At this year’s XR Futures Forum, a groundbreaking panel, moderated by Kate Kimmer, Director of Targeted Populations Initiatives at Transfr, reframed what it means to give people “second chances.” The conversation moved beyond programs and policies to reveal the human ecosystems that shape violence, incarceration, and transformation—and what it truly takes to create lasting change.
Barriers Are Often Invisible to Instructors: Many “no-shows” in programs aren’t lazy—they’re restricted by territorial lines, safety threats, and transit barriers.
Identity Conflicts Matter: Expecting young people to “code-switch” between being adult providers in one world and children in another creates emotional dissonance. Programs must recognize and respect that tension rather than punish it.
Technology as a Tool for Dignity: VR training gave one of the panelists the confidence to succeed in the real world of employment. The power wasn’t in the tech—it was in the freedom to explore dreams safely and privately.
Design for Humanity: 95% of incarcerated people return to our communities. The question isn’t if, but rather it’s how they return. Every program choice influences whether we’re building barriers or bridges.
Kate Kimmer: Director of Targeted Populations Initiatives, Transfr (Moderator)
Robert David Sr., MS: Violence Prevention Manager, City of Danville
Nico Mulder: Leon County Incentivized Pod Program Facilitator / Re-Entry Case Manager, Leon County Sheriff’s Office
Freddie Timmons: Lived Experience Expert and Second Chance Champion
