Jermila McCoy is the Reentry Program Manager at Goodwill SF Bay, a role she excels at due to her dedication and passion for helping others navigate the transition from incarceration to a bright, purpose-driven future. But her career advancement has been challenged by her own past with the justice system and the ankle monitor she wore for over three and a half years. 

Navigating life with an ankle monitor isn’t easy. Jermila couldn’t leave her home before 7:30am and had to be home at 6pm. She had to seek permission for basic activities that many take for granted, such as attending family functions or staying late at work. It was a constant reminder of the restrictions that followed her, despite the progress she was making. “I’ve sat in meetings with the leaders of our organization, and my ankle monitor would alert me, forcing me step outside,” Jermila shares. She was making a great amount of progress in her career and helping others advance in their own lives, but with the monitor she felt she couldn’t live up to her full potential. 

The turning point came in August 2024, when she finally had the ankle monitor removed. Since then, she has been able to embrace new opportunities, both personally and professionally. “I can finally attend family gatherings, take my nieces to the museum, or just go to a concert without needing permission,” Jermila reflects. “It’s the simple joys in life that I can now enjoy fully.” 

Jermila’s perseverance through this challenge has made her even better in her role as Reentry Program Manager. She can mentor clients who are in similar situations, helping them through obstacles that she also has faced. She says, “I know what they’re going through, and I can help them navigate these barriers because I’ve been there. I want them to know that while it’s tough, there is a path forward.” 

Jermila strives to provide hope and inspiration to her clients while changing society’s perception of what reentry looks like. She is a role model for not only the people she helps in her job, but also for all Goodwill staff and anyone who believes in the power of an individual to change their life for the better.

Thanks to Jermila and her colleagues in the Reentry Program, Goodwill SF Bay has helped 713 reentry clients in the last fiscal year, placing 359 of them in new jobs. Our staff did the work of building up client confidence, assisting with resume writing, and connecting them to additional services, but we could not have done it without the support of our shoppers and donors. Your donations and purchases are what make it possible for Jermila, her colleagues, and her clients to succeed. 

If you would like to learn more about how our career services and training programs help people in the San Francisco Bay community, please visit our Impact page.