Building Community, Creating Champions.
This April, we are coming together across the county for our 2nd Annual Reentry Awareness Month.
Celebrated formerly as ‘Reentry Week’ during the last week of April, a growing number of effective and creative initiatives that support returning citizens have continued to grow each year, including reentry assemblies, job fairs, cook-off challenges, and more. In response, the Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry and community partners have come together to acknowledge the entire month of April as Reentry Month!
At LMM, we are firm believers in reforming the criminal legal system and that returning citizens deserve second chances. Scroll for more information on getting involved in Reentry Month events to support second chances for all.
“The Next Plate: Serving Up New Chances” Culinary Showcase and Hospitality Fair
Tuesday, April 14, 2026,
2:00 PM-4:00 PM
Greater Cleveland Food Bank 15500 S Waterloo Rd. Cleveland, OH 44110
Join us for an unforgettable afternoon celebrating the success of culinary arts in reentry here in Cuyahoga County! Each year, we highlight the impact of culinary training and honor the amazing talent thriving within our community. This year, we are taking that mission to new heights with our thrilling “The Next Plate: Serving Up New Chances” showcase.
Fines and Fees Summit
Friday, April 24, 2026
9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Cleveland Public Library- Glenville Campus 11900 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland, OH 44108
The Fines and Fees Summit is a deep dive into the hidden costs of the legal system. Our goal is to expose how financial penalties often have more to do with “funding needs” than actual justice—creating a cycle of debt that stalls reentry and weakens our entire community. We lead with an honest look at the racial and class inequities baked into these penalties. By bringing together those who have lived through the burden of these fees with those who have the power to change them, the Summit will bridge the gap between personal stories and hard data. Join us as we move beyond the “oppression of the bill” and toward a system that truly supports stability and success.
Our Collective Voices Are Stronger Together: How Justice-Impacted Individuals Are Shaping Our Communities
The 2026 Charles R. See Forum on Reentry
Wednesday, April 29
11:30am – 3:00pm
The City Club of Cleveland
1317 Euclid Ave. Suite 100, Cleveland, OH 44115
Please join Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry (LMM) at the City Club of Cleveland for the annual Charles R See Forum on Reentry. The annual forum, which is endowed thanks to several generous donors, honors See’s 44 years at LMM and brings attention to current issues in the field of criminal justice. Each year, a keynote speaker is featured at the forum to spread awareness around criminal legal system reform and to share about their work and/or lived experience with reentry.
Visit www.cityclub.org to Purchase Tickets or Register to Watch Online
Click the logo below to stay in the loop with even more Reentry Month 2026 events happening throughout the month of April!
