About the conference

Healing in community: Advancing safer communities together.

Each year, the Orange County Public Safety & Reentry Conference brings together leaders across public safety, government, healthcare, education, nonprofits, employers, and individuals with lived experience to advance innovative approaches to reentry, restorative justice, and community wellbeing.

Man in suit and glasses speaking at a podium with a microphone, colorful balloons floating above a lively crowd in a large e…

EVENT DETAILS

Wed · Sept 23, 2026

8:00 AM – 5:00pM

Hotel fera

100 The City Drive South
Orange, CA 92868

450 seats

Limited capacity
Reserve early

Parking included

Complimentary
on – site parking

Three panelists, two men and one woman, smiling and laughing during a discussion on stage, with two holding microphones.

why attend

Learn. Connect Collaborate.

Hosted by Project Kinship, this annual conference creates a space where partnerships become action and ideas become solutions that strengthen both public safety and human dignity. The conference is designed to connect professionals, advocates, policymakers, and community members around practical strategies that reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for justice-impacted individuals.

Attendees can expect:

  • Keynote speakers
  • Panel conversations
  • Reentry and public safety discussions
  • Community resources
  • Networking
  • Sponsor Resource Fair
  • Opportunities to connect across systems

The experience

A Day Built to Move You

Inspiring speakers

Hear leaders share innovative approaches to justice, healing, and transformation.

Inspiring speakers

Hear leaders share innovative approaches to justice, healing, and transformation.

Meaninful Connections

Connect with professionals and community partners working toward shared public safety goals.

Stories that inspire

Meet organizations providing employment, education, housing, services, and community support.

Event Schedule

8:00 AM REGISTRATION & CHECK IN

9:00 AM WELCOME & OPENING REMARKS

9:30 AM KEYNOTE PRESENTATION – CHEF JEFF HENDERSON

10:00 AM MORNING PLENARY: A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATION

11:30 AM WORKSHOP SESSIONS 1

1:00 PM LUNCH & NETWORKING

2:00 PM WORKSHOP SESSIONS 2

3:30 PM CLOSING PLENARY: FROM INCARCERATION TO TRANSFORMATION

4:30 PM CLOSING & PERFORMANCE

Diverse group of professionals, mostly men, seated in rows at a conference, many wearing name tags and looking forward.
Smiling bald man in black chef's coat with open hands, gesturing welcomingly to an audience.

featured keynote speaker

Chef Jeff Henderson

Founder, The Chef Jeff Project

From incarceration to acclaimed chef, New York Times bestselling author, entrepreneur, and nationally recognized speaker, Chef Jeff Henderson has become one of America’s leading voices on second chances, leadership, workforce development, and personal transformation.

His remarkable journey from prison to Executive Chef at the Bellagio in Las Vegas has inspired audiences across the country. Through authenticity, humor, and hope, Chef Jeff reminds us that transformation is possible when people are given opportunity, support, and someone who believes in them.

Get involved

Thank You to the 2026 Sponsors!

Stylized orange OC logo with a green leaf, 'health CARE AGENCY' text, and the circular County of Orange, California seal.

OC Health Care Agency, Platinum Sponsor

Returning Home Foundation logo featuring a simple grey house icon centered above the organization's name in a bold serif fon…

Returning Home Foundation, Transformation Sponsor

Kaiser Permanente, Healing Sponsor

Court Appointed Special Advocate, Community Sponsor

f&M Bank, Community Sponsor

Logo for 'The Purpose of Recovery' featuring a circular design of interconnected blue and green figures surrounding a white…

The Purpose of Recovery, Community Sponsor

Get involved

Join Us At The Conference

Be part of a day focused on connection, collaboration, and creating stronger pathways for reentry and public safety.