From lived experience to lasting change
For organizations rooted in community, funding is more than a financial investment; it is a vote of confidence in people whose wisdom has too often been overlooked. Care First Community Investment (CFCI) grants, created through Measure J, has helped The Social Impact Center transform lived experience into community leadership by investing in healing-centered reentry, mutual aid, and leadership development for formerly incarcerated BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. This support has allowed us to move beyond providing services and instead build systems that empower those most impacted by criminalization to lead lasting change.
As an organization led by a formerly incarcerated person, we know rebuilding one’s life is rarely straightforward. While expungement is often treated as a legal transaction, we experienced how traditional models often prioritize paperwork over people. That realization challenged us to reimagine our approach. Today, expungement at The Social Impact Center is more than legal assistance. It is an entry point to healing, Know Your Rights education, leadership development, mutual aid, and long-term community support.
We recognize that clearing a record does not erase the trauma or barriers created by incarceration, so our model centers the whole person rather than simply their case.
CFCI funding made it possible to bring this vision to life. Beyond strengthening our educational programming and community partnerships, it positioned us to secure additional funding, expand our reach, hire additional staff, and launch two paid fellowships that invest in justice-impacted leaders seeking both leadership development and wellness-centered approaches grounded in lived experience. These investments have allowed more people to access compassionate, culturally responsive support while ensuring those closest to the work are helping shape it.
The funding also enabled us to bring a staff attorney onto our team, fundamentally changing what legal support looks like for our community. Instead of relying solely on one-time “clinics” or referrals, participants now receive ongoing legal guidance, stronger Know Your Rights education, and support navigating complex court systems.
Embedding legal expertise within our organization has strengthened our partnerships, improved our ability to identify systemic barriers, and reinforced our belief that legal advocacy, healing, and leadership development must work together to create lasting stability and self-determination.
“Meaningful change happens when people most affected are trusted to lead.”
This investment has transformed our staff as well. Rather than simply delivering programs, we have deepened our relationships with participants by listening, learning, and co-creating solutions. Every workshop, expungement event, and community gathering has reinforced a simple truth: meaningful change happens when people most affected are trusted to lead.
As we look toward the future, our continued involvement is essential to protecting Measure J, holding decision-makers accountable, and ensuring these resources reach the communities most affected by incarceration. Measure J represents the demands of the people and the commitment to interrupt these cycles of criminalization. CFCI investments have already demonstrated what is possible when lived experience is valued as expertise and formerly incarcerated leaders are empowered to lead, mentor, and give back. We urge you to follow our work. Do not sit on the sidelines. Stay informed, mobilize your networks, and rise with us at the annual rally and our BOS meetings throughout the year. These resources belong in our communities, and together, we must demand that they stay there.
Daniel Rodriguez, Sr. Manager, Community Engagement and Wellness, The Social Impact Center
Founded in 2019 by a formerly incarcerated advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights, The Social Impact Center is the first LGBTQ+ and drug-war survivor community reentry hub in America. Rooted in fostering lived experience leadership, it prioritizes inclusivity and justice for marginalized communities.
Learn more about The Social Impact Center at thesocialimpactcenter.org