The World’s First Support Group Devoted to Those
Navigating the White Collar Justice System
It’s the Isolation That Destroys Us
The Solution is in Community
7+ Years of White Collar Support Group Meetings
We are a community of individuals, families and groups with white collar justice issues who have a desire to take responsibility for our actions and the wreckage we caused, make amends, and move forward in new way of life centered on hope, care, kindness, compassion, tolerance and empathy.
Our experience shows us that many of us are suffering in silence with shame, remorse, and deep regret. Many of us have been stigmatized by our own families and friends, and by our former business relationships. Our goal is to learn, grow and evolve into a new spiritual way of life and to reach out in service to others.
Nearly one thousand justice-impacted individuals have participated in our White Collar Support Group meetings on Zoom which take place Monday evenings at 7 PM Eastern Time.
Resources for Justice-Impacted Individuals
In addition to our weekly support group, we offer a 24/7 Slack support group, a white collar job and career board, peer and mentor support, a Tuesday Night Speaker Series (open to family and friends), a newsletter, social media channels, advocacy initiatives, and more, all offered on a volunteer basis at no cost to you or your family.
For more information about the ways we have offered support and can help you or your loved one, contact us today. We look forward to being with you.
White Collar Support Group Meets Every Monday on Zoom
Testimonials
"Getting on Jeff’s call was a breath of fresh air as I was able to meet other men and women who had endured the shame and embarrassment of being a convicted felon. Jeff brings a spiritual component to his group which in my opinion is critical as it helps with the healing process. I applaud Jeff for creating this organization as it helps convicted felons who have been ostracized by society in providing ministerial counseling, empathy, compassion and support. I have met some incredible people in this group and I look forward to being an active participant for many years.”
– Douglas Mairena, Virginia
"Jeff’s White Collar Support Group creates a community of people who need support but are almost always unfairly judged when they ask for help anywhere else. In this way, Jeff fills a need that many want to pretend doesn’t exist."
- Peter Tomasek, Esq., Editor-in-Chief, Interrogating Justice
“I spoke to Jeff for about an hour, swapping stories from each of our personal crucibles and realized how many similarities we had. When Jeff mentioned there is an entire group of people like us who meet weekly, I suddenly felt a sense of relief. After sharing my story in 2016 with the group, I decided to explore the professional speaking and corporate training route as a potential second career. A cold email to 400 NYC financial firms went mostly ignored except for one reply who invited me to speak to their firm. Referrals from that first presentation completely changed my life and a second career was born as a professional speaker and corporate trainer. Now in 2021, I’ve presented nearly 400 times to companies, conferences, universities and associations.”
– Tom Hardin, New Jersey
"In creating Progressive Prison Ministries, Jeff has established a platform, more aptly a lifeline, for those in the throes of despair, uncertainty, and lacking direction who are either about to be sentenced to prison or addressing the difficulties of life after prison."
- Robert Simels, Connecticut
“I’ve had the privilege to interview and get to know Jeff Grant. His story is nothing short of inspirational. Turning around a life that had spiraled out of control ending with a prison term and now re-dedicated himself to a life of service. He’s built national platforms for re-entry into productive society ranging from white collar crime to those from economically deprived areas. He is a literal bridge to the future. A second chance paragon in a time when we need a second chance society.”
– Jim Campbell (Host, “Business Talk with Jim Campbell”, Author, “Madoff Talks”), Greenwich, Connecticut
“God bless Jeff and the fellowship he has created. I found him just in the nick of time, several weeks before sentencing. I had never spoken to anyone who had been through circumstances like these, and very soon I had an embarrassment of riches with respect to support. I no longer felt alone, I had many new friends to talk to, and was even able to provide support and comfort in turn to those who were not as far along in the process as I. As Jeff said, none of the questions I had were unique or theoretical – someone he knows has been through it. As with pretty much every aspect of modern life, separation is the chief problem, and helping and asking for help are the solutions. I have been able to get through the days with dignity, love and even a little joy. A great deal of that is due to Jeff’s work.”
– Timothy Litzenburg, Virginia
"There is no judgment at the meetings and everyone there is trying to support each other. Most important of all, I now realize that I do not need live my life in shame. There is a quote from Brene Brown which reflects what I have received from Jeff and my fellow travelers of the support group: “If we share our story with someone who responds with empathy and understanding, shame can’t survive.”
– S.P., California
“Whether struggling with the most difficult crucible many of us will ever face before going inside, or coming home and facing the intense personal and financial difficulties of re-entry, Jeff has been a staunch ally and informational godsend for hundreds if not thousands of men and women over the past decade.He has created a caring, open fellowship to help serve others going through the same trials and tribulations that many like myself had to face alone and afraid many years ago when Jeff’s mission hadn’t yet come into existence. Congratulations on 250 and here’s to another decade of hope, love, optimism and support!”
– Michael Kimelman, New York
"The group has been my weekly outlet where we are amongst our own, and nothing is off limits to discuss. I learned my issues and obstacles were common amongst others that have been through the same “system” as me. I also learned there is hope and sunshine at the end of a dark tunnel. Thank you Jeff for facilitating a very meaningful group bringing us together in the name of personal growth."
– Leon B., Atlanta GA
“Jeff Grant is the real deal; he’s candid and generous with his wisdom. I can’t imagine there is a lawyer in this country more qualified to consider the complex issues facing people prosecuted for white collar crimes and their families.”
- Evan Osnos, The New Yorker
"His is the space of responsibility, redemption, reintegration, and a life of love in action. When scripture teaches that one can take what was meant for one’s harm and turn it to good; when we are told that the Lord requires of us to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly, we can turn to Jeff and his prisonist.org work for shining examples."
– Rick Dryer, Colorado
“I was the elected District Attorney of Philadelphia, I had spent the majority of my professional career working to prevent crime, and hold those accountable that harmed society. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would be the target of a criminal investigation, indicted by a federal grand jury or serve time in prison. All of those things eventually happened and I wasn’t ready. I wish I had known then, of Rev. Jeff Grant, his Progressive Prison Ministry and White Collar Support Group. Jeff and his group are now a significant part of my life and I am eternally grateful."
- Seth Williams, Philadelphia
"This group come together sharing what those feelings are like for a lifetime after making a mistake in the hope of criminal justice reform. Of the need to have personal and community growth, but most of all in the chance to shed a stigma of deep regret, shame and suffering and how to become a beacon of hope, compassion and tolerance."
– Fr. Joseph Ciccone, New Jersey
“Jeff has a pragmatic, objective understanding of criminal justice issues, and more importantly, he is suffused with a spiritual understanding of the holistic emotional and values-driven issues that affect decision-making & healing through this journey. Jeff wears many hats – he is a spiritual counselor, a life coach, a critical thinker, and most important of all, is a friend. Thank you Jeff for your counsel throughout; my family and I are beyond grateful to you and Lynn. Please feel free to share this to offer hope and comfort to others in need.”
– Richard Lee, Chicago
"Jeff spoke as if he was living inside of my body at that exact moment. He spoke of shame and isolation; he spoke of uncertainty and fear. His words took the air from my lungs. I sat down, put my head in my hands, and wept. I wept because the words were so raw and personal, and I wept because they were exactly how I was feeling – but I didn’t know how to express it myself.”
– Craig Stanland, New York
“I was a ‘Bridgegate’ defendant. For years, Jeff has made it his mission to make sure that no one feels the isolation that can come from being a former inmate.”
- Bill Baroni
“Exactly one year later here I am thanks to the men and women, a melting pot of amazing humans, in the group who helped me defuse the shame of ‘I’m a very smart person, how could I have been so stupid!!!’ … Believe me, we all make at least one big bad decision in our lives, we just have different methods. The support group for me is much like a high end mastermind, with hot seats, getting a diverse set of perspectives, allowing you to observe your situation through new eyes and experiences.”
– Debbie Colbourn, Calgary, Canada
"This support group has given me an opportunity to share my thoughts, concerns and emotional trauma with a compassionate and understanding group of people who all traveled a similar journey and who all have now become good friends. There is no question that those who have experienced the criminal justice system all face common problems, barriers and trauma as we begin our reintegration into society. I am proud to say that I am associated with this fine group of people and hope and pray that some day we can share the lessons and benefits of the peer support and mentoring that has helped me to find my passion and purpose in life. Thank you!”
– Jeffrey Abramowitz, Philadelphia
Featured Resources
I Found Freedom After Prison Inside My Story
By: Craig Stanland “Man, I’ve never seen anyone present with such raw, naked vulnerability.” It’s only thirty seconds after delivering a talk in downtown Brooklyn, and I’m a little caught off guard and humbled. I just laid bare my past: prison, loss, suicide ideation, and the path I took back to myself. I smile as ... Read more
The Right To Work And Happiness
By: Michael Neubig There are many things that make us happy. Family, travel, hobbies, exercise, reading, watching sports, listening to music, and yes, work. We often take the last one for granted as we spend so much time at it. We count the days until the weekend, weeks until vacation and years to retirement. But ... Read more
Embracing Glimmers
A Journey to Rediscover Joy in a Triggered World By: Sabrena Morgan In a world where the constant buzz of triggers surrounds us, it’s easy to become entangled in the web of negativity and past traumas. We find ourselves hyper-focused on anticipating the next trigger, reliving moments that haunt us, and inadvertently staying trapped in ... Read more
White Collar Prison (The End)
By: John DiMenna White-Collar Prison. An Essay By John DiMenna. Originally Published at Minutes Before Six. Reprinted With Permission. A Different Kind of Hell. You can survive prison, and you can recover from prison, but prison never leaves you. On certain days, it feels like afterlife; other days, like a typical workday, and most days ... Read more
White Collar Prison (Part Six)
By: John DiMenna White-Collar Prison. An Essay By John DiMenna. Originally Published at Minutes Before Six. Reprinted With Permission. A Different Kind of Hell. You can survive prison, and you can recover from prison, but prison never leaves you. On certain days, it feels like afterlife; other days, like a typical workday, and most days ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Michele Weinstat Miller
Author & General Counsel, The Fortune Society Tues., May 14, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Michele Weinstat Miller as our May speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Open to all! For those of you who don’t recall, Michele is a lawyer ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Jason Bowles, Esq.
Criminal Defense Attorney for “Rust” Armorer Hannah Gutierrez. Tues., April 2, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Jason Bowles, Esq. as our special speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Open to all! Jason is the criminal defense attorney in Albuquerque NM who ... Read more
White Collar Prison (Part Five)
By: John DiMenna White-Collar Prison. An Essay By John DiMenna. Originally Published at Minutes Before Six. Reprinted With Permission. A Different Kind of Hell. You can survive prison, and you can recover from prison, but prison never leaves you. On certain days, it feels like afterlife; other days, like a typical workday, and most days ... Read more
BOP Administrative Remedy Process Explainer
BOP Program Statement 1330.18 By: Lynn Espejo This is my personal overview of the BOP’s Administrative Remedy Process. If you have followed my blog, you already know that I became quite familiar with the Administrative Remedy process during my 27 months stay in federal prison. If you, or someone you know, is either headed to ... Read more
White Collar Prison (Part Four)
By: John DiMenna White-Collar Prison. An Essay By John DiMenna. Originally Published at Minutes Before Six. Reprinted With Permission. A Different Kind of Hell. You can survive prison, and you can recover from prison, but prison never leaves you. On certain days, it feels like afterlife; other days, like a typical workday, and most days ... Read more
Building A New Life After Prison
By: Sabrena Morgan Embarking on the journey of rebuilding your life after serving time in prison can be a daunting prospect. It’s a path that demands resilience, determination, and a willingness to redefine who you are. However, it’s important to recognize that this process is not about starting from scratch but rather leveraging a lifetime ... Read more
One Simple Tool That Reinvented My Mindset After Prison
By: Craig Stanland Are you living in the truth? Or are you living in the story? This came up for a client recently, threatening to stop them from doing something that brought them joy and empowerment. Here’s what I’m talking about and why it matters. There are two ways this shows up in our lives: ... Read more
Announcements
Tuesday Speaker Series: Michele Weinstat Miller
Author & General Counsel, The Fortune Society Tues., May 14, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Michele Weinstat Miller as our May speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Open to all! For those of you who don’t recall, Michele is a lawyer ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Jason Bowles, Esq.
Criminal Defense Attorney for “Rust” Armorer Hannah Gutierrez. Tues., April 2, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Jason Bowles, Esq. as our special speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Open to all! Jason is the criminal defense attorney in Albuquerque NM who ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Jim McGreevey
Former Governor of New Jersey, and Chairman of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation Tues., April 16, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Jim McGreevey as the April speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. The Tuesday Speaker Series is free and open to ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Brent Cassity
Author, Public Speaker, Host of Nightmare Success PodcastTues., March 19, 2024,7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Free and Open to All! We are honored to have Brent Cassity as the March speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Free and open to all! Brent Cassity is an engaging storyteller that has a real-life ... Read more
Watch Our New Start Here™ Video.
White Collar Support Group™ 400th Meeting Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc., the world’s first ministry devoted to serving people prosecuted for white collar crimes and their families, will hold its 400th weekly White Collar Support Group™ meeting online on Zoom this Monday, February 19, 2024, 7 ... Read more
“Start Here”. The Evolution of Our White Collar Support Group’s New Tag Line
By: Jeff Grant White Collar Support Group™ 400th Meeting, Mon., Feb. 19, 2024, 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT There is little doubt that Nike’s tag line, Just Do It, has been an incredible success. There is hardly a person in any corner of the world that doesn’t recognize it, identify it with Nike, and ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series On YouTube: Mike Morawski
Multi-Family Real Estate Mentor, Investor And Public Speaker. We were honored to have Mike Morawski as the February speaker in our White Collar Support Group™ Tuesday Speaker Series. Our Tuesday Speaker Series Is Free And Open to All! Mike, is a 30+ year real estate investment veteran. He has controlled over $405,000,000 in real estate ... Read more
White Collar Support Group™ to Hold Landmark 400th Meeting Monday, February 19, 2024
The World’s First Support Group Devoted to Those Navigating the White Collar Justice System. Start Here™. WEST PALM BEACH, FL, UNITED STATES, February 13, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ — Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc., the world’s first ministry devoted to serving people prosecuted for white collar crimes and their families, will hold its 400th weekly White Collar Support ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Mike Morawski
Multi-Family Real Estate Mentor, Investor And Public Speaker. Tues., February 13th, 2024, 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Open to All! We are honored to have Mike Morawski as the February speaker in our White Collar Support Group Tuesday Speaker Series. Our Tuesday Speaker Series Is Free And Open to All! Mike, is a 30+ ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Elia Michelle Johnson
LCSW, LMSW & YT 500 & Wellness Expert Tues., Jan. 16th, 2024, 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT Open to All! We are honored to have Elia Johnson as the January speaker in our White Collar Support Group Tuesday Speaker Series. Our Tuesday Speaker Series Is Free And Open to all! At times in our journeys ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Miriam Baer, Author of, “Myths and Misunderstandings in White Collar Crime.”
White Collar Week Tuesday Speaker Series: Miriam Baer, Author of the Book, “Myths and Misunderstandings in White Collar Crime”, on Zoom, Dec. 12, 2023, 7 pm ET, 4 pm PT. We were honored to have Miriam Baer as the December speaker in our White Collar Support Group Tuesday Speaker Series. Myths and Misunderstandings in White ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Prof. Doug Berman, Sentencing Law & Policy Expert
We were honored to have Doug Berman as the October speaker in our White Collar Support Group Tuesday Speaker Series. Among other important topics, Prof. Berman discussed the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s recent sentencing guidelines revisions for certain first time offenses including a two-point reduction, noncustodial sentences and retroactivity. And there was an extensive Q&A! Professor ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: REMISSION NOW “Fairness in Restitution” Town Hall
To Register: https://zoom.us/…/tJIlcu6hrjIuEtc4CSBIG_WenyN5bgnR3krp From Fellow Traveler Tanya Pierce: “In 2022, The Ladies of Hope Ministries launched the #REMISSIONNOW campaign (https://thelohm.org/remissionnow/). We held a lunch and learning session with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the U.S. Pardon Attorney to raise awareness about the impact of restitution, share how restitution for many is a “life sentence,” and advocate ... Read more
Tuesday Speaker Series: Glenn E. Martin, Entrepreneur, Activist & Founder/ Former CEO of JustLeadershipUSA
White Collar Week Tuesday Speaker Series: Glenn E. Martin, Entrepreneur, Activist & Founder of JustLeadershipUSA, GEMtrainers and GEMrealestate, on Zoom, Sept. 12, 2023 We were honored to have Glenn E. Martin as the September speaker in our White Collar Support Group Tuesday Speaker Series. Open to all! Information about our White Collar Support Group: http://prisonist.org For ... Read more
Center for Justice & Human Dignity Rewriting the Sentence Summit II on Alternatives to Incarceration
Our friend and White Collar Week podcast guest Christopher Poulos, Executive Director of Center for Justice and Human Dignity , has organized this important conference. It is especially on-point for Fellow Travelers and all members of the white collar justice community. We will be sending a contingent and hope to see you there! “Join us on October 16-17, ... Read more
American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Fall Institute, Washington, DC, Open to All
Please join us for the American Bar Association Criminal Justice Fall Institute on Friday, November 3, 2023 at the Madison Hotel, 1177 15th Street, Washington, DC. Last year, 15 Fellow Travelers attended this conference together and then we all went out to Carmine’s Italian Restaurant for an evening of camaraderie, stories, laughter – and great ... Read more
Jeff Grant has been Appointed Co-Chair, American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section Reentry & Collateral Consequences Committee
The American Bar Association Criminal Justice Section has announced the appointment of Jeff Grant as Co-Chair of the Reentry & Collateral Consequences Committee. Jeff Grant brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to criminal justice reform to his new position as Co-Chair. He has consistently demonstrated a dedication to addressing the challenges individuals ... Read more
Event: Legal Action Center’s Arthur Liman Public Interest Awards Benefit, NYC, Tues., Nov. 7, 2023
Join us for Legal Action Center’s Arthur Liman Public Interest Awards Benefit on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at Tribeca Rooftop. Legal Action Center I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors of Legal Action Center – Jeff Reserve your tickets now: https://secure.givelively.org/event/legal-action-center/50th-anniversary-arthur-liman-public-interest-awards-benefitFor over half a century, the Legal Action Center has been the only ... Read more
Social Justice: The Keepers of the Commons at The Nantucket Project
Keepers of the Commons is creating a new way to stimulate neighborhoods by identifying and connecting often overlooked community leaders to well-established policy and ideas events. We are cultivating local talent to diversify the pipeline by thinking differently about the traditional leadership development paradigm. I am honored to have been a 2017 The Keepers Of ... Read more
P.R.I.D.E. Entrepreneurial Program in Connecticut
A course filled with information on how to go into business. It is exclusively for inmates, released inmates & people with a criminal background. It covers all areas such as Banking, Law, Insurance, Accounting, Marketing , Sales, Life Lessons, Business Plan, Positive Mental Attitude & more. What makes it unique is that it is 60% ... Read more
Stay Up To Date On Our Meetings and Special Events
Contact Information
Mailing
Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.
516 S. Dixie Hwy., Box 222
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Phone
(212) 671 3250
E-Mail
info@prisonist.org