LIMA — Local legal and community advocates are working to ensure equal opportunities for all residents, particularly those seeking to reintegrate after incarceration. The Catalyst Collective, in partnership with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality Inc. (ABLE), held its “Freedomversary” event Saturday at The Vibe Coffeehouse, marking the second installment in a series designed to connect formerly incarcerated individuals with expungement and reintegration services.
The event featured a Q&A session with panelists Aaliyah White, founder of Pretty Tax USA; Kristie Ortiz, an attorney for ABLE; and Pastor Sherri Pace of RAISE Encounters. The discussion covered personal motivations, systemic issues, reform, community engagement, and other topics related to post-incarceration difficulties.
Attorney Kristie Ortiz noted common public misconceptions regarding expungement eligibility. She clarified that while most misdemeanors are eligible, felonies depend on their class. Ortiz also stated that individuals generally must wait at least one year after completing their sentence or probation before seeking expungement. On the day of the event, 14 people signed up to begin the process of clearing their criminal records, according to Amber Basares.
New to the series on Saturday was a “freedom store,” which offered attendees a variety of items including clothes, toiletries, utensils, and other household goods free of charge. Many of these items were donated by Amber Basares, founder of The Melanated PR Plug, who also helped organize the event. Basares shared that her motivation to assist stemmed from her own firsthand experience with reentry difficulties after prison. She explained, “I found out there’s a lot you need when you get out; you add weight, you lose weight, all kinds of stuff, and I’m just trying to fill that gap.” Basares added that she even provided dermatology-grade cream, having experienced skin issues herself after incarceration.
Addressing other significant reentry barriers, Ortiz mentioned out-of-date phone numbers posted on Allen County jails, which are intended to connect former inmates with legal assistance. ABLE is hoping to collaborate with a group of criminal justice attorneys and bondsmen to offer payment plans as resources, alongside updated contact information. Employment also remains a major challenge, with Ortiz highlighting high drug use and suicide rates among formerly incarcerated individuals due to their “inability to self-sustain.”
Aaliyah White, through her independent tax preparation business, Pretty Tax USA, is actively addressing this employment barrier. White currently employs two individuals who were formerly incarcerated and “couldn’t really get jobs in Lima.” She shared that these employees made “five to $10,000 just off filing income tax returns for three months.” White expressed that she is hiring for anyone “within the specifications of the IRS” and offered words of encouragement, stating, “comparison is the thief of joy.”
Jade Linn, a 39-year-old teacher from McGuffey, attended the event and expressed gratitude for the support offered. Having been incarcerated herself after being unable to “see a safe way out” of a “dangerous situation,” Linn resonated with White’s message. She shared that she had known people who “felt worthless” after being denied employment post-imprisonment. Linn stated, “I know when I got out, it really didn’t feel like anybody cared about that population… But coming here, I see that there’s a community of people that do want to help, and I know that’s just really encouraging.” She added that knowing there are people who want to help is beneficial for her and for others she met during her incarceration who are now getting out.
