University of Guelph-Humber

Rickysha Jean-Baptiste has seen that hard time in prison is often followed by hard time on the outside. Not only is it difficult to move from the rigid structures and routines of incarceration, but the rest of the world can make it difficult to move on. Every day, people miss out on opportunities to make their lives better because of a criminal record.

“Having a criminal record can keep someone from travelling, getting work, enrolling in education or even volunteering,” says Rickysha, a fourth-year Family and Community Social Services student at the University of Guelph-Humber. “It puts a label on them that keeps them from accessing services they may need.”

That’s why when Rickysha was planning for her advanced field placement at UofGH, she wanted to help solve the problem. Since September, Rickysha has been working towards accruing some of the 850 hours of experience required for her FCSS degree with the John Howard Society (JHS), a non-profit that works for prison reform. At the JHS, Rickysha is working with their Record Suspension Department, where she sits down with clients and helps guide them through the complicated process of suspending a criminal record. It can require working with courts, police and prisons, and progress can be slow. Despite that, Rickysha sees how important it is.

“I was born and raised in the Jane and Finch community, so I’ve seen the need for this kind of support,” Rickysha says. “After I’ve worked with someone and started the process, they just seem really appreciative.”

Though she’s spent years as an activist and community organizer, it was Rickysha’s earlier field placement that led her to the JHS. This past spring, she worked with the community food organization Foodshare, helping run a program that brought affordable and healthy food to areas without grocery stores. After spending a few months there, her supervisor introduced her to the work of JHS and Rickysha thought it looked like a perfect fit. Within a few weeks of starting, she was already helping to organize record suspension workshops out in the community.

 “I want to build strong communities so that people are aware of what they can do to improve their lives and the places they live,” Rickysha says. “I want people to be able to get out of their home and do something they’re passionate about.”

After spending time in the classroom at UofGH, Rickysha says she’s happy to be out in the community working with people. With the theories she’s learned from her coursework, she says there are some things that are best learned through experience.

 “The most important thing I’ve learned is that you can’t judge the client. When you’re sitting with someone one-on-one and trying to work with them, you have to be aware of your own biases,” she says. “You need to check yourself and remember that your words can hurt.”

Learn more about Placements at UofGH.

Learn more about Family and Community Social Services at UofGH.