Ending the White Collar Life Sentence
October 10, 2026 — 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET
Virtual on Zoom — Open to All
Reach a Committed Audience
Connect with 10,000+ newsletter subscribers and 300+ conference attendees: professionals, attorneys, academics, and advocates.
Join Industry Leaders
Stand alongside Paul Weiss, the ABA, ACFE, and other organizations already investing in this movement.
100% Tax-Deductible
Progressive Prison Ministries is a registered 501(c)(3). Every dollar of your sponsorship is tax-deductible.
National Media Visibility
WCSG has been featured in The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, and Inc. Your brand appears alongside that coverage.
About the Conference
A National Forum for Second Chances
The White Collar Conference brings together justice-impacted individuals, legal scholars, policy advocates, and families for a day of connection, education, and forward progress.
Now in its third year, the conference has grown into one of the most important gatherings in the white collar justice reform space. Our 2025 conference featured keynotes from Jeffrey Toobin and Joe Bankman, panels on pardons and expungement, and a community restoration session moderated by our own members. The 2024 inaugural event set the foundation with powerful conversations about reentry, resilience, and reform.
The 2026 theme, Ending the White Collar Life Sentence, confronts the collateral consequences that follow individuals long after their cases close: employment barriers, financial exclusion, housing discrimination, and the digital permanence of court records.
Your sponsorship puts you at the center of this movement, connecting your brand with a deeply engaged audience of professionals, attorneys, academics, and advocates who share a belief in human dignity and redemption.
Our Reach
By the Numbers
2,000+
Community Members
300+
Expected Conference Attendees
10,000+
Newsletter Subscribers
Donor-Driven Progress
Your Generosity in Action
Federal Expungement Initiative
Co-founded alongside leading legal and academic experts to build a nationwide coalition pushing for a clear, statutory federal expungement process.
Read More →Right to Banking Campaign
Launched to directly address one of the most critical barriers facing justice-impacted individuals: lack of access to basic financial services.
Read More →Weekly Support Group
Free meetings every Monday at 7 PM ET on Zoom, providing a safe space for those navigating the white collar justice system.
Speaker Series & Resources
Regular talks from attorneys, policy experts, and community members, archived as a growing library of free educational content.
Yale Research Partnership
Ongoing collaboration with Dr. Erin Frey at the Yale School of Management, studying recovery and second chances after major professional setbacks.
Incarcerated Members Support
Providing books, educational resources, and direct support to incarcerated members and their families throughout their sentences and beyond.
Conference Program
Event Schedule
The 2026 program below is drawn from the same source that powers whitecollarconference.com. Confirmed sessions are marked; remaining programming is announced on a rolling basis as the event approaches.
9:00 AM ET
ConfirmedJeff Grant
Welcome · WCSG Founder
Widely described as the only attorney in the U.S. who served time in federal prison for a white collar crime and returned to practice white collar law, Grant founded the White Collar Support Group in 2016. He now leads <a href="https://grantlaw.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="underline decoration-white/30 underline-offset-2 hover:text-wcsg-accent hover:decoration-wcsg-accent transition-colors">GrantLaw</a> as private general counsel to executives and professionals facing high-stakes legal matters, and remains a longtime advocate for reentry and second chances.
9:15 AM ET
ConfirmedJoshua J. Smith
Keynote · Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons
The first person appointed to senior Bureau of Prisons leadership after serving time in its custody. He now oversees 122 facilities, 36,000 staff, and the care of over 156,000 people, and founded the Fourth Purpose Foundation and Prison Life Media. <a href="https://prisonpedia.com/wiki/Joshua_J._Smith" target="_blank" rel="noopener" class="underline decoration-white/30 underline-offset-2 hover:text-wcsg-accent hover:decoration-wcsg-accent transition-colors">Read his full profile on Prisonpedia</a>.
10:00 AM ET
ConfirmedDickie Scruggs
Fireside Chat · Legendary trial lawyer, federal inmate, second-chance champion
The lead counsel behind the historic tobacco settlements worth more than $248 billion reached the very top of American law, then served six years in federal prison. Today he leads 2nd Chance MS, which has helped more than a thousand Mississippi adults earn the credentials to rebuild their futures. In conversation with fireside host Brent Cassity.
10:45 AM ET
ConfirmedRebuilding Your Career After a Justice Journey
Featured Panel · Moderated by Drew Chapin, with Emily O'Brien, Rashmi Airan, and Desmond Meade
11:30 AM ET
Coming soonPardons & Expungement
Few things have been more front and center for our community than pardons and expungement. Following the hottest year on record for pardons and expungement, where are we now? A look at what changed, what stalled, and where the fight goes next. Panelists to be announced.
12:00 PM ET
ConfirmedGregg Johnson
Closing · Business Coach, Steering Committee Member
A lifelong Minnesotan, Gregg spent more than 20 years in senior finance and operations roles, including CFO and COO positions in manufacturing and petroleum, before becoming a FocalPoint business coach who helps owners and executives sharpen strategy, profitability, and team performance. He hosts the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@biztalkweekly" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="underline decoration-white/30 underline-offset-2 hover:text-wcsg-accent hover:decoration-wcsg-accent transition-colors">BizTalk Weekly podcast</a> and serves on the conference steering committee, and he closes the day.
Leadership
Conference Hosts
Jeff Grant and Drew Chapin return to host the 2026 conference. See the Event Schedule above for confirmed keynote, fireside, and panel speakers.
Jeff Grant
Host & Co-Founder
Co-Founder of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. and the White Collar Support Group. Attorney, advocate, and the driving force behind the WCSG's mission of connection, dignity, and second chances.
Drew Chapin
Co-Host
Early-stage business development specialist and Founder of The Discoverability Company. A regular WCSG volunteer who brings firsthand experience navigating life after a public legal chapter.
Invest in Second Chances
Sponsorship Opportunities
Each sponsorship is a direct investment in our community. Your support finances weekly meetings, virtual conferences, educational programs, mentorship, career training, and advocacy work that changes lives.
Title Sponsor
Title Sponsorship Package
$25,000
Annual Marketing Benefits
- ✓ Company logo & link on homepage for 12 months with lead-gen clicks
- ✓ Dedicated sponsor spotlight page on prisonist.org
- ✓ Guest appearance on the Nightmare Success podcast
Conference Benefits
- ✓ All of the benefits listed below, plus:
- ✓ Exclusive naming rights in all conference promotions
- ✓ Top placement on website, emails, and all digital materials
- ✓ Verbal recognition during opening and closing remarks
- ✓ Social media spotlight across all WCSG channels
Platinum Sponsor
Platinum Sponsorship Package
$10,000
Annual Marketing Benefits
- ✓ All Gold-level benefits, plus:
- ✓ Logo featured on homepage and all conference marketing for 12 months
- ✓ Advance article or blog feature on prisonist.org
- ✓ Social media spotlight across WCSG channels
Conference Benefits
- ✓ Recognition as Platinum Sponsor during conference
- ✓ Prominent placement in marketing newsletter
- ✓ Name included in all conference email communications
Gold Sponsor
Gold Sponsorship Package
$5,000
Annual Marketing Benefits
- ✓ All Silver-level benefits, plus:
- ✓ Logo placement on official event website and all marketing materials
- ✓ Newsletter feature distributed to full mailing list
Conference Benefits
- ✓ Highlighted as Gold Sponsor in all conference promotions
- ✓ Name mentioned in social media promotion
Silver Sponsor
Silver Package
$2,500
Benefits
- ✓ All Bronze-level benefits, plus:
- ✓ Logo on event website for 12 months
- ✓ Name listed in conference email communications
- ✓ Recognition on WCSG social media
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Package
$1,000
Benefits
- ✓ Logo on conference event page
- ✓ Name listed on all conference marketing materials
- ✓ Thank-you acknowledgment on social media
Ready to Make an Impact?
Every sponsorship dollar goes directly toward dismantling isolation, rebuilding lives, and creating a stronger, more connected community. We would be honored to have you join us.
Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 46-5472724. All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.