Joseph Jones

Joseph Jones, a native of Houston, Texas, once saw his life spiral out of control after a single night at the University of Kansas, which led to a 5-year prison sentence in the Kansas Department of Corrections. Despite being confined to a prison environment, Joseph made a commitment to live a purposeful life and not become a product of his surroundings. He firmly believed that, with God’s blessings and his hard work, he could transform his life.

Joseph faced numerous barriers to entry but managed to obtain a Paralegal Certification and a degree in Business Administration while working a full-time job in the manufacturing industry.

In his free time, he created and spoke at community events, led support groups, and taught men how to craft outstanding resumes for success upon release. His transformation was unmistakable, showcasing rehabilitation and strong indicators of success upon release.

Governor Laura Kelly of Kansas recognized Joseph’s resolute demonstration of rehabilitation and awarded him an exceptional grant of clemency on June 24, 2021. With this grant, Joseph’s sole focus became validating the crucial need for criminal justice reform and serving as a textbook example of why second chances should be the norm, not the exception.

Joseph was determined to be a successful Black man and pay it forward to other young Black men. With his newfound freedom, Joseph joined REFORM Alliance, where he had the opportunity to develop his skill set as an Operations Manager and gain real-world experience in a professional environment, all before pursuing a career in music!

Joseph remains deeply grateful to God for every step of his journey and encourages everyone going through challenging times to keep making the right decisions, knowing that they can make it through their storms.

Joseph aims to use his testimony to highlight the power of God’s blessings and the potential for transformation even in the darkest of times.