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Four Years Of Second Chances Celebrated At West Philly Gala

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A black-tie gala in West Philadelphia Saturday night celebrated the success of a program dedicated to mentoring once incarcerated members of the community back into society.

It was called "Faces of Re-Entry," hosted by the organization that's all about giving second chances.

"Gateway to Re-entry' is a program that helps individuals -- male and female -- that come home from jail, and also deals with prevention, stopping individuals from going back to jail," explains founder Tracey L. Fisher.

Tracey Fisher
Tracey Fisher (third from left) participating in a prayer early in the gala. credit cbs

He says this event helps change how people in the program are perceived:

"People are used to seeing re-entry with pants sagging, Timberland wearing and all that, but now we're in tuxedos and bow ties. So it's hard to tell who's who, and that's how you have to change the vision of re-entry."

Fisher says their first gala was held in his back yard. Now in its fourth year, this one took place at the First District Plaza, which shows how much they've grown over the years.

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