The Power of Social Enterprises to Reduce Recidivism
Video
Summary
On October 20, 2026, the City Club of Chicago hosted The Power of Social Enterprises to Reduce Recidivism, a panel discussion highlighting Drugs, Crimes, & Consequences, a report commissioned by the North Lawndale Employment Network (NLEN) and conducted by the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC). The report examines the economic and social costs of recidivism in Chicago’s North Lawndale community and explores how employment social enterprises can create pathways toward successful reentry, economic opportunity, and community stability.
The discussion featured Brenda M. Palms, President and CEO of NLEN; Teresa Córdova, Director of the Great Cities Institute; Rashawn Ray, Vice President and Executive Director of the AIR Opportunity Fund; Maria Kim, CEO of Redefine Alliance; and Damion Heron of JPMorgan Chase. Panelists explored the systemic barriers faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, the role of community-based employment and supportive services in reducing recidivism, and the broader economic and social benefits of investing in individuals, families, and historically disinvested communities.