Suits Owned by Late District Attorney Ken Thompson Donated to Assist Recently Released Prisoners Seeking Employment
Eric Gonzalez, the Acting DA of Brooklyn joined former DA Ken Thompson’s widow Mrs. Lu-Shawn Thompson today who donated 20 suits owned by her late husband along with ties, shoes and dress shirts in order to extend her support to the ‘Suited for Success’ initiative, organized by Metropolitan Black Bar Association. The donations are meant to be used for assisting the former prisoners of Rikers Island Prison Complex who got released recently. Now they have been looking for employment and the donations would be helpful till they find something to make a living.
Gonzalez said that the late DA was a believer of fairness as well as 2nd chances and his legacy is being continued in the form of his professional wardrobe’s donation so that the ex offenders might be able to get a second chance at bringing the most out of their lives.
Mrs. Thompson expressed her feelings by saying that her husband would be very happy to see that his suits are being used to help individuals who are seeking another chance at leading a better life and that she is hopeful that the donated clothing might turn out to be helpful for someone in landing a good job. She also added that the legacy of her husband is supposed to stay alive through these people who are ultimately going to mark their own place in the world while wearing her husband’s clothes.
Paula Edgar, The President of Metropolitan Black bar Association said that being NY’s biggest black bar association, Metropolitan Black Bar Association has a commitment to advancing justice and giving back to the society. She also said that their incentive is called ‘100 suits for 100 men’ and it basically is a continuation of their MBBA Gives initiative. She added that she was grateful to public officials who collaborated with the association and gave up their suits for ex offenders so that they might lead a good life as having business clothing makes them a step closer to securing a good job and ultimately securing a good future.
The DA’s office of Brooklyn also partnered up with the association on account of this initiative and several community leaders co hosted the drive titled as ‘Suited for Success’ which started on 17th January, 2017 and ended on 10th February, 2017. The office managed to collect almost 65 suits and more than 200 clothing items in the first phase of the drive.
All the donated items are meant to be provided to ‘100 Suits for 100 Men’ which is a non profit organization with a commitment to assisting ex offenders in landing a good job to lead towards a good future.
