Shop for Change

The Dragonfly Thrift Boutique is more than a store.

It’s a stepping stone to a new life.

As the cornerstone of LEAP’s Employment Social Enterprise, the boutique offers justice-impacted women immediate employment, job training, and a supportive space to rebuild confidence and purpose. Through hands-on experience in retail operations, customer service, and inventory management, women gain real-world skills that prepare them for long-term success whether in the workforce or through launching their own ventures.

  • 100% of the boutique’s proceeds support LEAP’s mission
  • Physical ground zero for LEAP’s paid retail training internship
  • Provides meaningful post-release job opportunities
  • The first source of post-prison Income, Experience, and References

A Job that Builds More than a Résumé

For many women leaving incarceration, the job search can feel impossible. Gaps in employment, stigma, and trauma can all stand in the way. The Dragonfly Thrift Boutique offers a safe and welcoming first step back by providing income, dignity, and a supportive environment where growth happens every day.

“Working at the Dragonfly Thrift Store has been an incredible stepping stone for me. Through this job, I’ve gained valuable workforce skills that make me feel prepared and confident about finding secure employment beyond the program.”

— Alexis, Class 25 LEAP Graduate

Why it Matters:

  • Employment is one of the strongest predictors of successful reentry.
  • Formerly incarcerated individuals who are employed are up to 50% less likely to recidivate (U.S. Department of Justice).
  • Yet nearly 60% of formerly incarcerated women are unemployed one year after release (Prison Policy Initiative, 2018).

By offering immediate employment and workforce training, we help break the cycle of incarceration.

Healing Through Work

Most of the women we serve are survivors of trauma ranging from domestic violence to addiction to systemic injustice. The boutique isn’t just a workplace; it’s a space designed with healing in mind. Through trauma-informed supervision, peer support, and a culture of compassion, women begin to reconnect with their strengths and reimagine what’s possible.

Why it Matters:

  • Women are the fastest-growing incarcerated population in the U.S., increasing by more than 700% since 1980 (The Sentencing Project).
  • Nearly 80% of incarcerated women report a history of physical or sexual abuse (National Resource Center on Justice Involved Women).
  • Reentry challenges include childcare, housing discrimination, and gendered employment stigma.

Healing is foundational to building a stable and independent life, and it starts here.

Pathways to Independence

LEAP’s program is about more than surviving, it’s about thriving. Alongside job experience, participants receive coaching in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career development. Whether their goal is to return to school, launch a business, or move into full-time employment elsewhere, we help them take the next step.

Why it Matters:

  • Justice-impacted individuals are 10x more likely to start a business than the general population (Cornell University).
  • But access to capital and formal business education is often out of reach for this population.

The Dragonfly Thrift Boutique is a launchpad for economic independence, ownership, and generational wealth.

Shop With Purpose

Every purchase at the Dragonfly Thrift Boutique directly supports a woman on her journey toward healing and independence. Whether you’re shopping for vintage treasures, designer finds, or everyday essentials, your dollars go further here by creating jobs, building futures, and transforming lives.

  • 100% of proceeds go back into LEAP’s programs for justice-impacted women.You’re not just shopping, you’re investing in second chances and stronger communities.