Transforming Trauma: Episode 163

For women exiting the US correctional system, support is limited while the hurdles set in front of them are endless. Get a job! Repair core relationships! Focus on your future! Unfortunately, this cohort is left to face an often adversarial reentry process alone, making even the most basic goals impossible to achieve. 

The post-prison ecosystem is changing, however, bolstered by nonprofits that elevate rather than penalize people for their time served. One such organization combines its understanding of complex trauma with the healing power of women helping women to create a roadmap for long-term participant success.

On this episode of Transforming Trauma, host Emily Ruth welcomes Samantha Garcia Pennell, Manager of Workforce Partnerships at Arouet Foundation, in Phoenix, AZ, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering women impacted by the justice system, helping them lead successful lives and build stronger communities. Samatha shares her personal journey from traumatic childhood to challenging adulthood to prison with our audience, and the alternative path to reintegration that Arouet afforded her. The pair also explores Arouet’s programs, including mentorship, job skills, and reentry simulation. These initiatives have inspired former inmates and community partners to think more holistically about post-carceral care and are a model for radical change.

“I first jaunted into the criminal justice system when I was 16. It was symptoms of a problem,” Samantha says of her childhood, which was marked by abuse and neglect. Her situation became more precarious without proper care or support. She shares, “my story is my own. But, I truly believe that being part of the justice system…There are so many symptoms of a much deeper-seated problem, which are those complex traumas for me.”

Complex trauma, or C-PTSD, is common among incarcerated populations, says Samantha. While serving out her prison sentence, she recognized similar consequences of sustained childhood abuse or neglect in those around her––their struggles to form attachments with others, regulate their emotions, or build healthy self-esteem. “Whatever traumas brought you to where you’re involved with the justice system, when you’re getting ready to go home, there’s a huge amount of fear that you’re going to have to go back to the same situations, the same people, the same, same, same,” Samantha says ruefully. 

The US Criminal Justice System spends millions to convict and incarcerate, according to Samantha, yet zero dollars to rehabilitate. When formerly incarcerated individuals set out to rejoin their families, communities, and the workforce, they do so lacking the skills and support systems that might decrease their chances of recidivism. Samantha credits Arouet for providing her with a reentry plan that included a sisterhood of formerly incarcerated mentors to help her navigate inevitable challenges. “It’s women supporting women, and so it’s this explosion of community,” she explains. “You build each other up. You celebrate each other’s growth and the changes that you wanna put forth in the world.”

Since her release from prison, Samantha has committed herself to helping women whose circumstances mirror her own. The role at Arouet allows her to combine personal experience with her formal degree in career and technical education. She’s honored to lead initiatives that provide “second chance” strategies to women transitioning from incarceration back into their communities. “It’s always exciting to see them step into their own power and celebrate themselves,” Samantha says. “I honestly don’t know where I would’ve landed or what I would’ve done without that. That’s why I believe mentorship is so important: you have that person, that calm in the storm, and it’s a special connection you build.”

Transforming Trauma is grateful to Samantha for her efforts in support of previously incarcerated women. She inspires us to uplift underserved populations via trauma-informed practices and communal care. 

RECOMMENDED EPISODE

Post-Traumatic Growth for Women Leaving Prison with Alison Rapping

Additional options on recovery from childhood trauma, interaction with the justice system, and reentry assistance:

A Compassionate Approach to Incarceration and Reentry with Christine Marallen

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Shifting the Juvenile and Criminal Justice Systems With David and Katya Dow

Restorative Justice and the Journey Towards Redemption with Dr. Elaine Leeder

Community-Based and Trauma-Informed Tribal Court with Judge Abby Abinati

Additional options on loss:

Finding Belonging in the Heart of Grief with Karen Ihrig

From Pain to Purpose: Navigating the Pressures of Fatherhood, Isolation and Loss with Adam Angel

GUEST CONTACT & BIO

Arouet Foundation

Samantha Garcia Pennell is Manager of Workforce Partnerships at Arouet Foundation. She is dedicated to empowering others by sharing her journey and encouraging them to embrace their unique strengths. With more than a decade of experience in training, she specializes in helping individuals rebrand themselves through education and support. Samantha holds a bachelor’s degree in Career and Technical Education from Northern Arizona University, which she applies to create strategic pathways for individuals transitioning from incarceration back into their communities. Her passion lies in nonprofit work, where she is committed to providing services that open doors for women impacted by the criminal justice system,fostering connections, and supporting their successful reintegration into society.