Home After Harm Graduation at
Salinas Valley State Prison
UnCommon Law held a powerful graduation ceremony for our second Home After Harm cohort at Salinas Valley State Prison on August 7, 2025. The ceremony honored 30 graduates and two peer mentors who completed the program and celebrated their steps toward growth, healing, and transformation.
Staff, loved ones, community members, and peer mentors came together for moving speeches, certificate presentations, and heartfelt reflections, creating an atmosphere of recognition many participants had never experienced before.
Seeing participants and alumni stand together underscored the strength of this growing community and the profound impact of Home After Harm in building support and pathways to healing and transformation. Thank you to everyone who helped make this such an impactful event, including our partners at the Mend Collaborative.
Photos by Justin Bench Photography.
"This cohort was so transformative, enlightening, humbling, and empowering. It was an honor to be a part of an environment where men were so hungry and thirsty for knowledge to better themselves as human beings. I'm proud of the accomplishments these men made. I could see the change happening right before my eyes. It was electrifying!"
—Jonathan Duke, Parole Success Advocate
““This is the best thing that ever happened to me.””
"Graduation left me feeling truly inspired. The tears and heartfelt conversations I had with family and participants moved me. I know now that all the hard work was well worth it. The love was real, and I could never have imagined being part of something this powerful. Miracles are real."
—Steven Berinti, Parole Success Advocate
