OUR HISTORY
WHO WE ARE NOW
Currently, the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition, is a volunteer board-led non-profit organization with 16 board members who represent individuals with lived experience of the criminal legal system, professionals in the field, and concerned community members. The annual Day on the Hill is still held mid-winter, during the legislative session, as well as holding professional training monthly throughout the year.
In May 2023, the Board of Directors revised it's Mission, Vision & Values statements to clearly define the work of the organization.
2008 - 2022
(MNSCC) began as an informal entity circa 2008 to advocate fair and responsible laws towards persons convicted of crimes. Over time, the Coalition had been constituted by a Steering Committee, nonprofit members, and concerned individuals. The Minnesota Council on Crime and Justice served for much of that time as the Coalition’s nonprofit fiscal agent.
Minnesota Second Chance Coalition’s primary task centered on advocacy and the creation and execution of an annual Day on the Hill focused on criminal legal system reform policies.
In 2017, the MCCA Board of Directors voted unanimously to amend the MCCA Bylaws and merge with and adopt the name of the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition. The MCCA Board of Directors temporarily absorbed Minnesota Second Coalition Steering Committee members pending subsequent Officer and Board of Director elections, and the MCCA began doing business as the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition. The merger was premised upon near unanimous agreement amongst Members, Officers, Board Members, and Steering Committee members about the following: that the values and objectives of the two organizations were substantially similar; that the name of the Minnesota Second Chance Coalition better reflected these values and objectives; and that the consolidation would result in an invigorated Board and membership.
1973 - 2008
(MCCA), originally named the Metropolitan Community Corrections Association, was established in 1976. It began as a consortium of agencies, professionals, and other concerned persons who advocated and promoted community-based programming for offenders. Its membership has consisted primarily of correctional employees, students, and other concerned persons who share a common desire to improve the quality of community-based corrections programming.
It’s primary programming consisted of training for professionals in the field.