The Business Case for Second Chances

by Francois Cardinal Board Chair & Executive Committee, Retired Executive Director, Stand in the Gap Ministries 

 Originally published in the Tulsa World, July 6, 2026

For nearly two decades, I have had the privilege of watching lives change through the work of She Brews Coffee Roasters and Transition Program. 

I’ve seen women walk through our doors carrying the weight of past mistakes, broken relationships and uncertainty about the future. I’ve also seen those same women discover confidence, purpose and hope they never thought possible. 

When my dear friend Rhonda Bear founded She Brews in Claremore in 2008, her vision was deeply personal. Having experienced incarceration herself, she understood something many people never will: that a second chance can change the entire course of a person’s life. She believed women leaving incarceration deserved more than a fresh start. These women deserved someone who believed in them, practical skills that could lead to employment, and a community willing to walk alongside them. 

 Seventeen years later, that mission remains unchanged, but the need has increased. 

Every year, women leave correctional facilities determined to build a better future for themselves and their families. Yet too often they face barriers to employment, housing, and stability. We know that meaningful work is one of the most powerful tools for breaking cycles of incarceration and creating lasting change. That is why the opening of our new Claremore location matters. 

While many people will see a beautiful new coffee shop in downtown Claremore, I see something else. I see more room for opportunity. More room for training. More room for women who are ready to rewrite their stories. 

As She Brews has grown from Claremore into Tulsa, we have remained committed to the community where our story began. Expanding in Claremore is not simply about a larger building. It is about increasing our ability to serve women and creating a one-of-a-kind space where workforce development and community come together. Just as important, the expansion includes the launch of our new baking program. 

For the women we serve, baking is a new pathway. The hospitality industry offers countless opportunities, and baking provides skills that are highly transferable across bakeries, restaurants, hotels, grocery stores and food production facilities. 

These skills make women more employable and create opportunities for career advancement and higher wages. 

The program also recognizes an important truth: every woman is different. 

Some women thrive behind the coffee bar, engaging with customers and building relationships. Others are more comfortable working behind the scenes while they continue rebuilding confidence and finding their footing. Neither path is better than the other. What matters is creating opportunities that allow each woman to succeed. 

By offering both barista and baking training, we can help women discover where their strengths lie and equip them with skills that translate into meaningful employment. 

We believe transformation happens when opportunity meets support. It happens when someone is given the chance to learn, work and be seen for who they can become rather than where they have been. That is what this expansion represents. 

We were founded in Claremore. We grew because the need grew. And today, we are expanding where it all began so that more women have the opportunity to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. 

Photo courtesy of @sara.e.wallace