Light After Life

09/17/2026

09/12/2026

Some conversations matter because they remind us why we do this work.

Honored to see Bill Kissinger bringing his voice, experience, and commitment to the conversation at the Rehumanize International Conference.

This is about more than the justice system. It’s about people, dignity, redemption, and the power of humanity.

Saturday, October 17 | 3:45–4:45 PM Central
Main Stage • Casa Iskali • Des Plaines, Illinois

Proud to stand behind this conversation. ❤️

09/11/2026

Today, we remember. 🇺🇸

We honor the lives lost, the heroes who ran toward danger, and the families whose lives were forever changed.

May we never forget the courage, sacrifice, and unity that followed—and may we continue to choose hope, humanity, and light.

Never Forget. 🕊️

09/07/2026

🇺🇸 LABOR DAY

Today, we honor those who work, serve, provide, and contribute to our communities; including those who are serving time behind bars.

Light After Life honors every individual striving, contributing, and rehabilitating inside our correctional facilities.

Hard work isn't just a daily duty; for many, it's the foundation of a second chance.

From Light After Life, Happy Labor Day!

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave everything in service to this country — including those whose battles did not end when they came home.

For some veterans, the scars of war became struggles with trauma, addiction, homelessness, or the justice system. Behind every uniform is a human being who once raised their hand to serve. Their sacrifice still matters. Their lives still matter.

Today, we honor the fallen, support the forgotten, and fight for compassion, dignity, and second chances for those who served. 🇺🇸

“No soldier left behind” should mean here at home, too.

05/17/2026

Reentry is often treated like coming home is the finish line. But let’s be real — it’s not.

It is training, work, housing, confidence, accountability, support, and people willing to make room for someone to begin again.

Tara attended REfire Culinary’s Annual Gala and Graduation on behalf of Light After Life, and the night was a reminder that second chances have to be built in real ways — through opportunity, structure, community, and people who keep showing up.

Congratulations to the REfire Culinary graduates. Completing this program means you showed up, did the work, and took another step toward building a life not defined by where you have been.

Grateful for REfire Culinary and every person in the room helping make reentry more than a word.

05/10/2026

Today, we honor mothers in every circumstance. 💐

The mothers raising children.
The mothers missing children.
The mothers loving someone through incarceration.
The mothers rebuilding their lives after hardship.
The mothers carrying grief, hope, strength, and love all at once.

Motherhood is not erased by struggle.
It is often revealed in the way women keep showing up, keep healing, keep praying, keep fighting, and keep loving.

This Mother's Day, we celebrate every resilient, loving mother — especially the ones whose strength is rarely seen but deeply felt.

Happy Mother's Day.

05/08/2026

REfire Culinary’s Inner Fire Auction is open, and we wanted to share it with our Light After Life community.

There are some really good items up for bid, and the money supports a local organization helping people build skills, confidence, and a stronger path forward.

REfire Culinary uses food, training, and hands-on experience to help people make positive changes in their lives and in the community.

It is practical work.
It is local work.
And it is worth supporting.

Take a look at the auction, bid on something you like, or share it with someone who may want to support the work.

Bidding closes May 13 at 3 PM EDT.

Auction link:
https://givebutter.com/c/refire-culinary-inner-fire-auction-p0tqop/auction

05/03/2026

🪖 We trained them for war.
We didn’t prepare them for coming home.

Justice and public safety reform must include those who served.

🎖️ The Veteran First Step Act is a smart, targeted reform that prioritizes treatment, reduces recidivism, and strengthens public safety recognizing the role of service-related trauma in justice involvement.

🤍 If we’re serious about public safety and honoring veterans who served our country, this is where it shows.

https://www.lightafterlife.org/veteran-first-step-initiative

05/01/2026

Second Chance Month gave people a reason to talk about redemption.

But April is over.

Now, the actual question is what we do when second chances are no longer just a phrase, but someone real.

Someone's son.
Someone's daughter.
Someone's parent.
Someone who made a terrible choice.
Someone who has had to live with the weight of it.

Someone asking whether change can ever matter.

That is where this conversation gets harder.

Because second chances require truth.
They require accountability.
They require change.

They also require a system willing to look again.

Light After Life is staying in that conversation.

If you want to follow the stories and questions that do not end when April does, join the email list.

https://stats.sender.net/forms/bW69rx/view