FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA ADVISORY
Advancing Criminal Justice Reform in Baltimore, Local Civic Innovators Reconvene to
Build Prototypes for Post Incarceration Reentry Solutions
BALTIMORE, MD, June 16, 2016 – Just four months after hosting the Rebuilding Reentry
Design and Data Day, its inaugural Baltimore social justice event focused specifically on post
incarceration reentry, Mission: Launch, Inc. is reconvening city stakeholders (including more
than 20 recently released residents) committed to building viable prototypes for future
implementation.
The Rebuilding Reentry Baltimore Build Day is a one-day event assembling engaged
citizens, from Baltimore and Washington, DC.; attendees have the collective focus of improving
service delivery outcomes for the formerly incarcerated and successfully navigating Baltimore
residents with arrest and conviction records back to the core of society. Based upon systems
gaps identified during the human centered design process of the February event, these reentry
prototypes will advance community sourced ideas, inclusive of the following areas: family
reunification services, probation/parole guidance, vital records/state ID provision, peer
mentorship and anti-stigma efforts.
“We are excited for this follow up event from February's gathering,” says Laurin Hodge, co-
founder and Executive Director of Mission: Launch, Inc. “Moving the ideas of some of
Baltimore's recently released residents is critical to what we do and what is needed to rebuild
the process of coming back home.” Teresa Hodge, co-founder and EVP adds, “I am excited
about moving ideas forward and helping to promote the power of technology to accelerate
reentry for women and men. Last February, ideas were compiled and data searched. This event
is all about getting those ideas to work and making solutions available online.”
The Rebuilding Reentry Baltimore Build Day is the follow up event to the February 2016
Rebuilding Reentry Baltimore Design and Data Day.
WHO: This event is hosted by Mission: Launch, Inc., its space partner Impact Hub Baltimore,
the Baltimore Safe and Sound Campaign as well as the Baltimore City Accelerator in
conjunction with the Citi Foundation/Living Cities challenge team, sponsored by the Mayor’s
Office on Criminal Justice.
WHAT: The Rebuilding Reentry Baltimore Build Day is a community problem solving and
prototyping gathering; it is convened to discuss, understand and build solutions for local prison
reentry issues. The day’s agenda will be held in partnership with the Baltimore City Accelerator.
Through this event, service providers and concerned citizens are able to identify areas where
they would like to improve the processes of supporting the reentry community and prototype
needs specific tech driven solutions. Those directly impacted by mass incarceration are critical
partners in problem identification and solving. Teams will invest time and resources towards
community sourced ideas with the goal of presenting their solutions for city level
implementation.
WHEN: Saturday, June 18, 2016 (9:00 am - 5:30 pm – introductions, project pitches and
development of build groups/working sessions);
WHERE: The Rebuilding Reentry Baltimore Build Day will convene at Impact Hub Baltimore 10
E. North Avenue, Suite 500, Baltimore, MD 21202;
For more information, contact Bryn Phillips 202-449-4677 Ext. 702 bryn@mission-launch.org
EVENT HASHTAG: #BmoreBuildDay
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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