In a landmark moment of collaboration, Dress for Success Arizona and the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR) celebrated the grand opening of the transformative HOPE for Success Center with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Arizona State Prison Complex – Perryville on Tuesday, October 21, 2025.
The milestone event brought together state officials, community leaders, and local partners to unveil this groundbreaking initiative designed to empower women preparing to reenter society after incarceration.
The HOPE for Success Center, short for Helping Open Pathways to Employment, provides women with a comprehensive array of reentry services, including career readiness training, digital learning tools, case management, and access to behavioral health, housing, and wraparound support. The new HOPE Center inside Perryville is the first in-prison satellite location in the nation operated by Dress for Success Arizona and represents a major step toward reducing recidivism and fostering economic independence among women impacted by the justice system.
“This center stands for something powerful: the belief that every woman impacted by the justice system deserves the tools, the support, and the dignity to rebuild her life,” said Tamala McBath, Chief Executive Officer of Dress for Success Arizona. “The HOPE for Success Center is more than walls and clothes; it is a lifeline. Here, women will find access to education, career training, and the resources they need to create a sustainable future for themselves and their families.”
The opening builds on the momentum of the $4 million Federal Pathway Home 6 Grant awarded to Dress for Success Arizona earlier this year by the U.S. Department of Labor. The grant supports workforce development and reentry programming for formerly incarcerated women, expanding Dress for Success Arizona’s capacity to provide holistic, trauma-informed services both inside and outside of correctional facilities.
Director Ryan Thornell of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, emphasized the long-term impact of this collaboration.
“The work happening at the HOPE for Success Center will have a tremendous impact on the women in our custody and care, providing them with greater opportunities and resources to confidently reenter and thrive in Arizona’s communities,” said Director Thornell. “By supporting individual success and transformative change, innovative partnerships like this strengthen public safety across Arizona.”
The new facility will serve as a cornerstone for reentry efforts statewide, connecting women to critical resources that begin prior to release and continue during their transition back into the community.
During the ceremony, attendees joined Dress for Success Arizona staff, ADCRR leadership, and partners for guided tours of the new facility before a celebratory reception at the Piestewa Unit.
“This ribbon we cut at The HOPE for Success Center represents barriers being removed, barriers of stigma, of limited opportunity, of hopelessness,” added McBath. “Together, we are creating pathways to freedom, healing, and thriving futures for women across Arizona.”
For more information about Dress for Success Arizona, please visit dfsphoenix.org.
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About Dress for Success Arizona
Formerly known as Dress for Success Phoenix, the organization rebranded to Dress for Success Arizona earlier this year to better reflect its expanded mission and growing statewide reach and impact. Through a network of workforce development programs, career coaching, financial wellness education, and reentry support, Dress for Success Arizona empowers women across the state to achieve economic independence and self-sufficiency.
From in-prison initiatives like the HOPE for Success Center to community-based studios and mobile career centers, Dress for Success Arizona is transforming lives by helping women prepare for employment, secure meaningful work, and thrive in their communities.
