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SCT Speakers Bureau
Real stories that build empathy, reduce stigma, and strengthen pathways to opportunity for people returning home.
Help Lift Up Impacted Voices: Your donation helps make this program possible—covering speaker stipends and supporting community education that reduces stigma and builds opportunity.
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The Second Chance Tucson (SCT) Speakers Bureau is a community initiative that empowers formerly incarcerated individuals to share their personal stories, raising awareness about the challenges of reentry and combating the stigma surrounding criminal convictions. The Speakers Bureau aims to foster empathy and understanding by offering presentations in various community settings, including professional organizations, faith-based groups, and prisons. These presentations focus on topics such as overcoming reentry barriers, the importance of employment and housing, and the societal costs of mass incarceration.
With a focus on authentic storytelling, the Speakers Bureau includes speakers with lived experiences of incarceration, providing a powerful and credible perspective. SCT compensates these speakers for their time and expertise to acknowledge the value of their insights. By addressing diverse audiences, SCT seeks to build bridges between justice-involved individuals and the wider community, promoting restorative justice and encouraging more inclusive opportunities
Is your organization interested in learning about the challenges of returning to the community?
What to expect:
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Story + facilitated Q&A
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In-person or virtual (as available)
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Great for workplaces, faith communities, service clubs, classrooms, and more
We’re Expanding — Join the Speakers Bureau!
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Are you justice-impacted and interested in using your voice to create change? We’re growing our SCT Speakers Bureau and would love to welcome new speakers.
What you’ll receive:
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$100 stipend per speaking engagement
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Support preparing your story and choosing topics you feel comfortable sharing (you are always in control of what you share)
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Opportunities to speak to community groups across our community
We’re planning an in-person Speakers Bureau meet-up Friday, January 16th, 2026. If you’d like to join us, please RSVP at the link below and we’ll send details.
To Book a FREE Speakers Bureau or to Join fill out form
Speaker's Bureau Alumni
2025 Speaker:
- Virginia Mireles
With over 12 years of sobriety and deep lived experience, I am dedicated to helping justice-impacted individuals navigate the path to success. After spending a collective 17 years within the Arizona Department of Corrections, I utilized an employment program while incarcerated to build marketable skills that changed the trajectory of my life. Since my release on May 14, 2018, I haven’t looked back.
Today, I specialize in helping others clear their criminal records and unleash their earning potential. A graduate of Pima Community College, I am currently pursuing my Bachelor’s in Social Services with a goal of facilitating groups to foster healing. When I’m not studying or working, I am proudly raising my 16-year-old granddaughter. Together, we participate in community service events, where I strive to instill in her a true servant's heart.
2023 & 2024 Speaker:
-Veronica Torres
On December 3, 2023, Veronica Torres and Chuck Pyle were invited to do a presentation after services at St. Francis in the Valley Episcopal Church in Green Valley. The arrangements for the talk were made by Rena Robbins and Father Warren from St. Francis. Veronica told her story, being incarcerated at 14 and sentenced to life without parole at 16, in about 15 minutes, which was followed by 15 minutes of question and answer from a very engaged audience. There were about 75 people in attendance to hear Veronica’s inspiring story. This was our first SCT Speakers Bureau presentation.
Veronica Torres also shared her story at the annual dinner of the Green Valley Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) on September 19, 2024. During this event, she discussed her upbringing in South Tucson, her incarceration from age 14 to 39, and her reentry journey over the past five years. Her heartfelt and genuine presentation deeply moved the audience.
2024 Speaker:
-Keifer Ames
On June 8th, SCT hosted another Speakers Forum with the Arizona Mystery Writers Association. SCT was happy to partner with Keifer Ames to present to the Association.
Keifer Ames grew up in rural Avra Valley, working in his father's automotive repair shop from a young age, which exposed him to drugs, alcohol, and pornography. First arrested at 14, he became a full-blown cocaine addict by 18 and was ordered to his first drug treatment center at 21. He received his first prison sentence at 27 and a five-year sentence at 29, being released just before his 34th birthday. Despite continuing in addiction and self-destruction, a turning point came just after his 40th birthday when he sought a life free from addiction. Crying out to God, he found rescue and transformation through unconditional love, grace, and mercy. He has been clean and sober since December 18, 2009, and is a testimony to the power of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ, having had all his rights reinstated. Now a certified minister with the Assemblies of God, he mentors men recovering from addiction and owns two businesses. His journey of overcoming addiction and helping others inspires him to share the message that recovery is possible.
