Montgomery County highlights Second Chance Month, re‑entry services and MONCO Trail Challenge

Montgomery County commissioners on April 9 heard presentations on re‑entry services and community events, including plans for Second Chance Month, a resource fair for people with criminal records, and the MONCO Trail Challenge.

Lori Triber, clerk of courts, described the county’s recognition of Second Chance Month and promoted a resource fair scheduled for Monday, April 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the George Washington Carver Center in Norristown. Triber said the county’s resource fair will include vendors offering expungement clinics, voter services, notary help and career assistance; a QR code on the event flyer links to newsletter and vendor registration. She emphasized that being released from incarceration does not automatically bar a person from voting and pointed attendees to a short video and flowchart explaining voter eligibility for people with criminal records.

Alyssa McBride of the Montgomery County Re‑entry Initiative (MCRI) outlined MCRI’s cross‑sector membership — including Family Services, the county correctional facility, adult probation and parole, the public defender’s office and the Criminal Justice Advisory Board — and the group’s data‑driven strategic plan and action teams addressing housing, career development, behavioral health and family supports.

Laura Williamson, community traffic safety program coordinator for the county Office of Public Health, presented the 11th annual MONCO Trail Challenge, a countywide scavenger‑hunt style program running April 25 through Dec. 7 across 18 participating parks and trails. "It’s essentially a scavenger hunt along 18 participating parks and trails all throughout the county," Williamson said. The program includes prizes for visiting 5, 10 or 15 trails, surveying data that last year showed about 77% of participants reported improved mental health, and a kickoff on Saturday, May 2 at Penny Packer Mills with free helmet distribution and safety resources.

Separately, the board’s opening remarks highlighted an Earth Day community marketplace on April 22 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) in front of the courthouse, featuring local sustainable businesses, food trucks and family activities, and an "I Voted" sticker design contest with a deadline of April 30.

Triber and MCRI encouraged attendees and residents to use county resources for reentry support and to attend the resource fair; Williamson encouraged residents of all ages to register for the Trail Challenge via the county web page and QR code on her flyer. The county will publish event details and vendor lists on montgomerycountypa.gov.