Reentry Testimony at NYC City Hall

On the second day of Ramadan, Michael Rock, Founder and Executive Director of EIGHTY-SEVEN NEW LIFE, INC., delivered testimony before the New York City Council in his professional capacity with Workforce & Re-Entry.

Drawing from his work supporting justice-impacted New Yorkers—and his lived experience of returning home after 16 consecutive years of incarceration—Michael spoke about the barriers people face immediately after release. Identification, transportation, appropriate clothing, housing, technology, and access to employment can determine whether freedom becomes a genuine opportunity or another period of instability.

His testimony highlighted a comprehensive approach to reentry, including prerelease planning, paid internships, employment placement, behavioral-health support, career-readiness training, professional certifications, and connections to stabilizing resources.

Although the testimony described Michael’s profe, its central message also reflects the mission of EIGHTY-SEVEN NEW LIFE: lasting community safety requires dignity, opportunity, accountability, and meaningful support.

Through food-security initiatives, youth development, educational assistance, civic engagement, and community storytelling, EIGHTY-SEVEN NEW LIFE works to address the conditions that prevent individuals and families from thriving.

As Michael reminded the Council, returning citizens should not be defined by their worst decisions. When communities invest in structured support and meaningful opportunity, second chances become more than charity—they become a strategy for stronger families, safer neighborhoods, and lasting change.