Soros Justice Fellowships

A New Way of Life Reentry Program

Susan Burton’s project, Women Organizing for Justice, seeks to increase the civic participation of formerly incarcerated women in policy discussions pertaining to criminal justice and reentry. The project will complement and sustain the direct services provided by A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project by strengthening the policy knowledge and skills of formerly incarcerated women in the Greater Los Angeles area; increasing the capacity of individuals working towards policy change in the criminal justice reform arena; and bridging the gap between policymakers and reentry service providers.

Burton is a former prisoner who, in 1998, founded A New Way of Life Re-Entry Project, a grassroots, nonprofit home for formerly incarcerated women in South Los Angeles. Under her leadership, the organization has provided resources and tools to over 150 women. Burton and A New Way of Life have been honored for their unique accomplishments by organizations, including the Los Angeles Multicultural Collaborative, the California Wellness Foundation, the Women’s Policy Institute, KCET’s Black History Month Unsung Heroes Award, the Los Angeles Sober Living Network, the Community Coalition for Substance Abuse Prevention, Lincoln Memorial Church, and PATH of San Diego. Her organization has been featured in several media outlets, such as People magazine, California Connected on KCET-TV, KCAL-9 News, A Second Look on the E! Style Network, the Rob Nelson show, the Los Angeles Sentinel, and the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles, CA  |  One Year |