Stuart Commissioner Eula R. Clarke, Florida Justice Center to Host Second Chance Event on August 27

City commissioner and legal aid organization partner to uplift underserved communities in Stuart, Florida with free legal and social services.

Stuart, FL (August 3, 2022) –

Martin County has one of the state’s highest disparities in arrest rates for Black men and women. While composing less than 6% of the county population, over 19% of those arrested are Black.[1] With this in mind, Florida Justice Center announced today it would be hosting a Second Chance Event in Stuart in collaboration with City Commissioner Eula R. Clarke and Cresco Labs with the hope of building racial equity in the justice system while empowering those individuals with a fresh start at success.

The public is invited to the 10th Street Community Center from 10am to 4pm to meet with attorneys and over a dozen nonprofit organizations that are all dedicated to helping people with arrest records have increased opportunities for jobs, housing, healthcare, and civil rights.

“After the overwhelming response we received in Riviera Beach in July, where over 225 people sought assistance, we are excited to move farther up the Treasure Coast to underserved neighborhoods in Stuart,” said Florida Justice Center Executive Director Jonathan Bleiweiss.

Florida Justice Center, Florida’s only legal aid focusing on rights restoration services, will be providing sealing and expungement, voting rights restoration, driver license reinstatement, clemency, early termination of probation, and outstanding warrant assistance.

Community groups such as Abundance Love Ministries, Catholic Charities of the Dioceses of Palm Beach, Florida Rural Legal Services, Helping People Succeed, and Treasure Coast Food Bank will assist attendees with voting registration, immigration, housing, family law issues, employment training and placement, health care, and other reentry services.

“Our industry is inextricably linked to generations of that same racism and inequity through the disparate application of drug laws in communities of color, and we have a responsibility to demand justice. We will use our platform and resources to achieve justice and equality through restorative initiatives, and to build tangible pathways to a diverse and inclusive industry through investment, education and legislative initiatives,” said Cresco Labs in a statement.

For more information or to pre-register for assistance, visit FLJC.org/Stuart

[1] http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/CJAB/UCR/Annual-Reports/UCR-Arrest-Data