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FOCUS FORWARD PROJECT INC
NEW YORK, NY · EIN 462393329 · Form 990EZ · FY2023 · NTEE I43 · Crime & Legal-Related · Micro (<$100K) · focusforwardproject.org
revenue
$53K
expenses
$137K
net assets
$26K
employees
—
mission · from form 990

THE ORGANZIATION DEDICATES TO PROVIDE MEN AND WOMEN CHARGED WITH FEDERAL CRIMES WITH AN EDUCATIONAL AND EMOTIONAL OUTLET.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Focus Forward Project Inc provides educational and emotional support to men and women facing federal criminal charges through a 13-week structured class program. Participants engage in group discussions centered on the memoir "A Long Way Gone," journaling, and weekly life skills training focused on resume building, public speaking, and personal development. The program operates in federal detention centers and courthouses in New York City, aiming to foster self-worth, resilience, and successful reentry.

named programs · 1 · from sources

What they call their work

Focus Forward Class
13-week program meeting weekly for two hours, combining book discussion on "A Long Way Gone" and life skills training including resume development, public speaking, goal setting, and conflict resolution; includes weekly journal assignments and culminates in a graduation ceremony.
activities · 2 groups

What they do

  • Reentry Support Services 2 activities
    • Deliver 13-week life skills and reentry preparation courses to individuals in federal jails or on pretrial supervision
      Provides a structured, weekly 2-hour program for 6–15 participants that includes life skills training such as resume writing, interview preparation, conflict resolution, public speaking, and goal setting. The program operates in federal facilities including the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Manhattan and the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, as well as for individuals on bail in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
    • Support successful reentry with individualized planning and post-program resources
      Provides reentry services beginning at enrollment, including creation of individualized reentry plans, graduation ceremonies, letters of support to judges, and distribution of journals at reentry fairs. These services are designed to promote stability and continuity of support for participants preparing for life after incarceration.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Facilitate emotional support and personal development through guided reading and writing curriculum
      Uses the book A Long Way Gone as a foundation for weekly guided discussions and journal writing assignments focused on self-reflection, emotional honesty, resilience, and personal growth. Participants engage in regular reading and writing exercises designed to build self-awareness, self-compassion, and a positive mindset within a supportive group environment.
financials · form 990EZ · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$53K
Contributions & grants$53K100%
Program service revenue——
Investment income——
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$137K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$50K
Grants paid out—
balance sheet
Total assets$26K
Cash—
Investments—
Liabilities—
Net assets$26K
4 years on record · 2020–2023 · YoY revenue -2.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023

Who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
PAMELA MILLER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 10 $50K
board members · 5
  • ALEXANDRA CONLON — DIRECTOR
  • CATALINA RAPPAPORT — DIRECTOR
  • DEIRDRE VON DORNUM — DIRECTOR
  • JUSTINE ALICE KENTLA CHO — DIRECTOR
  • KATHLEEN VETERI — DIRECTOR/SECRETARY
relationships · 16

Who they work with

  • Alex Partner — Instructor who supported participants without judgment and encouraged higher self-expectations
  • Ann Partner — Instructor and course moderator for Focus Forward participants
  • Focus Forward volunteers Partner — Volunteers work directly with participants to provide support during the course.
  • Justine Partner — Instructor who supported participants without judgment and encouraged higher self-expectations
  • Lori Partner — Instructor and course moderator for Focus Forward participants
  • MCC-New York Partner — Hosts Focus Forward Project classes within the federal jail facility.
  • MDC-Brooklyn Partner — Hosts Focus Forward Project classes within the federal jail facility.
  • Metropolitan Correctional Center Partner — Site where Focus Forward Project delivers educational courses to incarcerated individuals.
  • Metropolitan Correctional Center Partner — Site where the first Focus Forward Project class was held and participants graduated.
  • Metropolitan Detention Center Partner — Location where Focus Forward Project expanded to offer classes.
  • Metropolitan Detention Center Partner — Site where Focus Forward Project delivers educational courses to incarcerated individuals.
  • Rachel Partner — Mentored participants in the Focus Forward program alongside Susan
  • Susan Partner — Mentored participants in the Focus Forward program alongside Rachel
  • U.S. District Courthouse of the Eastern District of New York Partner — Hosts Focus Forward Project classes in Brooklyn.
  • U.S. District Courthouse of the Southern District of New York Partner — Hosts Focus Forward Project classes in Manhattan.
  • Zenit Journals Partner — Partnered with Zenit Journals to distribute Lil Woosah Journals to individuals reentering society after incarceration.
strategies · 4

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.

  • Future-Focused Reentry Planning During Pretrial Period
    methodology: future-focused_reentry_planning
    By providing structured education, life skills training, and individualized reentry planning during the pretrial phase, the organization helps individuals transform a period of uncertainty into productive personal development, thereby reducing recidivism and supporting successful community reintegration because early intervention builds agency and prepares participants for rehabilitation before sentencing.
  • Judicial Advocacy Through Educational Achievement
    methodology: court-recognized_reentry_program
    By integrating reentry preparation with educational programming that is recognized by courts, completion serves as demonstrable evidence of rehabilitation, influencing judicial perceptions and potentially improving legal outcomes because structured participation signals commitment to change during the pretrial period.
  • Supportive Community Model to Foster Mutual Growth
    methodology: community_as_family_reentry_model
    By combining skills-based training with small-group dialogue and a familial community environment, the program cultivates mutual support, emotional wellness, and self-empowerment because peer-driven relationships and honest discussion build trust, accountability, and sustained behavioral change.
  • Trauma-Informed Narrative Engagement for Personal Transformation
    methodology: trauma_informed_literary_reflection
    By using narrative reflection on texts like *A Long Way Gone*, participants connect literary experiences of trauma and resilience to their own lives, fostering emotional processing, self-worth, and personal growth because story-based learning enables deeper introspection and healing than didactic instruction alone.