PowerNet is a grassroots, community-based, not-for-profit organization founded in Dayton, Ohio in June of 2002 to empower poor inner-city communities to define and enhance their quality of life. After spending our first 12 months doing community organizing, social service and grassroots (door-to-door) research, coalition building, conducting focus groups and think tanks, and building relationships with community and faith-based groups from different religious traditions, PowerNet came to the very clear and definitive conclusion that a comprehensive, community-focused, family-centered reentry initiative was the best possible strategy for addressing the greatest challenges which limit the quality of life within our under-served community, i.e., crime and poverty.

The subsequent 12 months were dedicated to a national search for best practices and evidence-based programs and attending ex-offender reentry workshops and conferences around the country. It was also very important during this time period to network and build relationships with service providers, criminal justice agencies, and major stakeholders to determine our optimal role in addressing reentry in our county.

Based on what we had learned during these conversations, it also became obvious to us that reentry had to begin within the prison system before individuals are released.

Furthermore, we determined that this reentry program needed to be strength-based and begin at least one year prior to release to allow us to 1) build the type of relationships with the inmates which allow us to advocate for the services, resources, and opportunities to support their successful re-integration, and 2) to provide enough time for individuals to develop the type of attitude, thinking, behaviors and habits that will serve them best upon release, i.e. rehabilitation to take place. PowerNet was legally incorporated and received its 501(C)3 from the IRS in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

PowerNet of Dayton was registered as a foreign corporation in Florida in 2016 using the fictitious name, PowerNet of Tampa. The PowerNet Group was created in January 2019 to expand its reach, and increase the impact and capacity of our programs and services to meet the needs of our target population in communities in other parts of the country.

After researching the literature and programs operating across the US, PowerNet created the GEM Leadership Development Program which identifies highly motivated individuals with felony records who want to change their lives and help them to create a personal vision, develop a career plan, and then access the opportunities to realize their goals. PowerNet is committed to working with and supporting the work of any agency or group which can help to provide access to the resources and services these individuals and their families need to be successful.