Fair Shake is dedicated

to supporting the successful reintegration

of formerly incarcerated

people into society.

Mission
Fair Shake is dedicated to reducing the

recidivism rate through personal and

community focused ownership and

engagement opportunities for inmates

and former felons in connection with families,

employers, property managers, and corrections.

These are the folks making Fair Shake tick. Team members offer short biographies as well as answered the question: Why do you think people coming out of prison should get a fair shake?

We would love to read your answer to that question. Contact Us if you are willing to have your answer posted. You may see your comment on our website one day! (optional: name and region/city)

Sue Kastensen  – Founder and Director
Sue is the founder and director of Fair Shake. She is one of the founders of Fair World Project and serves as an advisor. She created Sun Dog Hemp Body Care, now owned by Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps.  She graduated from Walden III, an alternative High School in Racine, WI, and has a bachelors degree in Individualized Learning from Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI . Current board seats include the Domestic Fair Trade Association and the Viroqua Food Cooperative. 

Alex Wikstrom – Website Administrator
Alex has been on the Fair Shake team since the beginning.  He was hired to perform basic office work and has self-educated himself up to the position of Website Administrator.  Alex designs web pages, our brochure and our documents; he also manages web page content, member questions, and is in charge of all Fair Shake email accounts.  One of his more important roles is helping Sue (the director) interpret and clarify her vision.

Cosmic Egg (Eric Lineback / Michael Aubert / Cindy Rosario / Steven McKeon)
Web design and graphic artists

Natalie Wikstrom – Administrative Assistant
Natalie considers herself very ‘politically minded', although only partially politically active.  She is involved in the arts, especially theatre, dance, and music. Being an actor who thrives on studying history; she uses it to step into the minds and times of the characters she plays. Through understanding others she has become aware that not everyone is being dealt an even hand. She is also a nature enthusiast.

Alex Wikstrom says...
    To err is human; to forgive, divine. 
      -Alexander Pope

Sometimes progress is made because of an error.  In these progressions (errors) we feel the end justifies the means.  All of us make mistakes, and if the mistakes are serious enough we can end up in prison for a long time. 

When people are released from prison, they are often different than when they were admitted.  I'm 25 years old, I can’t even come close to counting how many changes I've gone through since I was 18.  We are only talking seven years of time, how different would I be after 20 years?

Eric Lineback says...
The world is changing fast, someone released now who has been imprisoned for 20 years isn't going to know much about the internet or cell phones.  So there is constant change, if we want their prison experience to have a positive impact (and yes, that would affect us), then they need to be prepared and willing to work WITH the world.

Natalie Wikstrom says...
Since becoming a Fair Shake employee, I have become passionate about what happens to people after they have served prison sentences. "Ex-cons" in the medial and in popular culture are largely portrayed as thugs, deviants, and abusers. This makes it easy to be frightened, and so we try to keep them as far away from our neighborhoods as possible. However, if they aren't given the "Fair Shake" that we ourselves would expect in the same situation, the scales are tipped against them. When the sentence is over they should be given every opportunity to contribute to society, starting simply with an opportunity for shelter, food, and work. As stakeholders, let's all work together to turn these injustices into opportunities!

Sue Kastensen says...

• Because I have made mistakes, and I continue to make mistakes.  I understand what it’s like to want another chance to be trusted to not mess things up. I also understand how it is possible to be remorseful and earnest about making a change.  I see that we all have the same potential for good and evil; and that evil can be as effortless as selfishness, and good can be as simple as a smile.    

• Because folks who have come out of prison need a way to prove intentions to re-engage. For us to believe that returning prisoners are somehow all the same just encourages the “nothing works” strategy that has driven reentry inaction for the last 30 years, while the tax revenue we want to use to support our children, elderly and communities is being diverted to prop up an inefficient, debasing, and vaguely accountable system.    

• Because I know from experience that the ‘pull yourself up by your bootstraps’ idealism of the American Dream is still possible.  After a former felon has completed her or his sentence, it’s time for them to transition and contribute!  We are all integral and valuable collaborators in building our democracy, and our (entire) society is a reflection of our values! 

• And, on a personal level, I’m actually rather selfish.  It is my relentless quest to enjoy life to the fullest – or, as the Anishinaabe say, bimaadiziiwin.  I have found that it is much easier to enjoy life when I feel safe, respected and engaged in my community.  Since I am responsible for my happiness, I realize I have an important part to play in making my world a great place to hang out.   

• Email us at information(at)fairshake(dot)net 
  
• Interact with us on Facebook

• Belief in redemption.
  
• Belief in success after incarceration.
  
• Belief we can build strong communities.
  
• Belief that each of us is equally capable of good and evil.
  
• Belief that pro-social behavior is best taught by logic and example.

• 24 hour access to tools found in the website
  
• Email account and web page hosting for former inmates
  
• Local and relevant resource information - Resource Directory
  
• Ability to quickly create a Reentry Packet
• Self-empowering non-athoritative approach
  
• Diverse and verified learning opportunity
  
• Workshops

• Bentley Lein - President
  
• Kreigh Rasikas - Treasurer
  
• Rick Carnal – Secretary
• Sue Kastensen – Director

• We are free when we own everything we are about.
  
• Good and bad exist in each of us.
  
• Each of us is in charge of our own success and satisfaction in life.
  
• We need meaning in our lives: whether spiritual, important people, purpose for life, etc.
  
• We cannot outsource caring.

To create a(n)

• Basic Tool Kit, available to all
  
• Interactive website
  
• Website-simulation program
  
• Database of useful, current and relevant re-entry resources
  
• Study Guides to encourage critical thinking, employee considerations,
  relationship and language skills, accountability and transition preparation
  
• Verified recognition for areas studied.
  
• Seminars and workshops, in prisons and communities, to encourage dialogue in reentry considerations.