2025 RBIJ Holiday Gift Guide: Give Joy. Give Justice.
Give gifts with purpose this holiday season by supporting businesses that are using their influence to lead in areas like advancing social impact, building an inclusive workforce, and advocating for a fairer justice system.
All of these gift ideas come from corporate members of RBIJ’s Workforce & Justice Alliance (WJA) — a groundbreaking community of businesses advancing justice reform and creating career pathways for justice-impacted job seekers. Learn more about the WJA.
For the Memoir Fan:
“The Many Lives of Mama Love” and “That Bird Has My Wings” from Changing Hands Bookstore
Price per book: $17.99
Changing Hands is a socially responsible bookstore and a beloved community hub with locations in Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. Committed to inclusive hiring, every purchase from Changing Hands helps create career pathways for people facing barriers to employment.
We especially recommend “The Many Lives of Mama Love” by Lara Love Hardin and “That Bird Has My Wings” by Jarvis Jay Masters — two memoirs featured by RBIJ and Libro.fm this year in our Rewriting Justice conversation series with authors and business executives. Hardin’s book is a harrowing, hilarious, no-holds-barred memoir chronicling her incarceration, reentry, and journey to success as a ghostwriter for figures like Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. Masters’, on the other hand, is a deeply authentic account of his path from a childhood marked by addiction, abuse, and criminal activity to California’s death row, where he came to embrace Buddhism and continues to fight for his freedom today.
For the Exercise Enthusiast:
CONBODY-TV Annual Membership from CONBODY
Price: $99
This one-year subscription provides access to CONBODY’s ever-growing library of prison-style workouts, taught by their team of formerly incarcerated trainers. New videos are uploaded weekly, and there are hundreds of ways to customize their programs.
CONBODY is breaking down barriers for returning citizens in New York City by providing meaningful job opportunities and wraparound reentry services.
Read about ConBody’s commitment to hiring justice-impacted veterans here.
For the Pizza Aficionado:
“We the Pizza: Slangin’ Pies and Savin’ Lives” from Down North Pizza
Price: $32.99
“We the Pizza” tells the story of Down North Pizza, a celebrated second-chance employer in Philadelphia with a mission to educate and support the formerly incarcerated while serving dope food. A testament to survival and second chances, this cookbook-memoir offers 65 recipes for pizza, wings, shakes, and more.
Down North was first launched by justice-impacted entrepreneur Muhammad Abdul-Hadi and maintains a strong commitment to reducing recidivism rates in North Philly by creating meaningful employment opportunities for returning citizens.
For the Kitchen Scientist:
Let’s Pickle Set from Frontier Co-op
Price: $29.49
The Let's Pickle Set from Frontier Co-op includes the company’s signature “pickling spice blend” along with ground coriander seed, whole cloves, and garlic granules — the essentials for crafting crisp, flavorful pickles in any home kitchen.
Frontier Co-op is a leading producer of herbs, spices, and teas that incorporates responsible business practices in Norway, Iowa. Their Breaking Down Barriers to Employment Initiative helps employees overcome systemic barriers to employment and economic mobility by providing access to childcare, transportation, Second Chance Hiring practices, apprenticeships, and more.
Learn more about Frontier Co-op in our Justice Champion Spotlight series.
For the Coffee Lover:
Apprentice’s Gift Box from I Have a Bean
Price: $40
This curated gift box includes a bag of I Have a Bean’s popular single-origin coffee, one-pot pouches, coffee-infused chocolate bars or caramels, and even a giant dark chocolate malted milk ball.
I Have a Bean is a second-chance employer in Wheaton, Illinois with a mission of selling quality Arabica coffee and providing job opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals.
Learn more about I Have a Bean in our Justice Champion Spotlight series.
For the Fitness Buff:
Starter Pack Gift Card from InnerCity Weightlifting
Price: $39
Whether they’re new to fitness or a seasoned vet, this is the perfect gift to get them to the gym! This gift card from InnerCity Weightlifting includes two personal training sessions that can be redeemed for a virtual session or at one of their in-person locations.
InnerCity Weightlifting is strengthening people and communities through a commitment to hiring people with criminal records. Their team of justice-impacted personal trainers provide custom personal training and group fitness classes at their locations in Boston and Chicago.
For the Tea Lover:
Tea Blending Box from Just Add Honey
Price: $35
This box includes two single-origin teas, five commonly enjoyed herbs, jars for storage, measuring spoon, tea infuser bags, and instructions for making the perfect blend.
Just Add Honey is an Atlanta-based tea company that creates fresh, fun, and sophisticated flavors in every cup. Beyond their blends, they support an inclusive network of independent businesses, working with female-, LGBTQ+-, BIPOC-, and veteran-owned vendors.
For the Dessert Connoisseur:
Lillian’s Red Velvet Brownies from Lillian’s Southern Box Catering
Price: $38.
Lillian’s Red Velvet Brownies are a Southern classic reimagined, combining rich cocoa flavor with the dense chewy indulgence of a brownie. Perfect for holiday gifting, the box includes six handcrafted brownies.
Lillian's Southern Box Catering, based in Washington, D.C., creates elevated Southern comfort food and desserts. They are committed to Second Chance Hiring, as well as backing innovative solutions to support the well-being of youth, young adults, and justice-impacted individuals.
For the Sustainable Fashion Fan :
Give Hope Mother-of-Pearl Necklace from Redemption Market
Price: $48
The stunning Give Hope Mother of Pearl Necklace features a delicate heart pendant on a 14k gold-plated adjustable chain.
Redemption Market is an ethical boutique in Scottsdale, Arizona, where every purchase supports a cause — profits from this necklace support Starfish Project, a social enterprise that cares for survivors of trafficking and exploitation. Redemption Market connects customers with artisans who benefit from dignified work and source fair trade goods that carry a special meaning.
For the Holiday Host:
Believe – 9 oz. Candle from Spír Candle Co.
Price: $32
This candle brings the crisp scent of a winter pine forest to any room. Each one has a burn time of 50 hours or more, and is hand-poured and signed by the young maker behind it.
Spír Candle Co. is based in Seattle, Washington and exclusively employs young men who’ve experienced periods of incarceration to make their candles — providing jobs, mentorship, and a space to breathe so they can have the best opportunity to become who they aspire to be.
For the Friend with a Sweet Tooth:
Holiday Treat Box from SugarBot Sweet Shop
Price: $65
Each of these themed treat boxes contain plenty of goodies to celebrate the holiday season, serving up to 12 people with brownies, decorated sugar cookies, and a holiday-themed cake-sickle.
SugarBot Sweet Shop is a bakery in St. Charles, Missouri that’s committed to creating meaningful employment for individuals facing barriers to work, including those who are neurodivergent, justice-involved, and from the LGBTQIA+ community.
Learn more about SugarBot Sweet Shop in our Justice Champion Spotlight series.