The Gemma Project Newsletter – Issue No. 1: Our Model Site Comes to Life

Dear Gemma Project Community,

Welcome to our newsletter where we’ll update you all on our progress and keep you informed about issues related to justice-involved women.

We are SO EXCITED to announce the OFFICIAL LAUNCH of our model site in Contra Costa County California! What began as a spark of an idea – an audacious dream to serve justice-involved women across the country by providing them with programs and services designed FOR THEM is coming to fruition.

We are grateful for the partnership of the Contra Costa County Probation Department and Sheriff’s Office and for the support of the Board of Supervisors who approved our funding!

A Message from Our Co-Founders

As the Executive Director of The Gemma Program I am thrilled to have the opportunity to build out an incredible team, and to finally be able to provide the full spectrum of services to women who are ready and willing to engage and to make a change in their lives.

This work is more than a program or service It’s a movement rooted in hope, opportunity, and community - and we need it now more than ever.

We’re just getting started, and we have so much more in store. But for now, we just want to pause and say:

Thank you. For showing up. For spreading the word. For believing in what Gemma stands for.

With appreciation and gratitude,

Lara Love Hardin and Cynthia Chase

Co-Founders, The Gemma Project

The launch of our pretrial program in Contra Costa County!

We’re HIRING! We’re looking for skilled, dedicated, and passionate individuals who want to serve justice-involved women as the Day Program Coordinator or Continuing Care Coordinator for our model site in Contra Costa County California! APPLY HERE.

Are you a Social Work or Counseling student in need of internship hours, or a recent graduate seeking clinical supervision? We also welcome applications from students and post-graduates eager to gain hands-on experience. Check out our internship opportunities!

Want to Learn How to Bring The Gemma Project to your community? Our monthly replication webinars provide a wonderful opportunity to talk directly with our Executive Director, Cynthia Chase, about how you can support justice-involved women in your own community.

SELECT A DATE THAT WORKS FOR YOU!

This work doesn’t happen without the support of donors like you. Make your donation today to keep this momentum going. We want to serve women in your community next!

DONATE

Join us at the AJFO Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio September 16–18.

This conference is the longest-running national event dedicated exclusively to advancing best practices for supporting women and girls in the criminal justice system.

Each year, it brings together over 400 professionals – including correctional leaders, policymakers, advocates, and formerly incarcerated women – to share evidence-based strategies that promote healing, accountability, and community reintegration.

APPLY TO BE A SPEAKER ATTEND SPONSOR THE EVENT

We’re so excited to be working alongside dynamic Sheriff’s like Chris Swanson of Genesee County, Michigan who along with elected leaders like Governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer “Big Gretch” are committed to investing in incarcerated individuals and providing them with the skills, tools, and resources they need to grow, heal, and thrive when they are released. We’re working on introducing The Gemma Project to the justice-involved women in Genesee this coming year.