Most face immediate barriers to housing, employment, and stability. Nearly half will be reincarcerated within three years. Keeairra and Keefe Dashiell know this reality not from research, but from lived experience — together, the two siblings spent over two decades in California state prisons.
During her 14 years in prison, she earned two degrees, completed a paralegal certification, and facilitated more than 100 rehabilitative groups for incarcerated women. After her life sentence was vacated, she returned home, passed the California Bar in 2025, and continues advancing her work in advocacy and civil rights.
A life sentence, vacated — a career in law, begun.
While serving 13 years, he taught himself coding, earned two college degrees, and facilitated hundreds of CBT-based groups with gang members, lifers, and men at the hardest end of the system. That work earned him a sentence commutation from the Governor of California — and a career in Silicon Valley fintech, building features now used by millions.
Code learned inside — now shipped to millions.
The support they began offering others grew into After Life Initiative — reentry, rehabilitation, housing, mentorship, and prevention services for system-impacted youth and adults across Los Angeles County.
Co-founders
“Former lifers.
Lifelong changemakers.”
Keefe Dashiell
Cofounder & Co Executive Director
Keefe leads operations, systems, and program development, strengthening ALi's infrastructure and mentoring people navigating reentry.
Keefe leads ALi's operations, systems, and program development work, helping strengthen the organization's infrastructure and long term growth. He works closely with participants, mentors, and community partners to support people navigating reentry and build practical pathways toward stability after incarceration. Alongside his work with ALi, Keefe has worked as a software engineer in Silicon Valley's fintech industry for the past 5 years and continues mentoring individuals rebuilding their lives.
Keeairra Dashiell
Cofounder & Co Executive Director
Keeairra leads programming, advocacy, partnerships, and direct community work across Los Angeles County.
Keeairra leads ALi's day to day programming, advocacy, partnerships, and direct community work across Los Angeles County. In addition to overseeing reentry support services, she also leads ALi's in prison rehabilitative programming and mentorship work with incarcerated youth and adults across California. After passing the California Bar in 2025, she continues supporting individuals and families through mentorship, advocacy, and community based reentry support focused on helping people rebuild stability and opportunity after incarceration.
The People Behind ALi
Driven by lived experience. United by the belief that transformation is possible for everyone.
Our history
2020
Keefe comes home
Keefe is released from prison after serving 13 years.
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