District Leadership Recognized: Remarkable Individual Aiding Ex-Convicts in Washington D.C. to Rebuild Lives, Find New Directions, and Regain Hope from Georgetown University
Georgetown University Honors Paula Thompson with the 2025 John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award
On January 19, esteemed nonprofit leader Paula Thompson received the John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award at the John F. Kennedy Center. This award recognizes emerging leaders working to address key social issues within Washington, D.C. Georgetown University established the award to deepen its engagement within the city, honoring the award's namesake, John Thompson Jr., a legendary Georgetown head basketball coach, social justice advocate, and DC native.
Thompson, President and CEO of Voices for a Second Chance, was celebrated as part of the 21st Let Freedom Ring Celebration, an annual event that commemorates Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy. This year's celebration featured musical performances by Grammy-Award-winning composers Christopher Jackson, Esperanza Spalding, and NEWorks Voices of America and NEWorks House Band, with actor Taye Diggs serving as the event host.
Thompson's work at Voices for a Second Chance, a nonprofit dedicated to helping incarcerated and newly released individuals rebuild their lives, has made a significant impact. Over the past 12 years, she has transformed a small volunteer-led organization into one that assists nearly 2,000 returning citizens annually. Thompson's approach focuses on providing a "continuum of care," offering everything from trauma counseling, support groups, job training, and housing assistance.
Advocating for the success of the individual is critical to Thompson. "When you're incarcerated, you become a number in a system, and you lose all of your humanity," she said. "You adapt to not being human because you're not being seen. So it takes a while for the humanity of someone to show up again. That's important in the work that we do: for people to feel human again."
Georgetown Interim President Robert M. Groves presented the award to Thompson on the Kennedy Center stage, recognizing her achievements and those of past honorees who have kept alive the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the commitment of John Thompson Jr.
Thompson joined Voices for a Second Chance in 2012 after a career in federal lobbying and policy advocacy. She saw the organization as an opportunity to work directly with individuals and help them see themselves beyond their circumstances. Since then, she has worked tirelessly to improve the reentry process for those leaving prison, creating a four-phased approach that focuses on immediate resources, long-term housing, peer support, and advocacy training.
Voices for a Second Chance has made a difference in the lives of many, including Dietrich Trent, a former client and prison reform advocate. Trent remembers Thompson's compassionate approach upon his first encounter with the organization. "She gave me the blueprint of how to transform my life," he said. "She's a trailblazer that's going to go the extra mile not only for you but for the cause."
Looking ahead, Thompson hopes to expand Voices for a Second Chance's model nationwide and continue collaborating with Georgetown to create opportunities for community building, family support, and equitable reintegration efforts.
The Let Freedom Ring Celebration, hosted annually by Georgetown and the Kennedy Center, serves as a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through musical performances. This year's event included performances by Christopher Jackson, Esperanza Spalding, and Nolan Williams Jr., who premiered "Selma@60" to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the civil rights marches from Selma to Montgomery. The celebration aimed to inspire hope for a more just and fair society, reminding us all that the moral arc of the universe bends towards justice if we remain committed to the cause.
Paula Thompson, the recipient of the John Thompson Jr. Legacy of a Dream Award from Georgetown University, is a leader in not only the nonprofit sector but also the realm of business, with her role as the President and CEO of Voices for a Second Chance. Through her work, Thompson is making a significant impact in the finance sector, providing resources and opportunities for those who have been incarcerated and are seeking a second chance at life.
