District 5 Leads Proclamation Commemorating Second Chance Month

Published on April 16, 2026

This marks the first-ever second-chance proclamation in San Antonio’s history.

SAN ANTONIO (April 16, 2026) – Through the leadership of Councilwoman Castillo, City Council commemorated the first Second Chance April. Joining the City Council meeting to receive the proclamation were organizations that have dedicated themselves to supporting justice impacted and those reentering into society after being incarcerated. The organizations included Unity Recovery, Chrysalis Ministries, Toyotetsu, Big Homies and the Bexar County Reentry Center. 

“Raising awareness of the 44,000 collateral consequences our formerly incarcerated face upon reintegration into employment, housing and subsistence is why I filed the proclamation and initiated the Council Consideration Request for Second Chance hiring incentives inspired in expanding the great work of Toyotetsu,” said District 5 Councilmember Teri Castillo.

“So while today is a celebration, it’s also a call to action to continue breaking down the barriers that make reentry harder than it needs to be, and to ensure that second chances are not the exception, but the expectation,” said Amanda Cassidy Trejo, on behalf of Unity Recovery.

Nysja Barrientes, on behalf of the Bexar County Reentry Center shared, “Today, we stand in agreement with the City’s proclamation of April as Second Chance Month, a meaningful acknowledgment of redemption, opportunity, and forward movement. We believe every individual deserves the opportunity to rebuild and contribute meaningfully to the community. Breaking down barriers to employment is essential, as talent exists everywhere, but opportunity is not always equally extended.”

The District 5 Councilmember continued, San Antonio has an approximately 60% justice impacted population, and it is all of our responsibility to build the necessary safety nets of basic needs to prevent more people from becoming justice-impacted and to fully support those reintegrating into our communities by offering them opportunities of a dignified living wage job.” 

The District 5 Councilmember challenged local businesses to connect directly with the Bexar County Reentry Center and to incorporate second-chance hiring practices into their workplace. Employers can start the conversation directly by contacting Reentry Center Manager Aida Negron at aida.negron@bexar.org.