Empowering Futures
71% of released individuals are rearrested within 5 years.
We're building a system that transforms that statistic.
Lifers Hope Foundation: Turning incarceration into opportunity through comprehensive reintegration, economic empowerment, and community transformation.
Our Mission: Building Economic Power, Not Charity
We don't offer handouts—we build economic power and restore citizenship.
  • Living-wage careers ($25-35/hour)
  • Stable housing they help build
  • Financial infrastructure and entrepreneurship
  • Trauma-informed support and community governance
We transform incarceration into opportunity, poverty into empowerment, and inequality into justice.
We champion dignity over dependency, creating economic value and lasting transformation.
Meet Arthur: From San Quentin to USC
Arthur Agustin's profound journey from incarceration—having served two prison terms within the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), including San Quentin and Pelican Bay State Prison—fuels the core vision of the Lifers Hope Foundation. His firsthand experience offers an authentic perspective and deep understanding essential to fostering positive system evolution.
Today: USC Master of Social Work candidate, Clinical Intern at Amity Foundation, and founder of Lifers Hope.
The Transformation:
Within a nurturing environment, Arthur discovered a powerful calling: to channel his personal adversity into empowering marginalized individuals and those facing significant challenges. This rich blend of lived experience and rigorous academic training forms the bedrock upon which the Foundation's vision is built.
Arthur's Vision:
"My journey was a crucible where suffering forged a profound sense of meaning. It is my deepest aspiration to ignite this possibility for every soul touched by incarceration, injustice, and systemic challenges—to help them transform their past into a powerful future."
— Arthur Agustin, Founder
Why This Matters:
This personal transformation ignited the vision for the Lifers Hope Foundation Integration Model—a holistic framework designed to provide shelter, meaningful employment, and a sense of belonging, ultimately paving the way for lasting individual success and collective empowerment.
The Problem: A System Designed to Fail
Mass incarceration isn't about individual failure—it's systemic design:
  • $80 billion spent annually on punishment
  • 71% rearrest rate within 5 years
  • 1.9 million people trapped in the cycle
  • Fragmented services that don't address root causes
The current system prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation, creating a revolving door that costs taxpayers billions while destroying lives and communities.
We can do better.
Disrupting the Cycle: Addressing the Roots of Societal Challenges
Behaviors often deemed criminal are frequently shaped by systemic challenges and areas needing attention in our society. Addressing these underlying challenges is paramount to truly transforming individual lives and entire communities.
The School-to-Prison Pipeline
Disproportionate suspensions and arrests funnel low-income and minority students into the juvenile justice system, missing opportunities for vital support for trauma or learning disabilities.
Environmental Factors & Structural Racism
Poverty, limited education, and structural racism contribute to pathways toward incarceration. High unemployment, fractured families, and biased policing disproportionately affect Black and Brown communities.
Untreated Trauma & Mental Health
Over 60% of incarcerated individuals report childhood abuse. Unresolved trauma, coupled with mental illness (45%) and substance use (65%), often fuels risky behavior. Yet, most do not receive adequate treatment.
Ultimately, these challenges often stem less from individual failings and more from the significant outcomes born of systemic challenges: entrenched poverty, underfunded education, community disinvestment, and inadequate mental health services.
"I never truly had a chance. My mom was struggling with addiction, my dad was locked up, and school just didn't care. They kept suspending me until I dropped out. I never wanted to be a criminal—but I was already surviving like one."
— Formerly Incarcerated Individual, now a successful journeyman electrician
What if we could interrupt these cycles before they begin? What if prisons became launching pads instead of dead ends? Our vision for The Lifers Hope Integration Model is designed to transform these systemic challenges into systematic, actionable solutions. This is our proposal for a brighter future.
Our Evidence-Based Approach: A Blueprint for Change
Our approach is grounded in robust research and proven models, integrating insights from:
  • Mass Incarceration & Recidivism Data: Informing the development of effective reentry solutions.
  • Proven Program Models: Implementing strategies that effectively reduce recidivism and foster rehabilitation.
  • Sustainable Development Best Practices: Integrating housing, construction, and agriculture to build community self-sufficiency.
  • Economic Empowerment Frameworks: Advancing financial stability and social mobility through union, trade, and entrepreneurial programs.
We are committed to developing informed, impactful interventions, rigorously grounded in peer-reviewed research, government data, and evidence-based program evaluations.
Designing Transformation: The Lifers Hope Blueprint
The Lifers Hope Integration Model is more than a program; it is a community-led, evidence-informed reintegration framework designed for evaluation and scalability.
This model is designed to create an integrated ecosystem that:
This solution aims to convert systemic challenges into structured pathways for individual and community flourishing.
  • Effectively addresses existing challenges.
  • Actively fosters true economic mobility.
  • Ensures the full restoration of citizenship.
Published Blueprint:
The Lifers Hope Integration Model blueprint has been published and is publicly available for review:
  • 📚 Amazon Kindle Unlimited: Complete implementation framework
What's Included:
  • Complete program design and implementation guide
  • Evaluation framework and metrics
  • Partnership models and stakeholder engagement
  • Financial projections and sustainability plan
  • Replication toolkit for other facilities
Validation:
  • Endorsed by Dr. Suzanne DeBenedittis, Greenerway Associates
  • Grounded in decades of research from proven models
  • Ready for implementation
This published blueprint demonstrates our readiness to move from concept to action.
Theory of Change: From Incarceration to Economic Empowerment
Our Systems-Change Approach:
Our model addresses the root causes of recidivism through comprehensive, integrated support—not fragmented services. This logic model demonstrates how strategic investments create cascading positive outcomes.
INPUTS:
  • Vocational training (construction, union trades)
  • Financial infrastructure (credit unions, savings)
  • Stable housing (modular homes)
  • Trauma-informed support
OUTPUTS:
  • 85% job retention (vs. 30% national)
  • $25-35/hour living wages
  • 15% recidivism (vs. 71% national)
  • $4-5 return per $1 invested
IMPACT:
  • Transformed lives
  • Economic revitalization
  • Scalable systems change
This theory of change is grounded in decades of research from successful reentry programs and validated by academic partners. It represents a proven pathway from incarceration to economic empowerment.
The Integration Model: Behind Prison Walls to Economic Freedom
Phase 1: Behind Prison Walls - Building the Foundation
Vocational Training & Certification:
  • Modular home construction - carpentry, electrical, plumbing
  • Green construction - solar panels, rainwater capture, energy efficiency
  • Truck driving & CDL certification - commercial driver's license
  • Warehouse management & logistics - supply chain, inventory, forklift
  • Regenerative agriculture - sustainable farming, permaculture
  • Financial literacy and business fundamentals
Stipend & Trust Fund System:
  • Participants earn $15-20/hour stipends during vocational training
  • Automatic deposits into trust funds - cannot be accessed until release
  • Funds earmarked for down payment on modular home ($5,000-$8,000 typical balance)
  • Credit union partnership - credit building begins during incarceration
  • Financial planning for homeownership
Behavioral Health Support:
  • Trauma-informed counseling and therapy
  • Substance use disorder treatment
  • Mental health services and peer support
  • Cognitive behavioral interventions
  • Healing-centered practices
Credit Building & Financial Infrastructure:
  • Credit union membership established during incarceration
  • Credit-building strategies and education
  • Homeownership preparation and mortgage readiness
  • Asset-building mindset development
Phase 2: Transition - From Prison to Community
Immediate Housing Stability:
  • Modular homes participants helped build ($25K per unit)
  • Affordable, dignified housing ready upon release
  • Community-based, supportive environment
  • Pathway to homeownership
Phase 3: Economic Empowerment - Sustainable Careers
Union Wage Pathways:
  • Direct placement into union apprenticeships
  • Living wages: $25-35/hour
  • Benefits, job security, career advancement
  • Construction, renewable energy, skilled trades
Regenerative Agriculture & Sustainability:
  • Urban farming and food production
  • Environmental stewardship careers
  • Community food security initiatives
  • Green jobs and climate solutions
Entrepreneurship Support:
  • Small business incubation
  • Worker cooperatives
  • Access to capital through credit unions
  • Business mentorship and technical assistance
Phase 4: Long-Term Stability - Building Wealth
Homeownership:
  • Rent-to-own pathways for modular homes
  • Asset building and generational wealth
  • Community land trusts
  • Financial stability and pride of ownership
Community Governance:
  • Participant leadership in program design
  • Peer mentorship roles
  • Advisory board positions
  • Civic reintegration and voice
This comprehensive integration ensures every participant has a clear pathway from incarceration to economic freedom, dignity, and community leadership.
Three Integrated Career Pathways
Our Integrated Model includes:
Modular Home Construction & Green Building
  • Build affordable housing while incarcerated
  • Union apprenticeships: $25-35/hour upon release
  • Solar installation, rainwater systems, sustainable construction
  • Path to homeownership
Transportation & Logistics
  • CDL training and commercial driving certifications
  • $25-35/hour starting wages
  • Immediate job placement in high-demand industry
  • Warehouse management and supply chain careers
Regenerative Agriculture & Sustainability
  • Sustainable farming and permaculture training
  • Urban agriculture and food security
  • Green career pathways
  • Environmental stewardship
Every pathway includes: Financial literacy, credit union membership, trauma-informed behavioral health support, and community governance.
Financial Infrastructure: Building Wealth, Not Just Income
The Challenge:
Most reentry programs focus on employment but ignore wealth-building. Without savings, credit, or financial literacy, formerly incarcerated individuals remain economically vulnerable.
Our Solution: Comprehensive Financial Empowerment
Trust Funds & Stipends (Established During Incarceration):
  • Participants earn stipends during vocational training ($15-20/hour while incarcerated)
  • Automatic savings deposited into trust funds - participants cannot access until release
  • Funds specifically earmarked for down payment on modular home they helped build
  • Typical balance at release: $5,000-$8,000 (enough for down payment + tools + transportation)
  • Trust fund continues to grow post-release with union wages
Credit Union Partnership:
  • Credit union membership established during incarceration
  • Credit union holds trust fund and helps build credit history
  • Credit-building loans available upon release (secured by trust fund)
  • Affordable mortgage products for modular home purchase
  • Financial counseling and homeownership preparation
  • Alternative to predatory lenders - community-based, mission-aligned
Financial Literacy Training:
  • Budgeting and money management
  • Credit repair and building
  • Tax preparation
  • Investment basics
  • Homeownership preparation
Entrepreneurship Support:
  • Small business planning and development
  • Access to microloans and capital
  • Business mentorship
  • Worker cooperative formation
  • Collective ownership models
Union Wage Pathways to Homeownership:
  • Direct placement into union apprenticeships upon release
  • Living wages: $25-35/hour with full benefits
  • Fully vested to journeyman status (3-4 year pathway)
  • Journeyman wages: $40-50/hour with retirement benefits
  • Union benefits include: health insurance, pension, paid training
Pathway to Homeownership:
  1. During incarceration: Build trust fund through stipends ($5,000-$8,000)
  1. Upon release: Use trust fund as down payment on modular home ($25K total cost)
  1. Rent-to-own structure: Monthly payments build equity
  1. Union wages ($25-35/hour) make payments affordable
  1. Credit union financing with favorable terms
  1. Full ownership within 5-7 years
  1. Asset value: $150,000+ (market rate for comparable home)
Community Wealth Development:
  • Homeownership creates generational wealth
  • Participants become property owners, not renters
  • Community land trusts ensure long-term affordability
  • Collective ownership models for some properties
  • Wealth stays in community, not extracted by landlords
The Impact:
Traditional Reentry:
  • ❌ Released with $200 gate money
  • ❌ No savings, no credit
  • ❌ Immediate financial crisis
  • ❌ Return to survival mode
Lifers Hope Model:
  • ✅ Released with $5,000-8,000 in savings
  • ✅ Credit union membership and financial plan
  • ✅ Housing secured (down payment for modular home)
  • ✅ Tools and resources for employment
  • ✅ Foundation for long-term stability and asset building
This isn't charity - it's economic justice and asset-building for communities historically excluded from wealth creation.
Regenerative Agriculture: Growing Food, Growing Hope
Participants develop sustainable farming skills through hands-on regenerative agriculture training, creating pathways to green careers while addressing food insecurity.
What Participants Learn:
  • Organic farming and permaculture
  • Soil health and composting
  • Water conservation and irrigation systems
  • Urban farming techniques
  • Farmers market operations
  • Food distribution and logistics
The Impact:
For Participants:
  • Therapeutic connection to land and nature
  • Marketable agricultural skills
  • Entrepreneurship opportunities (farm stands, CSAs)
  • Living-wage careers in sustainable agriculture
  • Healing through working with soil and plants
For Communities:
  • Fresh, healthy food for underserved neighborhoods
  • Community gardens and urban farms
  • Food security and nutrition education
  • Environmental restoration and green spaces
Career Pathways:
Urban Farm Managers
$35,000-50,000/year
Landscape/Grounds Maintenance
$25-35/hour
Farmers Market Vendors
Self-employment
Agricultural Cooperatives
Ownership opportunities
Environmental Restoration
$20-30/hour
Healing Benefits:
Research shows gardening and agriculture reduce stress, improve mental health, and provide purpose - critical for trauma recovery and successful reentry.
Real-World Model:
Programs like Insight Garden Program and Planting Justice have demonstrated profound impact on recidivism and well-being through agricultural training.
Modular Home Construction: Building Homes, Building Futures
The Program:
Participants learn to construct affordable, sustainable modular homes while incarcerated, gaining valuable construction certifications and creating their own housing solution for reentry. This program emphasizes that participants are literally building their own future homes while learning green construction skills that lead to high-paying union careers.
What Participants Learn:
Core Construction Skills:
  • Carpentry and framing
  • Electrical systems installation
  • Plumbing and HVAC
  • Drywall, finishing, and painting
  • Project management and teamwork
Green Construction & Sustainability:
  • Solar panel installation and integration - renewable energy systems
  • Rainwater capture systems - water conservation and storage
  • Energy-efficient building techniques - insulation, passive solar design
  • Sustainable materials - recycled, low-impact construction materials
  • Green building certifications - LEED, Energy Star standards
Advanced Systems:
  • Battery storage systems for solar
  • Greywater recycling systems
  • Smart home technology integration
  • Energy monitoring and management
The Impact:
For Participants:
  • Marketable construction skills and certifications
  • Union-ready training
  • Affordable housing upon release ($25K per unit vs. $400K+ market rate)
  • Pride of ownership - living in homes they built
  • Pathway to homeownership through rent-to-own
For Communities:
  • 400,000+ affordable housing units needed nationally
  • Addresses housing crisis with sustainable solutions
  • Creates skilled workforce for construction industry
  • Reduces homelessness among formerly incarcerated
The Economics:
  • Cost per unit: $25,000 (materials + labor)
  • Market value: $150,000+
  • Participant stipends during construction: $15-20/hour (builds trust fund)
  • Post-release union wages: $25-35/hour
  • Journeyman wages: $40-50/hour
  • Down payment from trust fund: $5,000-$8,000
  • Rent-to-own pathway: 5-7 years to full ownership
Real-World Model:
Built on success of programs like Delancey Street Foundation, which has constructed over $100 million in real estate using resident labor.
Union Pathways: From Apprentice to Journeyman to Homeowner
The Union Advantage: Lifers Hope Foundation partners with labor unions to create direct pathways from incarceration to living-wage careers with full benefits and job security.
Foundation Behind Walls
  • Build trust fund through stipends: $5,000-$8,000
  • Establish credit union membership
  • Complete vocational certifications
Apprentice Level (Years 1-2)
Upon Release: Immediate union job placement
  • Starting wage: $25-30/hour
  • Full health insurance and benefits
  • Paid on-the-job training
  • Union membership and representation
  • Annual wage increases
Use trust fund for down payment on modular home ($25K total cost) and begin rent-to-own structure with affordable monthly payments. Credit union provides favorable financing.
Advanced Apprentice (Years 2-3)
  • Wage: $30-35/hour
  • Increased responsibilities
  • Specialized skill development
  • Leadership opportunities
Journeyman Status (Years 3-4)
  • Fully vested journeyman - highest skill level
  • Wage: $40-50/hour ($80,000-$100,000/year)
  • Full pension and retirement benefits
  • Job security and union protection
  • Ability to train new apprentices
Building Equity (Years 1-5)
  • Build equity through monthly payments
  • Advance to journeyman status ($40-50/hour)
  • Increase income = accelerated home payments
  • Build credit history and financial stability
Full Homeownership (Year 5-7)
  • Full homeownership achieved
  • Asset value: $150,000+ (market rate)
  • Generational wealth created
  • Community stability and leadership
Union Benefits Package:
This isn't just a job - it's a pathway to middle-class stability and generational wealth.
  • ✓ Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
  • ✓ Pension and retirement savings
  • ✓ Paid vacation and sick leave
  • ✓ Continuing education and training
  • ✓ Job placement assistance
  • ✓ Legal representation and advocacy
The Impact:
From $200 gate money to $100,000/year income and $150,000 home equity within 7 years.
Unlocking Economic Potential: From Incarceration to Opportunity
The Current Financial and Social Realities
—
Annual Cost
$80B
—
Rearrest Rate
71%
—
Prison Population
1.9M
THE ECONOMIC CASE: EVERY DOLLAR RETURNS SEVEN-FOLD
$1 → $4-5
Based on RAND Corporation and Vera Institute research, comprehensive reentry programs with employment support generate $4-5 in societal benefits for every $1 invested through:
  • Reduced recidivism and incarceration costs
  • Increased tax revenue from living-wage employment
  • Lower healthcare and social service costs
  • Strengthened community safety
Lifers Hope Foundation proposes a transformative model: converting correctional facilities into dynamic training centers focused on modular home construction, union apprenticeships, and sustainable agriculture.
From Charity to Institution: Traditional charities rely on donations. Lifers Hope is designed to become an essential, valued collaborator—a source of skilled labor that drives economic transformation by empowering justice-impacted individuals.
The Model:
  • Living-wage employment: $25-35/hour union jobs
  • 85% job retention rate (vs. 30% national average)
  • Modular homes built for $25K per unit
  • $4-5 societal return for every $1 invested
This approach fosters self-sufficiency and economic prosperity, supported by cost-benefit analyses from RAND Corporation and Vera Institute of Justice.
Transformative Impact: The Numbers Tell the Story
Our model delivers measurable, transformative outcomes:
PROJECTED OUTCOMES:
85%
Job Retention Rate
(vs. 30% national average)
$25-35
Living Wages /hr
(union scale)
15%
Recidivism Reduction
(from 71% national average)
$4-5:$1
$4-5:$1
(for every $1 invested)
100%
Housing Stability
(upon release)
COMPARISON:
TRADITIONAL REENTRY
  • 30% job retention
  • $12-15/hr wages
  • 71% rearrest rate
  • Fragmented services
LIFERS HOPE MODEL
  • 85% job retention
  • $25-35/hr wages
  • 15% projected rearrest rate
  • Integrated ecosystem
From Punishment to Prosperity: Investing in People, Not Prisons
Proven Models: Learning from Success Stories
Our model builds on decades of proven success from pioneering organizations that have demonstrated what's possible when we invest in people, not punishment.
Delancey Street Foundation
  • Founded in 1971 by Mimi Silbert and John Maher (a former lifer)
  • Self-sustaining residential program in San Francisco
  • 2-year minimum stay, peer-led model
  • Provides housing, education, and vocational training
  • 90% of graduates remain crime-free
  • Operates multiple businesses generating revenue
Homeboy Industries
  • Founded in 1988 by Father Greg Boyle
  • Los Angeles-based reentry program
  • Largest gang intervention program in the world
  • Provides jobs, tattoo removal, mental health services
  • Social enterprises employ formerly incarcerated individuals
  • Proven reduction in recidivism through wraparound support
Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)
  • Founded in 2013 by Scott Budnick (a Hollywood producer turned criminal justice reform advocate)
  • Peer mentorship and advocacy organization
  • Focuses on policy change and direct services
  • Strong track record of successful reintegration
  • Demonstrates power of lived experience leadership
Amity Foundation
  • Founded by Naya Arbiter and Rod Mullen in 1981
  • Therapeutic community model in prisons
  • Evidence-based substance abuse treatment
  • Continues support post-release
  • Significantly reduces recidivism rates
  • Shows effectiveness of in-prison program-ming
Beit T'Shuvah
  • Founded in 1987 by Rabbi Mark Borovitz (a former con man and criminal) and Harriet Rossetto
  • Los Angeles-based residential addiction treatment center
  • Integrates Jewish spirituality with evidence-based recovery
  • 138-bed facility serving individuals with substance use disorders
  • Offers alternative sentencing programs and family therapy
  • Never turns anyone away due to inability to pay
The Last Mile
  • Founded in 2010 by Chris Redlitz and Beverly Parenti
  • Technology education and training program in prisons
  • Teaches coding, web development, and audio/video production
  • Operating in 16 facilities across 7 states
  • Provides pathway to high-wage tech careers
  • Dramatically reduces recidivism through marketable skills
These organizations prove that comprehensive, community-based approaches work. Lifers Hope integrates their best practices into a scalable, economically sustainable model designed for national impact.
Why Lifers Hope is Different
While many reentry programs address single issues, Lifers Hope offers something unprecedented: a comprehensive integration model born from lived experience and validated by academic research.
What Sets Us Apart:
Lived Experience Meets Academic Rigor
Founded by Arthur Agustin, who served two terms in CDCR including San Quentin and Pelican Bay, and is now a USC MSW candidate anticipating DSW program entry. This unique combination ensures our model addresses real challenges with evidence-based solutions.
Comprehensive Integration, Not Fragmented Services
We don't offer isolated programs—we integrate housing, vocational training, financial infrastructure, and trauma-informed support into one cohesive ecosystem. From modular home construction to union apprenticeships, regenerative agriculture to entrepreneurship, every element works together.
Economic Transformation, Not Charity
Our model creates economic value, not dependency. Participants build marketable skills, earn living wages ($25-35/hour), and contribute to community prosperity. This shifts the paradigm from "helping the formerly incarcerated" to "unlocking human capital."
Research-Validated Blueprint
Our comprehensive blueprint has been published and is publicly available, endorsed by Dr. Suzanne DeBenedittis of Greenerway Associates, and grounded in research from successful models nationwide (Delancey Street, Homeboy Industries, ARC).
Access the Full Blueprint:
  • Published on Amazon Kindle Unlimited: Available for in-depth review
  • Peer-reviewed and validated by academic experts
  • Clear roadmap with measurable outcomes
This isn't theoretical—it's a complete, implementation-ready framework that has been vetted, published, and endorsed by experts in the field.
Trauma-Informed, Holistic Approach
We integrate behavioral health, public health frameworks, and social justice principles—addressing not just practical needs but the underlying trauma and systemic inequities that contribute to incarceration.
The result: A model that transforms correctional facilities into economic hubs, turning the $80 billion incarceration cost into an investment in human potential.
Research Foundation & Citations
Our model is grounded in rigorous research from leading institutions and evidence-based studies:
Incarceration & Recidivism Data:
  • Prison Policy Initiative. (2025). Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2025. Retrieved from https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2025.html
  • Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2024). Jails Report Series: 2024 Preliminary Data Release. NCJ 310861.
  • Council on Criminal Justice. (2024). Recidivism Rates: What You Need to Know. 71% rearrest rate within 5 years; 39% return-to-prison rate.
Cost-Benefit Analysis:
  • RAND Corporation. (2013). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Correctional Education. $4-$5 return for every $1 invested in correctional education programs.
  • Vera Institute of Justice. (2012). The Price of Prisons: What Incarceration Costs Taxpayers. Annual cost estimates and economic impact analysis.
Workforce Development & Reentry:
  • National Institute of Justice. (2018). Pathways from Prison to Postsecondary Education. Employment outcomes and recidivism reduction through vocational training.
  • Urban Institute. (2020). From Incarceration to Reentry: A Look at Trends, Gaps, and Opportunities. Comprehensive reentry program effectiveness.
Trauma-Informed Care:
  • Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). SAMHSA's Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach.
  • Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2014). Trauma-Informed Care in Behavioral Health Services. TIP Series 57.
Housing & Economic Stability:
  • Corporation for Supportive Housing. (2019). Frequent Users Systems Engagement (FUSE). Housing-first approaches reduce recidivism by 40-60%.
All research citations are available upon request for institutional review.
Partner with Us: Launch the Pilot
We're ready to launch. Join us in transforming lives and reimagining justice.
Partnership Opportunities
Funders
Philanthropic partners and impact investors to support our pilot program launch ($500K - $1M range for initial scaling).
Correctional Facilities
California pilot sites eager to implement evidence-based reintegration strategies within their institutions.
Employers & Unions
Organizations committed to job placement, apprenticeship programs, and second-chance hiring for justice-involved individuals.
Academic Partners
Universities and research centers for program evaluation, community-engaged scholarship, and longitudinal research collaboration.
Pilot Program Investment
  • Year 1 Budget: $[Amount TBD based on partnership discussions]
  • Serves: 50 participants in pilot cohort
  • Location: California correctional facility (site selection in progress)
  • Timeline: 18-month pilot with ongoing evaluation
  • ROI: $4-5 return per $1 invested
Each partnership is designed for mutual benefit: advancing your mission while building infrastructure for transformative reintegration.
Join Us: Transform Lives, Transform Justice
The Lifers Hope Integration Model represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform criminal justice from the inside out. We're ready to launch.
Why Lifers Hope:
Lived Experience + Academic Rigor
Founder's journey from CDCR to USC DSW
Systems-Change Model
Comprehensive integration, not fragmented services
Proven Economic Impact
$4-5 return for every $1 invested
Implementation Ready
Blueprint complete, partnerships active
National Scalability
Replicable framework for facilities nationwide
Partnership Opportunities:
Funders & Philanthropists
Foundational funding for pilot launch and scaling
Government & Corrections
Policy innovation and implementation
Corporations & Unions
Workforce pipelines and hiring
Academic Institutions
Research partnerships and evaluation
The Impact:
  • 50 lives transformed in Year 1
  • Proven model for national replication
  • New paradigm: incarceration → economic opportunity
  • Measurable outcomes: 85% job retention, 15% recidivism
Complete blueprint available at lifershopefoundation.org and Amazon Kindle.
Get Involved:
Arthur Agustin, Founder
📧 agustina@lifershopefoundation.org
🌐 lifershopefoundation.org
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Explore the Complete Vision:
Read: From Nonprofit to Institution
The time for transformation is now. Together, we can turn incarceration into opportunity and build a more just, prosperous future for all.