Eva Hamilton, MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), is nothing short of a whirling dervish when it comes to seeing a challenge and then creating a solution. For 38 years, Eva has worked with some of the U.K.’s most marginalized groups. From her organization, Business Action on Homelessness to the program Seeing is Believing, a collaboration with HRH The Prince of Wales (now King Charles), Eva believes everyone deserves another chance. Her current crime prevention charity Key4Life offers what she refers to as ‘blended’ Seven Step program to rehabilitate young men in prison or at risk of going to prison and reduce the cycle of crime. Since its inception after the 2011 London riots, Key4Life has impacted over 1000 offenders and run 39 programs with more than 150 UK companies.

We’ve all heard the quote – ‘The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.’ With more than 600,000 people being released across the U.S. each year yet more than two thirds are rearrested within three years, the prison reform wheel needs to become more innovative, and leading that charge is the California organization, Impact Justice. Their overall mission, to get creative, change the script and rules of engagement, believe in one another, and expand what’s possible. Aishatu Yusuf, Vice President of Innovation Programs breaks down some of the transformational projects that take the prison reform movement, head on. Impact Justice programs run the gamut from a reentry mentorship program for formerly incarcerated, to a sharing economy model that pairs returning citizens with welcoming community housing hosts, and a first of its kind partnership to improve food quality, and provide access to fresh, nourishing, appealing food behind the wall. As Aishatu Yusuf says, ‘at Impact Justice we are all doers’.

This milestone episode for The Hustler Files was recorded at the Hampden County Jail, in Western Massachusetts, but this conversation with Sheriff Nick Cocchi, who runs the jail and Liz Dineen, CEO of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts could take place in any city or county, USA. Domestic violence month may be in October, but it’s not a once-a-year issue. It’s also NOT just a female issue. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner violence and domestic violence does not discriminate. It affects people of all ages, races, and backgrounds, which is why the YWCA is no longer just a place to find a pool and an exercise class. The YWCA is now a safe haven for women and men who have experienced domestic violence. A place where support for survivors is their top priority with no questions asked, but a shoulder is offered. To also offer support and awareness is Sheriff Cocchi, one of the most progressive Sheriffs anywhere in the U.S. Sadly, this Sheriff had to experience the recent loss of a most beloved Assistant due to domestic violence, but that only fueled his fire to bring awareness to the domestic violence issue that can be right under our noses and thus partnering with the YWCA to amplify the message. As Sheriff Cocchi says, “there is no shame in asking for help if you’re a victim of domestic violence, it’s not YOUR problem, it’s the abuser’s”.