Chrysalis

05/28/2026

“Excuse me sir… you can’t place that on the ground.”

Good thing you can place your time and support toward helping people prepare for employment opportunities at Chrysalis.

Our volunteer facilitators help clients build resumes, practice interview skills, and grow their confidence as they work toward securing employment.

Sometimes all it takes is showing up to make a difference.

Ready to volunteer with Chrysalis?

Learn more by clicking the link in our bio

05/25/2026

Today, we pause to reflect and remember.

In observance of Memorial Day, all Chrysalis offices are closed today, Monday, May 25, 2026.

At Chrysalis, we believe in the power of community, dignity, and opportunity. As we honor this day, we remain committed to supporting individuals navigating barriers to employment and working toward a more equitable future for all.

We will resume regular business hours tomorrow, Tuesday, May 26.

05/21/2026

Ready to win?! 🏆

Chrysalis’ All In for Changing Lives Poker and Party is next week, but we’re getting the festivities started early with our Online Auction! Featuring over 30 exclusive items, this year’s auction includes an array of luxurious experiences, vacation getaways, and prized memorabilia.

The online auction is now live! This auction is all online and you do not have to be present at the event to win.

Follow the link to start bidding and win big at
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/

🌊Ocean Views at La Bahia
With a beach-bound playground at your doorstep and surprise luxuries at every turn, La Bahia Hotel & Spa invokes the spirit of an endless summer holiday. Enjoy a two-night stay at this luxe seaside resort in Santa Cruz.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zN8t/?search=

⚾Signed Mookie Betts Baseball
“It’s Time for Dodger Baseball!” Take home a prized baseball signed by your Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop and four-time World Series champion Markus Lynn “Mookie” Betts.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zN6h/?search=

🍽️Dinner at The Wilkes
Enjoy elevated comfort food classics and well-crafted cocktails at The Wilkes Restaurant & Bar in Brentwood. Named for architect Alfred T. Wilkes who designed its 1954 Streamline Moderne building, The Wilkes pays homage to a timeless era.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zN7J/?search=

🌵Desert Oasis at The Adler
Retreat to Palm Springs with a two-night stay at The Adler, a 1959 Palmer & Krisel midcentury modern home. The property features a saltwater pool, hot tub, firepit, outdoor shower, al fresco kitchen, and unobstructed San Jacinto Mountain views.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zTt2/?search=

🏀Signed Magic Johnson Jersey
Don the jersey of Los Angeles Lakers franchise legend and Showtime era standout Magic Johnson. The Mitchell & Ness Hardwood Classics jersey is signed by #32 himself.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zpVG/?search=

⚽LA Galaxy - Platinum Tickets
Root for your Los Angeles Galaxy at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. You and three guests will enjoy the soccer match from a prime midfield location with padded seating.
https://e.givesmart.com/events/OCt/i/_All/zPYf/?search=

05/20/2026

Cleaning up our communities, one block at a time

During Public Works Week, we’re proud to highlight the crews making a real impact across Los Angeles. Our Office of Community Beautification Strike Force Team has been out preparing streets ahead of this weekend’s Shine LA events, removing debris, restoring spaces, and helping create cleaner, safer neighborhoods.

Thank you to the teams who show up every day to keep our city shining.

05/19/2026

When I went to go get jobs, I would get hired and I’d work for two weeks. Then they’d call me the next day and say they couldn’t keep me anymore because of my record.” - Kendra, Chrysalis Roads Supervisor

Kendra knows firsthand how difficult reentry can be and how collateral consequences continue to impact people long after they’ve served their time.

Today, she leads freeway maintenance crews through Chrysalis Roads, helping create cleaner communities while building a future grounded in stability, opportunity, and purpose.

Her story is a reminder that people deserve fair chances, meaningful support, and opportunities to succeed.

Read more from Kendra, Anthony, and Nesta as they share their experiences navigating reentry and the hidden barriers that follow incarceration.

https://ow.ly/Om9G50Z1TeQ

05/15/2026

What a night ♠️

Last year’s Poker & Party brought together supporters, partners, and community members for an evening rooted in connection, community, and impact.

From the poker tables to conversations shared throughout the night, every moment helped support Chrysalis’ mission of creating pathways to employment and stability across Southern California.

As we look ahead to this year’s & Party, we’re reflecting on the moments that made last year’s event so meaningful and the community that continues to make this work possible.

Join us for Poker & Party 2026 on May 28th and help create opportunities for individuals on their path forward.

https://ow.ly/9YMq50Z0o9A

05/14/2026

Dante’s journey shows what’s possible when people are given a real chance to rebuild stability through work.

Through Chrysalis and Chrysalis Enterprises, Dante has built experience across multiple crews including Roads, Safekeeping, and Works in the Arts District. Each role helped him gain steady employment, learn new skills, and stay connected to a supportive work environment.

Today, Dante is working as a driver with Works, contributing daily to clean, safe streets across the Arts District while continuing to grow his career goals. Along the way, he has also pursued additional training, including welding certification, expanding his long-term opportunities.

Dante’s story reflects what transitional employment is designed to do: create stability, build confidence, and open doors to what comes next.

Read his full story in our newsroom to learn more. https://ow.ly/XABJ50YZMTk

05/13/2026

You may remember Anthony, one of our program managers, who joined our Director of Policy & Government Relations to advocate for programs that create opportunities for justice-impacted individuals, the same type of support that helped him during his own reentry journey through Chrysalis.

On May 12, Chrysalis was at the California State Capitol meeting with the offices of Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva who represent clients from our DOORS and Orange County offices, to discuss Jails to Jobs.

Every year, thousands of people enter the justice system at a critical moment where access to the right support can change the trajectory of their lives. Jails to Jobs helps bridge that gap by diverting individuals with low-level, nonviolent offenses from incarceration to job training and career opportunities in high-demand industries like healthcare and the skilled trades.

We stood alongside advocates and partners to ask for an investment in programs that connect justice-impacted individuals to meaningful employment pathways.

Vera Institute of Justice, Michelson Center for Public Policy, Operation New Hope Youth Opportunity Centers, Sergio Rodriguez Camarena, Russell Degnan , William Pond, California State Assembly, Sana Jaffery, California State Senate

05/12/2026

Starting over after incarceration isn’t just a moment. It’s a journey filled with barriers, resilience, and the fight for a second chance.

The newly released film 'Ricky' brings powerful attention to the realities individuals face when returning home, including navigating stigma, employment challenges, housing instability, and rebuilding without consistent support. Through this story, Director Rashad Frett humanizes the reentry experience and challenges assumptions about justice-impacted individuals.

In our latest newsroom feature, we sit down with Rashad to discuss the inspiration behind Ricky, the systemic barriers highlighted in the film, and why support after release is critical. The conversation explores the gap many individuals face immediately after returning home and how access to employment, transitional opportunities, and guidance can help people rebuild their lives.

Ricky is more than a film. It’s a conversation about reentry, second chances, and what it truly takes to start over. The film will be available via video on demand on June 2.

Read the newsroom feature and watch our sit-down with Director Rashad: https://www.changelives.org/uncategorized/after-release-how-ricky-reflects-the-reality-of-starting-over/

05/11/2026

As Nancy prepared to retire after more than 40 years in healthcare, she wasn’t slowing down, she was looking for a new way to give back.

She knew she would miss the sense of community that came with her career and wanted something consistent, meaningful, and rooted in connection. That search led her to Chrysalis.

What she found was more than she expected.

Now, Nancy teaches job preparation classes, helping clients build confidence, sharpen their skills, and take steps toward employment. But what stands out most to her isn’t just what she shares, it’s what she gains in return.

“I’m learning just as much as I’m teaching.”

By creating space for clients to share their lived experiences, Nancy fosters conversations that are honest, collaborative, and deeply impactful. For her, this work is about more than volunteering. It’s about showing up, listening, and growing alongside the community.

Learn more about Nancy's story in our newsroom post: https://ow.ly/VtJ350YXObi

Interested in volunteering? https://ow.ly/TQpu50YXOfo

05/09/2026

Jails to Jobs is one simple idea... creating pathways to opportunity, not barriers to employment.

We’re proud to stand alongside a growing coalition of organizations and advocates supporting J2J, a proposed pilot program that would connect people impacted by the justice system to job training and employment opportunities in high-demand fields like healthcare and the skilled trades.

On May 12, we're heading to Sacramento to call for pilot funding and voices across the state are being encouraged to speak up in support.

Take one minute today to send a message to Assembly Budget Subcommittee 5 and help advocate for workforce opportunities, economic mobility, and stronger, more stable communities.

🔗 -

Jails to Jobs (J2J) connects people charged with low-level, nonviolent offenses to job training and employment pathways in high-demand fields like healthcare and the skilled trades, helping individuals build stability while strengthening our workforce.