative arts workshop.
- Just Soul Catering Partner — Provides immediate work opportunities for Reentry Rocks program graduates.
- Legal Aid Society Partner — Organization where Melissa served as a forensic social worker.
- Mark Morris Dance Partner — Hosted Reentry Rocks' 3-day creative arts workshop at its studio facility.
- NYC Department of Education Partner — Doretha Dawkins, a board member of Reentry Rocks, holds a position as Partnerships Lead at NYC Department of Education, indicating a professional connection between the organizations.
- STEPS to End Family Violence Partner — Collaborated on providing therapeutic services for victims of intimate partner violence at Rikers Island.
- STEPS to End Family Violence Partner — Organization where Melissa worked as a domestic violence counselor/advocate.
- Sister Mary Nerney Partner — Collaborated with Sharon Richardson to co-create a re-entry program for survivors of gender-based violence.
- The Journal of Interpersonal Violence Network — Peer-reviewed journal in which Melissa's research was published.
strategies · 7
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Creative Arts as Expressive and Community Healing Toolsmethodology: creative_arts_healingBy using dance, theater, and writing as expressive modalities, the organization supports trauma healing and transforms personal narratives into community education because creative expression enables non-verbal processing and public reclamation of identity.
- Experiential Work Readiness Through Role-Based Learningmethodology: experiential-work-readiness-trainingBy combining lectures, discussions, and role-playing, the organization develops professional habits that support long-term employment success because experiential learning builds behavioral competence and workplace confidence.
- Intersectional Approach to Reentry and Healingmethodology: intersectionalityBy recognizing how gender, race, class, and sexuality intersect in shaping experiences of incarceration and trauma, the organization tailors support to address compound inequities because effective reentry must account for systemic oppression.
- Phased Entrepreneurial Training for Economic Reintegrationmethodology: phased-entrepreneurial-trainingBy progressing formerly incarcerated women through structured phases—from skill-building to business launch—the program builds economic self-sufficiency because incremental, intensive training increases the likelihood of sustainable entrepreneurship.
- Survivor-Centered Leadership and Programmingmethodology: survivor_leadershipBy centering leadership and program design on the lived experiences of survivors of complex trauma, the organization ensures relevance, trust, and empowerment because those most impacted are best positioned to lead transformative change.
- Trauma-Informed Mentoring for Intergenerational Healingmethodology: trauma_informed_mentoringBy mentoring youth in the juvenile justice system, the organization addresses cycles of intergenerational violence and trauma because sustained, empathetic relationships can redirect behavioral patterns rooted in unresolved harm.
- Trauma-Informed Reentry with Narrative Healingmethodology: trauma_informed_reentryBy guiding individuals to confront personal history, tell their true stories, and build self-awareness, the organization fosters transformation and sustained positive change because healing from trauma is foundational to successful reintegration and personal agency.