Mile Square Health Center

Empowering Change: A Community Conversation on Health, Healing, and Reentry

On June 20, 2025, Mile Square Health Center collaborated with partners from across UI Health, along with Aetna Better Health of Illinois (ABHIL), Safer Foundation, TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities), and the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC) for Empowering Change: Pathway to Care & Well-being for Successful Reentry, a full-day convening dedicated to addressing the health and social needs of individuals returning home from incarceration.

Hosted at the Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub, the convening brought together clinical leaders, policy advocates, public health professionals, and community organizations to explore the role of healthcare in creating more equitable, supportive pathways for justice-involved individuals. The goal: build stronger bridges between reentry services and holistic, person-centered care.

A Morning of Insight and Action

The day opened with remarks from Dr. Karriem Watson, CEO of Mile Square Health Center and longtime champion of community-engaged care. Dr. Watson underscored the importance of collaborative partnerships in addressing the complex needs of returning citizens—individuals who often face disproportionate barriers to healthcare access, employment, housing, and mental health services.

Following a round of introductions, facilitator Victor LaGroon led a thoughtful discussion on the real-world challenges returning citizens face and the systems-level changes needed to support them. Attendees—from behavioral health clinicians to public health strategists—shared insights from their departments, discussed service gaps, and identified opportunities to improve care delivery for this population.

Partner Voices and Policy Perspectives

The morning continued with a panel hosted by ABHIL, moderated by Barbara Otto, that highlighted reentry transformation work happening across the state. Panelists included Rucha Shastri and Ebony Jenkins of Safer Foundation, and Mary Cooley of ABHIL, each offering perspectives on trauma-informed service models, workforce reintegration, and the need for sustained investment in wraparound supports.

A Powerful Keynote from Ari Merretazon

One of the most powerful moments of the day came during the keynote from Ari Merretazon, a Vietnam War veteran and national advocate for justice-involved individuals. Merretazon’s personal story is the real-life inspiration behind the 1995 film Dead Presidents, which chronicles the struggles of Black veterans returning home from war, only to face systemic neglect and cycles of poverty.

Now a tireless voice for restorative justice and reentry equity, Merretazon shared his journey from incarceration to advocacy, challenging attendees to approach care not only as clinicians and policy professionals—but as agents of healing. In a moderated conversation with LaGroon, he emphasized the urgency of reform, the power of lived experience, and the moral imperative to support those who have paid their debt to society.

Mile Square Takes the Lead on Integrated Care

The afternoon featured a dedicated panel from Mile Square Health Center, showcasing how integrated behavioral health and substance use treatment can stabilize and empower returning citizens. Panelists Dr. Nicole Gastala, a leader in addiction medicine, and Shirley Stephenson, APRN, discussed clinical approaches that address trauma, co-occurring disorders, and the social determinants of health that often complicate successful reentry.

From flexible care models to culturally competent support, the panel made clear that equitable care for justice-involved individuals must go beyond access—it must be responsive, human-centered, and grounded in trust.

Closing with Collaboration

The day closed with reflections and a charge to keep the momentum going. In his final remarks, Dr. Karriem Watson emphasized the importance of turning ideas into action and ensuring that health systems remain committed to justice-involved communities—not just during special events, but as an ongoing priority.

As attendees continued networking and exchanging ideas, one theme was clear: supporting returning citizens requires more than one department or one organization—it takes a coordinated, compassionate approach grounded in respect, dignity, and equity.

Events like Empowering Change serve as a reminder that when healthcare, policy, and community join forces, transformation is not only possible—it’s necessary.