Van Jones’ Dream Corps Justice recently held its annual Day of Empathy - a national criminal and social justice reform initiative. Celebrity advocate Tina Knowles-Lawson says her supports stems from "years of seeing the disparity."

When the First Step Act was signed into law last December, we saw a ripple of hope spread through nearly 200,000 people currently incarcerated in federal prisons across America. The passage of that bill didn't just mean that thousands of incarcerated people would soon be released from federal custody and reunited with family. It also laid out a pathway for additional reforms in Congress and state capitals nationwide.

CNN Political Commentator and Reform Alliance CEO Van Jones listens as Louis L. Reed, National Organizer for #cut50, a criminal justice initiative Jones co-founded, speaks about best probation and parole reform. (Photo courtesy of Prisonists.org)

From left, State Rep. Brandon McGee, CNN commentator Van Jones and Gov. Ned Lamont listen to former federal inmate Louis Reid discuss what can be done to assist inmates in being successful when they are released during a forum Monday at Quinnipiac University. (Julia Bergman/The Day)

Louis L. Reed, #cut50 National Organizer, speaks to audience in Dallas, TX about the National Day of Empathy. Reed historically organized the largest day of criminal justice reform action in the United States.

Louis L. Reed, LADC, CAC, ICADC Criminal Justice Reform Strategist| JLUSA Fellow| Forbes Coach| Licensed Practitioner| Believer

Thousands of federal prisoners could be free if Congress passes the bill.

Louis Reed planned to kill himself last year after he was arrested for allegedly forging checks, then lost his job as Bridgeport’s prison reentry director, and then was rearrested on another round of check forgery charges.