We don’t often tell the individual stories of our crew members, recognizing that those stories belong to them alone, and are not ours to tell. So the following comes with deep gratitude to “R” for his generosity and enthusiasm to share his journey with us. His words will give you...
In the strongest of terms, we denounce and protest police brutality, the practices of over-policing Black communities, and pervasive institutional and interpersonal white supremacy. We stand alongside our Crew Members and Black Pittsburgh, heeding their call for social change, their right to survive interactions with police, and the creation of policies...
My name is Raymond Miles, I’m the Workforce Development Specialist for the Allegheny County Jail Collaborative and Co-Founder of ReEntry412. I’m also a Landforce Board Member. When I joined the Landforce Board I began to see something wonderfully new and different, and also began to feel differently about myself. Landforce is...
This is the third in a series of Q&A posts to help you get to know the Landforce family. Keep an eye on our blog to see new posts from the staff and crew! Name Maikia Job Title Crew Member, Communications Coordinator How long have you worked at Landforce? I have been with...
Get to Know Us! This the second in a series of Q&A posts to help you get to know the Landforce family. Keep an eye on our blog to see new posts from the staff and crew! Name Salaam Mangum Job Title Crew Member, Data Coordinator How long have you worked at Landforce? I...
Sometimes you need to get away in order to see yourself more clearly. My trip to Costa Rica has put a few things in perspective for me, some of which I’ve written about already – how jails don’t need to look like the jails we have here, how people who...
Costa Rica is well-regarded as a country that has successfully merged eco-tourism and conservation, a model for other developing countries to follow, and a mecca for tourists seeking exceptional beauty and tropical diversity. As a conservationist and anthropologist, I have spent my professional life trying to understand how to reconcile...
If I were to pin down the one crucial ingredient that makes Nueva Oportunidad, and Landforce, for that matter, tick, it’s respect. Respect for our team, respect for our partners, for our volunteers, and equally for the people who go through our programs. In writing these last few posts, I’ve...
This is part three of a multi-part series written by Landforce Executive Director Ilyssa Manspeizer about her reverse exchange with Costa Rican nonprofit Nueva Oportunidad. Be on the lookout for more blog posts about the trip coming soon. “When I get home,” I joked, “everyone will ask me what I did...
This is part two of a multi-part series written by Landforce Executive Director Ilyssa Manspeizer about her reverse exchange with Costa Rican nonprofit Nueva Oportunidad. You can read part one here. Be on the lookout for more blog posts about the trip coming soon. Monday, 15th July, 2019 Today I visited a...