Warren Miller, Closing the Loop
"Tanaine believes that we learn more from our mistakes than anything else. She has been a great example to those whose shoes she was once in."
Vic Micolucci, News Anchor
"Tanaine is on a mission to raise awareness of the recidivism crisis and change the lives of returning citizens all across the country."
"I am living, breathing proof that our mistakes do not define us..."
Fourteen years ago, I came home after serving my sentence. I was free in body, but I quickly realized that part of me was still confined. My first job was at a logistics company, where I earned just above minimum wage while carrying more than $20,000 in restitution. I worked hard, but I still felt like I was spinning my wheels—trying to build a future while being continually defined by my past.
It took eight years after my release for me to truly feel free. I had left the physical prison behind, but I was still breaking through the invisible walls created by shame, stigma, and the belief that my worst decision would always be the first thing people saw in me.
That journey is what drives my work today. I use my lived experience, strategic leadership, and voice to help people see what becomes possible when we stop defining individuals by their past. Whether I’m delivering a keynote, advising an organization, or working to transform policy, my goal is the same: to eliminate the barriers that create a second sentence and build systems where second chances can lead to lasting success.
Tanaine on the Move
From local newsrooms to national platforms, Tanaine continues to use her story and expertise to spark conversations that matter. Whether she’s speaking on criminal justice reform, fair chances, or leadership through lived experience, each interview reflects her mission to change the narrative—and the system—one conversation at a time.
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