Meet Mikia – Full-Circle Reentry Journey - Workforce Development and Adult Learning

MEET Mikia...
Mikia’s Full-Circle Reentry Journey
Mikia’s story is one of resilience, and of what’s possible when committed partners come together to support returning citizens at every step of their journey.

Once employed as an HR Specialist, Mikia had been working hard to turn her life around after struggling with addiction and a drug-related conviction. She was on probation, taking business management classes, and building a new path forward. Then the COVID-19 pandemic struck, taking her mother’s life and the job she had fought so hard to secure. The grief and instability these losses caused led to a relapse, a probation violation, and a return to incarceration to serve the remainder of her sentence. That could have been the sad end of Mikia’s story, but as things turned out, it was only the beginning of a better future.

While at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women (MCI-W), Mikia seized the opportunity to rebuild. She worked closely with Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) social workers, who helped her strengthen her recovery. She threw herself into opportunities to improve her situation. She completed the Office Management program through Maryland Correctional Education, earning the credits she needed to complete her Associate’s degree from Anne Arundel Community College.Mikia also became certified in SMART Recovery in August 2023 through independent study.

As her release approached, Mikia connected with the Maryland Department of Labor’s Reentry Navigator, Ellen Bredt, who invited her to participate in a specialized hospital employment workshop that featured Luminis Health recruiters. Mikia took part in mock interviews during the workshop with a team of stakeholders and learned about a nonprofit reentry program partnered with Luminis Health called Turn Around Thursday, an organization dedicated to helping returning citizens prepare for and secure family sustaining employment.

In late 2024, Mikia transitioned to home detention at Serenity Sistas, a sober transitional home. Her commitment to growth remained strong. She reconnected with her Reentry Navigator, sought Federal Bonding assistance, joined the Turn Around Thursday program, and connected with Officer Horne of the Annapolis Police Department’s Positive Impact program, who personally drove her to weekly check-ins in Baltimore. With a strong network of support and her own determination, Mikia successfully completed her sentence several months later.

Today, Mikia is thriving. She was hired by the Community Action Agency and now serves as House Manager for one of their transitional homes. She is valued for her lived experience, leadership, and commitment to supporting others.

Her personal life is healing too. Mikia has reunited with her children and will regain custody of her youngest son next month. In a milestone moment, she was approved for a donated vehicle through Vehicles for Change, and just weeks later, she drove herself to the Expungement & Resource Event at the Stanton Center in Annapolis, where she represented the Community Action Agency as a service provider. In Mikia’s words:

“None of this would have been possible without the dedicated people and organizations committed to pre-release and reentry support. Their belief in second chances helped me believe in myself. It is your decision to see the glass half full or half empty. I choose half full!”