Johnathan Abdur Rahim King, Re-Entry Professional, and CEO of Chester Community Safe Corridors is a lifelong citizen of Chester and has had his share of intimate challenges with the criminal justice system. His familiarity and more importantly, King’s successful re-entry into society makes him uniquely equipped to point others in the right direction. Now a successful business owner, this husband, and father has stepped up his efforts to assist returning citizens in finding their way to the paths of redemption. King’s primary employment is as a supervisor for Temple University in the Chester Peace Initiative Program.
Part ll: A Pardon Clinic was held on Wednesday, July 28th, at the Chester Cultural Arts and Technology Center. “There is a communication gap between older and younger adults. Bridging that gap is an important component in changing the thinking and behavior of our youth,” says King. “Yes, it takes a village; but, the village needs to have the ability to effectively communicate with that generation in order to affect lasting change,” he says.
The event was so popular that a virtual option was added. Opening remarks were made by former Chester Mayor John Linder with Eric Baynes from Mayor Kirkland’s Office and Attorney Tanner Rouse stressing the importance of holding these clinics in the community. Senator Kane gave a movingly honest account of his own journey from alcohol addiction to redemption.
The keynote address was made by Brandon Flood, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons. Flood, passionate about re-entry issues, shared his own path to redemption while incorporating the history of Pardon law and how to navigate the Pardon application process. Flood is the first Black, formerly incarcerated male to hold his position.
In addition to Secretary Flood, King is supported in his efforts by Attorneys Erica Briant and Megan Reinprecht of Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) and Stacey Mandel, a middle school educator and recently trained volunteer “Pardon Coach,” with Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity.
Planning for part III of the clinic this winter, the team’s in a position to achieve its goal of engaging more Chester Residents. “Pardons are the Holy Grail for Re-entry, and the people in this community are uneducated, uninformed, and uninvited with regard to most things that really matter,“ stated King.
Mrs. Carter, the widow of Richard Carter, was emotional upon presentation of a plaque commemorating her late husband’s pioneering work with re-entry. King stated, “It wouldn’t be a re-entry project without Mr. Carter. He started it all.”
Contributing sponsors to this event were State Senator John Kane, State Representative Brian Kirkland, Chester Housing Authority, Keystone First, Office of Delaware County District Attorney, Delaware County Council, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, Jail Oversight Board, Asadi Enterprises, Inc., Big Var Water Ice, Chester Peace Initiative, Delaware County Public Defender, Enterprise Extermination, The Empowerment Management Group (EMG), Fairchild Collision, Get The Gaff Fishing Apparel, Hooper Council Positive Project (HPC3), Kirk Tillery Landscape, Lang Center for Civic and Social Responsibility, Latoison Law, Lily May’s Café, Madison‘s Place, NO Trub II, LLC, Riverside Futures, ServiceMaster Clean, Single Mothers Are Really Trying (S.M.A.R.T.), Swarthmore, WOW Transportation, LLC, PA Parole, Local Police, Local 413, EDSI and several City of Chester Judges.
