Consortium
Reentry Summit 2026
Join us for our Global Reentry Vision Summit, an inspiring event featuring renowned keynote speakers, engaging entertainment, and insightful panel discussions. In partnership with the Travis County Sheriff's Department, we aim to foster collaboration and innovation in reentry solutions. Don't miss this opportunity to connect and learn!
Pathways to Possibility:
Empowering The Journey of Reentry
Join The Reentry Vision Summit!
Be part of a powerful movement driving change, breaking barriers, and building bold new paths for successful reintegration. Experience transformative talks, dynamic collaboration, and a focus on empowerment that strengthens communities.​​
Keynote Speakers
Darwin Hamilton
Darwin Hamilton is one of the co-founders of the Reentry Advocacy Project (RAP) and one of the longest-serving members of the Austin/Travis County Reentry Roundtable. Currently, he serves on the Oversight Board of Travis County's Public Defender Office, the National Association of Public Defense Board of Directors, Trinity University, and UTSA Philosophy & Literature Circle. His personal mission is to change criminal justice policies, practices, and reduce the shame and stigma of formerly incarcerated people. After enduring 5.5 years of incarceration and 17 years on parole, Mr. Hamilton transformed adversity into purpose, becoming a bold voice for reentry, humanity, and dignity-centered reform. For over a decade,de he has been an activist, advocate, strategist, mentor, leader, speaker, and author of his self-published memoir 25 Years Later: A Sentence from Crime to Redemption, Resilience, Advocacy and Leadership. His op-eds have been published in the Austin American-Statesman and by the ACLU of Texas.
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Susan Burton
Susan Burton is a visionary leader of the criminal justice reform movement and founder of A New Way of Life Reentry Project (ANWOL), a nationally recognized model for supporting formerly incarcerated people through reentry, advocacy, and leadership development. Author of award-winning memoir, Becoming Ms. Burton, she has spent over 25 years transforming impacted communities and breaking the cycle of incarceration. She believes that real, lasting change happens when people directly impacted by the system lead the movement—when they are trained, supported, and empowered to raise their voices and shape the policies that affect their lives. Today, Susan continues her work of eliminating suffering through opportunity, but her greatest honor has been inspiring a new generation of justice-driven leaders to carry the movement forward.
Andre Peart
Andre Peart is the visionary founder of Untapped Solutions, an innovative tech firm transforming the reentry landscape for formerly incarcerated individuals. Previously the top executive at ConConnect, Andre's entrepreneurial journey from overcoming personal challenges, including over five years in prison and periods of homelessness, to becoming a celebrated social entrepreneur, is nothing short of inspiring. He has raised over $3 million in funding from prestigious entities such as Google and the Robin Hood Foundation. A subject of a PBS documentary, Andre's story and his commitment to social change have been featured extensively in media outlets. His unique insights continue to influence the fields of workforce development and social entrepreneurship, making him a sought-after speaker and a beacon of hope and innovation.
Sam Garcia
Sam Garcia’s life is a story of a cycle broken. Sam entered the justice
system at age 13 and was released for the last time at 28. Since April 8,
2016, he has been in long-term recovery from substance use and
incarceration. Having transitioned from the “inside,” he became one of
Alaska's first state-certified peer professionals and a dedicated advocate
for the justice-involved.
As Director of Peer Support & Outreach for Emend Healthcare and founder
of Peer of Heart Consulting, Sam turns lived experience into a lifeline. He
partners with reentry coalitions to streamline resources for Alaskans.
Currently, besides supporting new treatment services, he is collaborating
with Pacific Islander leaders to build a culturally rooted reentry program for
their communities.
From surviving a near-fatal overdose to serving on the Alaska Mental
Health Board, Sam’s mission is fueled by the memory of loved ones lost to
the struggle. He believes that by leading with connection over shame, we
can lower recidivism and heal families. Sam is proof that a person’s last
day in the system can be the first day of a new life. Side by side, we
transform struggle into strength.
Teri Tibbett
Teri Tibbett is the Coordinator of the Alaska Reentry Partnership and Co-chair of the Juneau Reentry Coalition. She has worked for over 30 years in public advocacy for Alaskans impacted by addiction disorders, mental illness, brain injury, prenatal alcohol exposure, and criminal justice involvement. For ten years, she served as a legislative aide with the Alaska State Legislature, and for fourteen years coordinated the joint advocacy effort of the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority and partner advisory boards. In these capacities, Teri has organized advocacy trainings, legislative fly-ins, Capitol visits and appointments, education, and receptions for the Alaska Reentry Partnership, Alaska Youth Policy Summit, Alaska Peer Support Consortium, Alaska Prenatal Alcohol Partnership, Advisory Board on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, Alaska Mental Health Board, and other behavioral health and disability organizations in Alaska. She has a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from the University of Alaska Southeast anda Master of Fine Arts from the Institute of American Indian Arts.
Terra Tucker
Terra Tucker serves as the Texas State Director for the Alliance for Safety and Justice, where she is responsible for developing and executing public safety campaigns that center on safety and elevate the voices of crime victims. For the previous ten years, Terra served as a policy analyst working for the Texas Senate Committee on Criminal Justice. She was responsible for drafting legislation related to criminal and juvenile justice, evaluating policy, guiding implementation, monitoring state agencies, including the Texas prison system, and working with constituents on individual and community issues. Terra served on select committees and boards dealing with human trafficking, wrongful convictions, and juvenile records. Most notably, she has used her experience working across party lines to help pass legislation to improve access to victims’ compensation, decriminalize truancy, maintain treatment options for incarcerated individuals, improve mental health standards in jails, and establish pre-jail diversion for arrested persons in Texas.
Leonar Vargas
Leonor Vargas, LMSW is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Wisdom En Familias, LLC, with over 20 years of experience in social work, education, and culturally responsive family and community engagement. A Licensed Master Social Worker and graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Leonor is a bilingual Mexican-American Mujer with Indigenous roots who walks alongside communities to uplift their wisdom, honor lived and ancestral stories, and foster collective healing and justice. Rooted in respeto, her work creates spaces where voices matter and healing is shared.
Saul Paul
SaulPaul is a GRAMMY-nominated Musician with a Message and award-winning #ChangeMaker whose career spans stages, studios, classrooms, and communities nationwide. He has presented four TEDx Talks, performed on three continents, and been featured on America’s Got Talent. His inspiring journey from prison incarceration to college graduation has been shared through the documentary Tower to Tower and his memoir Be The Change.
Driven by a commitment to uplift others, SaulPaul founded the SaulPaul Foundation, a launchpad empowering young people and mobilizing community members through kindness, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Expanding his impact, he later launched Skill Builders Career Academy, a national network of career and technical schools equipping students with hard skills, soft skills, and life skills.
Whether via art, entrepreneurship or community service, SaulPaul is committed to #BeTheChange and inspire others to do the same.
Twaski Simmons
Twaski Simmons is a visionary trainer, trauma-informed practitioner, and founder of the Trauma Coaching and Training Center (TCTC). His work began in 2002, following the completion of his thesis, "Characteristics of Academically Below Average Middle Schools in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System," which opened his eyes to the deeper challenges affecting youth and families. Driven by this insight, he launched D’Affluenza, LLC to provide holistic professional development focused on strengthening the whole individual.
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His mission expanded in 2012 as he became a passionate advocate for trauma-informed care, and in 2023, his work evolved into TCTC — a center dedicated to trauma coaching, mental health training, and accredited Continuing Professional Development (CPD). With more than 25 combined degrees, diplomas, certifications, and licenses in areas such as Trauma-Informed Care, Stress and Conflict Management, Emotional Intelligence, DISC Personality Theory, and John Maxwell leadership, Twaski brings a deeply informed and comprehensive approach to human development.
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Through TCTC, he created two signature programs: the Family Trauma Coaching and Training Program (FTCTP) and the School Professional Development Program (SPDP), both designed to strengthen families, empower educators, and build trauma-responsive communities. Guided by his core belief — “Training and coaching work when you implement the skills. You must implement the skills.” — Twaski continues to equip individuals, families, and professionals with the tools to heal, grow, and thrive.