What we offer
INSIDE PRISON WALLS:
-
The TJC is proud to collaborate with WeCare, a prison-based program intended to educate and empower the youth of today from our communities to learn from the poor life choices and experiences of incarcerated individuals, in hopes to deter them from criminal behavior and to inspire them to achieve their fullest potential.
“Unlike other prison-based deterrent programs of the past, WeCare does not rely on scare tactics to lead the youth into making better decisions in life. Instead, we, as incarcerated men, share our own experiences and shed light on our own past mistakes that landed us in prison in the first place in hope to provide the youth with insightful knowledge on what not to do, while also giving them better, alternative choices and positive tools so that they may be able to achieve their goals and dreams”
WeCare is led by an incredible team of organized and thoughtful incarcerated men behind bars at CTF. The TJC helps coordinate and clear participants for the day tour. Many of the WeCare members are also Empathy in Action brother in blue participants! Contact us for more information!
-
A weekly trauma-informed, embodied yoga class we offer inside prison, where we invite members from the public to practice yoga with the incarcerated participants.
Every Thursday and Friday 2:30-3:30pm
-
An 8 week long program where community members and the incarcerated sit together to engage in intellectual conversation and empathy-building practices. The program encourages emotional understanding, forgiveness, and personal growth.
“Engaging literature, and our own stories, to build bridges of empathy, insight, and healing between the incarcerated and the public.”
Mondays 4-6pm
Learn more in our Empathy in Action tab!
At the center:
-
We are creating holistic workforce development program tailored to meet the complex needs of people returning from incarceration. Our approach is trauma-informed, inclusive, and deeply humanizing, specifically tailored at helping individuals find purpose and liveable incomes. We aim to support participants not only with hard skills like resume building and interview preparation but also with the soft skills essential for long-term success—communication, conflict resolution, emotional regulation, time management, teamwork, and problem-solving, skills we teach inside prison through Empathy in Action and continue to offer the community during the re-entry process.
In partnership with Monterey County Workforce Development (MCWD), our program will bridge the gap between system-involved individuals and sustainable employment or education pathways. By combining TJC’s reentry-specific support and MCWD’s infrastructure, we can provide personalized, wraparound support from pre-release through post-release, ensuring no one falls through the cracks.
Key components of our program include:
Resume and cover letter writing
Interview preparation
Employment placement assistance
Higher education and certificate program guidance
Wardrobe assistance
Childcare navigation
Connection to employers with fair-chance, second-chance hiring practices
Emotional and professional readiness training
The Homecoming Hotline, a phone and text-based support system available for returning citizens to ask questions or access resources in real time
-
A first in the nation! Step into a unique and authentically built replica of a real, modern-day prison cell. This cell recreation was constructed with materials and furniture from a real prison. Throughout the cell, you’ll not only experience the touch of cold metal and concrete closed around you in this small space of isolation, but you’ll be able to feel the design of discomfort and punishment these prison cells are designed to create. Different facts about prison life are displayed throughout the re-created environment. For example, each toilet only flushes 2x within 5 minutes. There is no way to know when the last flush was. If you try to flush for a third time in a 5 minute period, it will go on “safety lock” for 1 hour! Learn more when you step inside the cell in person
-
Watch featured short films of incarcerated community members share their personal stories, as well as their experiences and lives within the institution. Witness personal stories documented about those incarcerated and their desire for love, connection, and redemption. It is no easy feat to get filming clearance within prison walls, so these documented moments where the incarcerated can speak to the outside public are extremely special. Our goal is to “give voice to the voiceless”
-
Explore various art mediums and pieces created by incarcerated individuals. Read and immerse yourself in a plethora of literature written by the incarcerated! Explore various art mediums created by incarcerated individuals including oil pastel pieces, beading, paper mache, paintings, card making, and more.
-
Attend or host an event, workshop, informative panel, or tour! School groups, justice organizations, non-profits, and community based organizations are encouraged to reach out! We would love to collaborate.