Clarksville, Tennessee · Nonprofit public charity

Your past is not your ending.

Second Chance Baker Solutions helps adults with a criminal record get back to work, build a plan, and create a stable, self-sufficient life, at no cost to you.

Making a difference every week

~200people served each year
2–5new neighbors walk through our doors every week
$0cost to participants, always
Who we are

Second chances, built one person at a time

Founded on March 3, 2023, Second Chance Baker Solutions is a nonprofit dedicated to community improvement, capacity building, and empowering people navigating life after incarceration or facing low-income situations.

About one in three American adults has a criminal record, and that record can close doors to jobs, education and housing. We work alongside each person to open those doors again, with an individualized plan, practical skills, and mentoring that keeps going after the job offer comes.

“We don’t see a record. We see a person with a future worth fighting for.”The heart of Second Chance Baker Solutions
What we do

Support for every step back to work

Every service is free and designed around where you are today and where you want to go.

Individualized Plans

We sit down with you to map your goals, your strengths and the steps to reach steady work and stability.

Job-Readiness Workshops

Hands-on classes that build workplace skills, confidence, and the know-how to talk about your record honestly.

Résumés & Applications

Help writing your résumé, filling out applications (including online ones), and preparing for interviews.

Interview Clothing

Professional clothing so you can walk into your interview looking and feeling ready.

Community Resources

Connections to the local services and partners that help with the rest of life while you rebuild.

Ongoing Mentoring

Our support doesn’t stop at the job offer. Mentors stay with you as you settle in and grow.

Second Chance Pathways

Two paths forward

In partnership with Santana Global, our Second Chance Pathways classes help returning citizens step confidently into a job or into business for themselves.

Path 1

Work Ready

Digital and job-readiness skills for today’s hiring process, where almost every step happens online.

  • Smartphone, computer and professional email basics
  • Résumés and online job applications
  • Talking about a record with honesty and confidence
  • Video interviews and mock interviews
  • Introductions to second-chance employers
Path 2

Hustle to Business

Turn the skills you already have, like braiding, barbering, cooking, cleaning or lawn care, into a legal, lasting business.

  • A simple business plan and pricing
  • Registering your business and opening a business bank account
  • Social media marketing and online payments
  • Co-taught by founder Laquita Baker
  • Ends with a pitch showcase

Classes fill quickly. Reach out to reserve your spot in the next group.

Now enrolling · 8-week course

From Cradle to Grace

Your past does not have to determine your future.

An eight-week group journey of faith, healing, accountability and rebuilding, led by founder Laquita Baker and based on her memoir From Cradle to Grace: The Story of a Torn and Driven Woman.

  • Weekly group sessions of about 90 minutes
  • The 100-page companion workbook, included
  • A reentry readiness checklist
  • A 90-day plan and certificate of completion
See dates & enroll
  1. The Cradle: Where My Story Began
  2. Torn: Naming the Hurt
  3. Behind the Walls: Doing the Inner Work
  4. Grace Found Me: Faith & Forgiveness
  5. Mothering & Mending: Rebuilding Family and Trust
  6. Coming Home: Reentry Readiness
  7. Driven: Discipline, Patience & Perseverance
  8. Grace in Action: Purpose & Lifting Others
Books by Laquita Baker

Read the story. Do the work.

The memoir tells Laquita's journey from incarceration to purpose. The companion workbook walks you through the same path, week by week.

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Visit the shop

Who we serve

You may be a fit if…

  • You are 18 years of age or older
  • You have a verified misdemeanor or felony record
  • You are on probation or parole, or have completed it
  • You are ready to work toward a job, a business, or a more stable life

We accept referrals from probation and parole officers and community organizations, and you can always refer yourself.

How it works

Getting started is simple

  1. Reach outCall, stop by, or send us a message using the form below.
  2. Meet with our teamWe’ll get to know you, verify eligibility, and talk about your goals.
  3. Build your planTogether we create an individualized plan for work and stability.
  4. Learn, apply and growJoin workshops, get interview-ready, and keep your mentor by your side.
Start Today
Founder Laquita Baker beside the Second Chance Baker Solutions banner
Meet our founder

Laquita Baker

Founder & CEO

Laquita Baker knows the road to a second chance personally. That lived experience shapes everything Second Chance Baker Solutions does: meeting people with respect, believing in their potential, and staying with them for the long haul.

Beyond the work here at home, Laquita speaks across the country, encouraging young people and adults to stay off the streets and build a future they can be proud of.

Invite Laquita to Speak

Get involved

Be part of someone’s second chance

Second chances happen when a whole community shows up. Here is how you can help.

Hire Second Chance Talent

Employers: open your doors to motivated, prepared candidates who come with ongoing mentoring support.

Become a hiring partner →

Give

Your gift provides interview clothing, bus passes, ID fees and class materials, so cost is never a barrier.

Make a donation →

Volunteer or Refer

Mentor, teach a workshop, donate professional clothing, or refer someone who is ready for a fresh start.

Get connected →
Contact us

Let’s take the next step together

Whether you’re looking for help, referring someone, or want to partner with us, we’d love to hear from you.

Send us a message