{"id":148650,"date":"2026-04-14T21:35:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:35:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=148650"},"modified":"2026-04-14T21:35:58","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T01:35:58","slug":"allentown-pardon-me-event-second-chances-real-stories-strong-visuals-at-symphony-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=148650","title":{"rendered":"Allentown ‘Pardon Me’ event: Second chances, real stories + strong visuals at Symphony Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"

One in Three Americans Carry a Criminal Record<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lehigh County Event Explores How Pardons Can Unlock Second Chances<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cPardon Me\u201d screening at Allentown Symphony Hall highlights the real-life impact of clearing decades-old convictions on jobs, housing, and community stability<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

ALLENTOWN, Pa., April 14, 2026<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 One in three Americans has a criminal record and even decades after completing their sentence, that record can continue to block access to employment, housing, education, and economic mobility.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, April 29, Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol, in partnership with the Center for Humanistic Change and the Office of the Lehigh County Public Defender, will host a public screening of\u00a0Pardon Me<\/em>\u00a0at Allentown Symphony Hall. The event will examine how pardons can remove long-standing barriers and expand access to opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.<\/p>\n

Pardon Me<\/em>\u00a0is a short documentary that follows two individuals navigating the pardon process, one of whom ultimately receives a pardon, while also featuring civic leaders who examine how second chances can strengthen families and uplift entire communities. The film makes the case that pardons are not just personal, they are economic and community-driven solutions.<\/p>\n

\u201cPardons are about recognizing growth and removing barriers that no longer reflect who someone is today,\u201d said Grace Vangelo, Advisory Board Chair for Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol. \u201cWhen people have completed their sentence and worked to rebuild their lives, we have an opportunity as a community to support true reentry.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe say people should rebuild their lives after they\u2019ve paid their debt to society, but then we continue to deny them access to jobs, housing, and opportunity,\u201d said Tobey Oxholm, Executive Director of The Pardon Project. \u201cThat contradiction is exactly what pardons are meant to address.\u201d<\/p>\n

Individuals with past convictions can be excluded from:<\/p>\n