Business admin student turns second chance into a path for change for others

When Ladessa Sparks returned home after incarceration, she was determined to build a different life.

“I had never lived life properly. I never adulted correctly and didn’t have much of an education. I’ve always been a smart cookie; I just didn’t have the best examples and role models. So, when I had the opportunity while incarcerated to turn my life around, I made sure that when I came home, I was going to set myself up for the best success,” Sparks shared.

For her, that meant pursuing a meaningful career and continuing her education. In October 2025, about three years after returning home, she enrolled in Ivy Tech Indianapolis’ business administration program.

Now, the 36-year-old works full-time in a community-based re-entry program, attends Ivy Tech full-time, and serves as secretary of the board for Iron Sharpens Iron, a local nonprofit that works inside correctional facilities.

In her professional role, Sparks facilitates courses and cohorts for people affected by the justice system. She helps participants strengthen their budgeting, interviewing, résumé writing, time management and other personal and professional skills. She also works with participants on building confidence, receiving feedback and preparing for new employment opportunities.

“I’m so blessed to have the opportunity to teach other individuals so many things I wish I had been taught as a young adult,” Sparks said. “It’s nice to have somebody you can relate to, see that they’ve done it and inspire you.”

Building a foundation at Ivy Tech

Sparks chose Ivy Tech in part because its flexible course options allowed her to attend college while managing a demanding work schedule. She expects to complete her associate degree by the end of the fall 2027 semester.

Returning to the classroom in 2025 after being away from school for years was intimidating, Sparks said. Taking accelerated eight-week courses while working full-time required her to strengthen her time-management skills and adjust her routine.

Still, she describes her Ivy Tech experience as positive.

“I was nervous, but I’m very hopeful with everything that I’ve been doing,” Sparks said. “I’ve been able to drill down and focus more on school and flourish in that aspect.”

One of the courses that had the greatest effect on Sparks was an English class she took during her first semester. Writing had never been her strongest subject, and she entered the class feeling apprehensive. With support from her instructor, however, Sparks learned how to put her experiences into words.

The course helped her grow as a writer and as a public speaker, she said, giving her greater confidence when sharing her story with community members, government officials and other local leaders.

“I feel like in the last year I’ve grown so much,” Sparks said. “It gave me some confidence I didn’t even know I needed.”

Sparks has also applied lessons from her business courses to her professional experience. While working in marketing and partnership development at another nonprofit, she used concepts from an Ivy Tech marketing course to examine how the organization presented itself to its audiences.

By expanding its presence across social media, Google and professional networking platforms, Sparks said she helped increase the organization’s social media footprint by 700% and generate new interest from prospective volunteer mentors.

“It’s nice when you can have people coming to you instead of always having to go and find them,” she said.

A vision for women returning home

Sparks’ long-term goal is to establish a nonprofit organization that provides transitional housing for women returning from incarceration.

She experienced housing instability after returning home and during her first semester at Ivy Tech. As a woman without children, she said she found that some of the housing programs and other services available to women were tied to whether they had children.

“I want to have something where I can offer women coming home who don’t have families the opportunity to pick their life up, have a second chance, and build their foundation somewhere secure, safe, and positive,” Sparks said.

That vision led Sparks to study business administration. She wants to understand how to operate a successful nonprofit while serving people effectively. After completing her associate degree, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree and is considering studying psychology.

“I want that aspect of the business. I want to be able to run it and be successful,” Sparks said. “But I also want to have that background where, if there are things and complications going on, I’m able to sit down, speak with somebody, and help.”

Using her voice to advocate for change

One of Sparks’ proudest accomplishments was sharing her testimony before an audience of more than 100 people during The Cost of the Cage, an event held with the VOICES Corp. movement. The event brought together community members, justice-impacted individuals and local leaders to discuss policy changes and ways to help people succeed after returning home.

Sparks said the campaign’s organizing efforts helped redirect $4 million to support people affected by probation, community supervision and incarceration. The resulting changes included efforts to reduce commissary costs, provide more free phone calls in the jail and waive certain fees for qualifying individuals.

“These are things that allow people to have dollars back in their pockets to invest in themselves, their families or their homes,” Sparks said.

The experience also strengthened Sparks’ confidence as a speaker and advocate.

“I learned that I’m not just going to be judged by the decisions I made on my worst days,” she said. “I deserve a second chance, and I’m going to prove why I got that second chance.”

Showing up for yourself

Sparks also participates in the annual Indianapolis Job and Resource Fair hosted by Congressman André Carson at Ivy Tech Indianapolis, representing a community resource while exploring employment opportunities for people receiving re-entry services.

Sparks said she felt this year’s event offered even more resources and employers than the previous year. She encourages students — particularly those who have been affected by the justice system — to attend career fairs and begin conversations with employers, even when they feel uncertain or intimidated.

“Sometimes we are our harshest critics,” Sparks said. “But closed mouths don’t get fed. If you’re not going to show up for yourself, nobody else is going to hand it to you.”

Her advice is to approach networking as a conversation. For justice-involved job seekers who are unsure whether an employer offers fair-chance or second-chance opportunities, Sparks recommends asking directly.

“Sometimes you just have to break the ice and get it out there,” she said. “The majority of the time, they are a second-chance organization or they look at it case by case. You just have to try.”

Between school, work, community events and board service, Sparks has learned to evaluate her schedule carefully and remain firm about her priorities. She begins each week by identifying what must be accomplished and planning her time accordingly.

She offers the same determined perspective to other adult learners and justice-involved students who may be considering college.

“It doesn’t matter when you come into education. It doesn’t matter what age or what level,” Sparks said. “If you have the heart and grit, you can accomplish anything.”

She also wants others returning home to know they are not alone.

“There is so much support out here and so many resources and opportunities,” Sparks said. “It’s nice to know that, no matter what age you are, there are places like Ivy Tech that are going to accept us, help us, and get us to that next level.”