m my kids, and I feel like I made a decision to be around the wrong people, and I made them suffer for a decision that I made,  she said.  I'm grateful that I've had the opportunity to be back with them, but it was the worst time of my life.

 I thought I would never be able to serve my community again 

 Delenia is a great representative of what happens when you are supported, when you're heard, when you're seen, and somebody gives you a second chance,  Cecilia Zavala, Nation Outside's executive director, said.  We all are formerly incarcerated, have a post-conviction in everybody we serve, so we're all in this unique community. 

Like Howell and Worthy, Zavala is living out her second chance.

 You get in trouble with the law, have a conviction, and now are starting over,  she said.  We're lucky if they let us fold pizza boxes at Little Caesars. 

In August 2016, she pleaded no contest to embezzlement while serving as COO of the now-defunct nonprofit Esperanza Detroit, an agency that served at-risk students at Detroit Western High School.

She didn't serve prison time, but the conviction sits like a scarlet letter on her record.

 Being walked off jobs because of your felony conviction, having trouble finding a place to live,  she said.  I still feel that felony is the first thing people see. 

Zavala was accused of using Esperanza's credit and debit cards without approval between November 2011 and May 2014. She says that evidence that would have exonerated her was not allowed in court, and she took the plea deal.

 I was so ashamed and embarrassed of my conviction that I just didn't think I could do it,  she said.  It's really difficult to build and thrive after you get a conviction. 

Zavala says one of Nation Outside's goals is to also shine a light on the criminal justice system that disproportionately affects Black and Brown people and also does not do enough to rehabilitate people, particularly those who have a release date.

 The system is designed especially for certain people to keep people in that cycle of poverty,  she said.  When you see people that are successful, that starts to break that cycle and end that stigma. 

Howell is set to be honored at their  Seeds of Change  event on Friday night in Southwest Detroit. Her goal is to continue to rebuild her life for both herself and her family.

Nation Outside's state funding was cut in last year's budget, and they are constantly raising money to stay afloat. Howell says the organization has helped change her life.

 I really hope that Nation Outside finds exactly the funding they need,  she said.  It's really for us to help people because when they come back from being incarcerated, it is very hard. 

 It's a barrier to even wanting to ask for help because you feel so ashamed and you feel so alone,  Zavala added.  We're trying to end that.

 We want people to feel supported,  she said.  We want them to come home to community. We don't judge; we support.