McLean County Reentry Council

12/19/2025

Most families never have to think about how school discipline works.
Others live with its consequences.

Dr. Charles Bell’s research centers the experiences of students and families who are most affected by exclusionary discipline, and what happens when schools fail to protect them.

This conversation isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding how early discipline shapes long-term outcomes.

Join us tomorrow for a conversation with Dr. Charles Bell on the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

📅 Friday, December 19 | 1:00 PM | Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87974576448?pwd=VVd0VFBLbE1YUXdFMmRxOHpjaWo2dz09

12/17/2025

Happening this Saturday!

12/16/2025

Last night, the McLean County Reetnry Council was blessed to attend the WEI at Heartland Community College Recognition Ceremony. Tara Trefzger-Belssant (Vice President) and Heather Johnson (Secretary) received the WEI Community Partner Award on behalf of the entire council, including Toy Beasley (President), and board members Kara Powell, Langston Pates, and Keith Green.

Carle Health of Bloomington received the WEI Employer Partner Award for their partnership and commitment to hiring WEI graduates.

The keynote speaker, Angell Howard, HCC Trustee, spoke from knowledge, having lived the path that many of the students have walked. Her encouragement and heartfelt testimony were captivating.

Thank you so much for allowing us to be a part of this beautiful celebration!

12/16/2025

December 2025 MCRC Updates and Zoom link - https://mailchi.mp/d69c644b6079/upcoming-events-mclean-county-reentry-council-13498960

12/15/2025

When Dr. Charles Bell first encountered the term “school-to-prison pipeline,” it made him pause.

Why?

Because lived it.

Growing up on Detroit’s west and east sides, he experienced repeated school suspensions and watched friends disappear from classrooms.

By his sophomore year of college, he was one of just a few black students in his classes. That moment raised a question he couldn’t ignore: Where did everyone go?

He began research that turned into his life’s passion.

Dr. Bell is joining our Supporting Reentry Zoom to talk about the barriers and gross inequalities behind the statistics. He will talk about why school discipline doesn't just affect the student, but also places undue hardship on their family.

See Dr. Bell on Everyday Injustice Podcast Episode 204 at

This week on Everyday Injustice, we talked with Charles Bell, an assistant professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at Illinois State University, whos...

12/13/2025

This month, the McLean County Reentry Council is doing things a little differently — and we’re honored to welcome Dr. Charles Bell for a powerful conversation on the School-to-Prison Pipeline.

Dr. Bell, Assistant Professor in Criminal Justice Sciences at ISU and author of 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙: 𝙋𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩, 𝙑𝙞𝙤𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙎𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, will discuss how suspensions, school policing, and “zero tolerance” discipline push students, especially Black and Brown youth, toward the justice system instead of graduation.

His work highlights the impact on families, the use of unlawful disciplinary practices, teacher victimization, and why current “safety” measures fail to keep students safe.

Join us for this month’s Supporting Reentry: MCRC Connections meeting on

📅 December 19
⏰ 1:00 PM
💻 Via Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87974576448?pwd=VVd0VFBLbE1YUXdFMmRxOHpjaWo2dz09

Please share! This is a conversation our entire community needs to hear.

12/09/2025

This month, our Supporting Reentry Zoom is taking a different, and equally powerful path.

Instead of spotlighting a local organization, we’re bringing in Dr. Charles Bell, Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois State, author of Suspended: Punishment, Violence, and the Failure of School Safety.

Whether you’re an activist, a parent, an educator, or a skeptic of the school-to-prison pipeline, this conversation is for you.

Dr. Bell’s research is clear, passionate, eye-opening, and rooted in lived experience.

If you care about kids, justice, or the future of our community, you’ll want to mark your calendar for this Supporting Reentry Zoom.

📅Friday, December 19, 2025
🕒 1:00 PM
📍 Link: https://bit.ly/4cpeLGl

12/03/2025

You’ve seen our work. Now here are the faces behind it.

We’re your friends, your coworkers, your neighbors.
We’re parents, partners, business owners, employees.
Some of us have experienced incarceration, others haven’t. But all of us have been impacted in some way.

And every one of us shares the same passion: Showing up for people and fighting for second chances.

With your support, we can keep growing that impact, donate now at: https://ipcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1594&fbclid=IwY2xjawFaqnBleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHb8o61YWuUQA3A92qiGmoDoZIFQ5DDUIGJZG6Vq0vJgBxntg-ByswficWw_aem_ST4-8yhlsOzzgP65MWXeCQ

12/03/2025

Heather Johnson, MCRC Board Secretary, talks about why MCRC is important to her.

12/02/2025

Why should you support the McLean County Reentry Council? Toy Beasley, our President, wanted to share this with you.

Donate now: https://ipcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1594

12/02/2025

Why should you support the McLean County Reentry Council? Toy Beasley, our President, wanted to share this with you.

Donate now: https://ipcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=1594

12/02/2025

Donate now!
https://app.bitly.com/Bp35mYK4oTP/links

Learn more about who we are and what we do at: https://mcleancountyreentry.org/