FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

MSNBC Spotlights Mission: Launch, as the Foot Soldiers of the Week, on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show 

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 9, 2015 – Mission: Launch, Inc., a 501 (c)3, non-profit organization, is committed to the elimination of bias against Returning Citizens so that they can rejoin society and live out their full potential free of the stigma; the organization, co-founded by the daughter-mother team of Laurin and Teresa Hodge, was recently introduced on a national scale via MSNBC.

This past Saturday, November 7, 2015, the work of Mission: Launch, the founding and managing organization of the Rebuilding Re-entry Coalition was featured on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show. The organization and its staff were featured by Harris-Perry as the Foot Soldiers of the Week as they hosted the second annual Rebuilding Re-entry Hackathon, a social justice event focused specifically on prison re-entry.

MSNBC Chief Legal Correspondent, Ari Melber conducted multiple interviews based upon varied topics, such as: barriers to reentry, the importance of the civic technology being developed to positively impact re-entry, the usefulness of diverse Rebuilding Re-entry Coalition partners, as well as the need for viable employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated people.

“It is exciting to have our work reach a national audience. As an organization, Mission: Launch is focused on reducing recidivism and restoring human capital. It's not good enough to open the prison doors. We have to remove the invisible life sentence that remains attached to a person as they exit prison and attempt to live a productive life.” Teresa Hodge, Executive Vice President, Mission: Launch Inc.    

"The work of breaking down silos and reimaging what it means to come home is critical at this time in our country. We have bi-partisan support and grass roots commitment to changing the narratives as well as reducing bias and barriers against the 1 in 4 Americans with an arrest and/or conviction record. We create solutions to help returning citizens safely and sustainably navigate to the core of society." Laurin Hodge, Executive Director, Mission: Launch Inc.

The Rebuilding Re-entry Hackathon is a gathering of government agencies, educators, nonprofit leaders and service providers, as well as returning citizens, artists, civic coders and members of the faith-based community; all attendees collaborate to create new solutions dedicated to alleviating challenges experienced by the reentry community. Ten (10) prototype teams emerged and will continue development of both tech and non tech concepts and ideas over the next 8 months, showcasing their outcomes and progress during the summer Demonstration Day event. The Kapor Center for Social Impact was the event’s major sponsor. Impact Hub DC served as the space host sponsor at 419 7th St. NW, 3^rd Floor, Washington, DC 20004

For more information, contact Bryn Phillips   [email protected] 202-618-7075

Link for video footage: http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/organization-seeks-smooth-re-entry-former-inmates

About Mission: Launch, Inc.

Mission Launch, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, and is the founding and managing member of the Rebuilding Re-entry Coalition. The corporation is committed to the elimination of bias against Returning Citizens so that they can rejoin society and live out their full potential free of the stigma, which is an invisible life sentence. The mission of the organization is to build software that upholds human rights, design opportunities for civic engagement, and amplify inclusive thought leadership, so that social outcomes for marginalized communities are improved. Website www.mission-launch.org Twitter: www.twitter.com/mission_launch

Facebook: www.facebook.com/missionlaunch

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