Instagram/@lala
Incarcerated youth La La Anthony is providing insight into the works of Rikers Island and telling the wonderful tales of change and hope that fuel her initiative, Three Sixty. In a video and post dedicated to sharing the motivation behind her work, the media philanthropic personality shares relatable life and work experiences that drive her passion to do greater things.
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In the video, Anthony describes the draw of the mission as being connected to the idea of redemption. “I believe in it. And in so many cases, the system does not allow second chances to people, and people get thrown into the system. The system is … not set up to help them bounce back, not set up at all,”
Her program, ThreeSixty, is located on Rikers Island and serves young men ages 18 to 21. She mentions how she feels an emotional connection to this age group because of her son, Kiyan. “It felt like these are Kiyan’s friends, his peers. I could talk to them the same way I talk to Kiyan. She also stated, “there is still a chance to change the mentality and way of thinking at that age.”
In addition, the program conducts mentoring, job interview workshops, self-worth building sessions, and also supports housing and employment after release. As she remarked, Anthony is known to be around Rikers as she stated, ‘Like me, I myself am going into Rikers Island all the time. Like there’s never been anybody on the outside that’s spent more time in Rikers Island than I have.’
Of all the success stories, the one of Rondo, formerly known as Michael, stands out the most. Anthony thinks back to a unique feeling she experienced while having him in the program. After she linked him to Jessica Jackson of Reform Alliance, Rondo started working for her soon after his release, and he’s “immediately the head of their entire Gen Z division and forces policy change across the nation, and he’s spoken on panels with Kim Kardashian and Michael Rubin and just got a full scholarship to Columbia University,” as Anthony recalled, further adding that “he’s spoken on panels with Kim Kardashian and Michael Rubin, and he just got a full scholarship to Columbia University.”
In the wake of Anthony’s post, advocates and followers alike came flooding in admiration and support. ‘Always for the people! Always for others! I don’t think most people understand how hard you actually ride for folks! best tier human! In REAL life. God bless you!’ Michelle Mitchenor, actress, commented.
As another commenter indicated, there is a more profound systemic issue that needs addressing, stating, ‘It needs to start taking high school students to these prisons as excursions to listen to testimonies.’ This underlines that education could support prevention and awareness.
“Thank you for doing this work. Blessing,” is how one person expressed their thanks. Many others expressed the same.
Increased rescues and more real opportunities to change lives are becoming the movement, and Anthony marked in her caption for others to check the @ThreeSixty Instagram page for more updates and stories of impact. Reactive rehabilitation really works.
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In a society where everyone wants to be distracted by viral trends, it is refreshing—actually, it is desperately needed—that someone is shedding light on such important, genuine, vulnerable issues. Not only does La La speak about the struggle, but she also wields action against it. Truly, this is the kind of determination that shifts the odds. Not another pointless social media statement. Something with substance behind it.
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