Project 180 Announces Antonia Rolle as New President and CEO

 

Sarasota, FL. Project 180, a prisoner reentry nonprofit headquartered in Sarasota, is pleased to announce the appointment of Antonia ‘Toni’ Rolle as President and Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Ms. Rolle began her tenure on August 4, 2025.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Toni as Project 180’s new leader,” said David Shuel, Board Chair. “She brings a team-building focus, collaborative management style, and in-depth knowledge of data integrity and scalability. Her technical skills and her passion for the welfare of our residents and program participants are an ideal combination to pursue and expand Project 180’s mission of reintegrating formerly incarcerated citizens into community life.”

 

Toni comes to Project 180 from our partner, Goodwill Manasota. As Director of Mission Services there, she gained years of both corporate and hands-on experience serving vulnerable populations. While managing the Good Partner Coach Program, Toni developed partnerships on both Florida coasts with employers willing to hire, among others, individuals with criminal backgrounds who had little conventional job experience and hailed from families that had experienced multi-generational poverty, a perfect fit for Project 180.

 

Toni is proud of her history of working with people from diverse backgrounds. She writes, “I see myself as a bridge between those making decisions and those about whom decisions are made; bringing each group to the fulcrum where understanding and collaboration happen is exciting and inspiring. I’m excited to utilize those skills to continue Project 180’s tradition of being a bridge of understanding between those who have and those who have never been incarcerated.”

“Growing up and in my professional life, there has always been someone who saw more in me than I could see in myself. I want to be that person for Project 180 residents and participants to help them optimize their potential. They have so much to offer our community.”

 

For more information or media inquiries, please contact:

Antonia Rolle, President and CEO

Project 180

antonia@project180reentry.org

Phone: 941-780-5227

 

About Project 180:

Project 180 is a Sarasota-based prisoner reentry nonprofit that helps men and women succeed during the difficult transition from prison or jail back into the community. By helping people rebuild their lives and become productive citizens the organization also helps the community at large. Since 2018, its Residential Program alone has prevented over 92,000 crimes. Project 180 is the recipient of the Florida Council on Crime and Delinquency’s 2024 Reentry Award and the subject of a documentary film, “The Light They Cast.”

Published: 10/6/2025

/by

Project 180 transforms lives in Sarasota Co.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune

September 8, 2025

Written by: Antonia Rolle

Guest columnist

 

Imagine someone walking out of jail or prison with a small bag of belongings, unsure where they will sleep that night.

Or how they will get to a job interview.

Or how they call a probation office for their mandatory check-in.

Even when they are ready and willing to do the right thing, many ex-offenders face major barriers, including finding employers willing to hire someone with a criminal record.

To address these barriers to successful reentry, Project 180 works directly with currently and formerly incarcerated men and women to assist them in their reintegration back into Sarasota County.

Our nonprofit partners with the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office by offering a financial literacy course and a CEO program which connects incarcerated students with business leaders, hiring managers and workforce development professionals to prepare for meaningful employment upon release.

Since 9 out of 10 people with a criminal record have been victims of a crime, we also provide a healing trauma education class taught by Kathryn Greenberg and generously funded by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

In partnership with the Florida Department of Corrections, Project 180 operates a First Week Out Program to assist individuals returning from state prison to Sarasota County.

Our organization prevents homelessness and reduces reincarceration by providing cellphones, clothing, transportation and introductions to Second Chance employers and program houses.

Beyond classes and advocacy, Project 180 provides housing. Its residential program gives men the opportunity to live in small, supportive households where peer connection, accountability and structure create a family-like environment.

One resident who embodies the impact of Project 180’s programs is Britt. (pictured below)

A star athlete in high school who grew up in Newtown, Britt drew the attention of numerous college recruiters; however, his academic challenges precluded a collegiate future.

Instead of college, Britt turned to selling drugs after graduation, which led to a cycle of incarceration and addiction. As his addiction took hold, his shame caused him to avoid anyone who had known the person he once was.

 

Britt knew he needed to change, so he entered Project 180’s residential program and embraced it fully.

He graduated from the residential program after two years of engaging in the community, reuniting with family and discovering a sense of purpose.

 

Today Britt participates in Project 180 events, is a mentor for current residents and embraces the opportunity to help others see a path away from the choices he once made.

Transformation is possible.

Far from a handout, Project 180 is an investment in the safety and strength of our communities; it helps people reach their potential.

The support it provides for returning citizens reduces recidivism, empowers people to reconnect with their families and builds stronger, safer communities.

When reentering citizens are met with compassion, structure and opportunity, lives are transformed.

Every job secured, every safe home found and every step toward recovery is a victory for both the individual and Sarasota County.

As Project 180 looks to expand its residential services to women, Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation will be assisting with strategic planning and community conversations to ensure the right support is provided.

By investing in programs like Project 180, people receive a chance to reclaim their lives, restore their families and become forces for good.

Antonia Rolle is the CEO of Project 180 in Sarasota. Email: Antonia@project180reentry.org.

 

/by

Dr. Hank Brightman Biography

Born and raised in Massachusetts, Hank spent more than ten years in a wide range of environmental law enforcement, supervisory natural resource protection, emergency hazardous waste contingency response and white-collar crime investigation with the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service and the United States Secret Service.

Hank received his:

  • Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst with a concentration in Natural Resources Law Enforcement
  • a Masters in Criminal Justice Administration from Boston University
  • a Master of Arts in Holistic Counseling and a Master of Arts in Holistic Leadership from Salve Regina University
  • two certificates of advanced graduate study in Holistic Counseling and Holistic Leadership
  • two certificates of advanced graduate study in Counseling
  • a Doctorate in Educational Administration & Leadership from Seton Hall University

He is a graduate of

  • the Assisi Institute’s Two-Year Archetypal Pattern Analyst Program
  • and Air University, Air Command and Staff College

In addition, Dr. Brightman is

  • certified clinical hypnotherapist
  • certified clinical trauma professional
  • and certified personal trainer through the Aerobics & Fitness Association of America

Hank is currently a full professor and Acting Director of the Civilian-Military Humanitarian Response Program within the College of Maritime Operational at the United States Naval War College. He also serves as the distinguished EMC Informationist Chair (an eight-year, endowed appointment). From 2008-2016, he served as an Associate Professor, Professor, and Director of Applied Research & Analysis in the War Gaming Department of this institution.

From 2000-2008, he served as a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Criminal Justice Department at Saint Peter’s University, and also serves as an adjunct faculty member at Salve Regina University, Saint Peter’s University, and Utica College, where he teaches a wide range of undergraduate and graduate-level courses in Criminology and research methods.

In his Navy Reserve career, Commander (CDR) Heath “Hank” Brightman serves as Commanding Officer of Navy Reserve, Cryptologic Warfare Group in Massachusetts. A fully qualified Navy Reserve Cryptologic Warfare Officer, CDR Brightman’s most recent active duty mobilization was from March 2018 through February 2019, assigned to the Office of Military Commissions, Military Commissions Defense Organization (Washington DC/Guantanamo Bay, Cuba). In this capacity, he served as the Senior Intelligence Investigator on a 9/11 high-value detainee case team.

For the past seven years, Dr. Brightman has maintained a part-time, private trauma and wellness practice in Newport, Rhode Island, focused on applying a variety of holistic techniques to support client recovery. His primary approach combines Jungian, Gestalt, narrative, and expressive therapies with clinical hypnotherapy, physical fitness, and nutrition.

/by

Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman Biography

Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is the 11th Sheriff of Sarasota County and began this new leg of his long service to our community earlier this year.

Sheriff Hoffman began his law enforcement career as a deputy with the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office in 1989. He served the Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto communities for more than three decades as both a prosecutor and as the general counsel for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office since 2005. During his tenure, he was promoted to Captain, Major, and Colonel prior to winning the 2020 election to become our new Sheriff.

Sheriff Hoffman has a rich family history of service in both local and state law enforcement as well as the US Military. He has a passion for the veteran community, his family, and his hometown. He and his wife Teri reside in Venice.

/by

Gulfcoast Legal Services Gives Project 180 Residents a Workshop About Taxes

Project 180 residents had the opportunity to sit down for a virtual meeting with three attorneys who were eager to answer their questions and offer support for what is oftentimes a stressful and confusing task: filing taxes.

Gulfcoast Legal Services, a non-profit organization that provides high quality legal services at no cost to the client, gave a detailed presentation Monday evening about how to properly file annual taxes and answered questions during a group discussion with Project 180 residents.

“I think perhaps the most important thing that happened [tonight] is that these guys now have a personal relationship with 3 tax lawyers,” said Wendy Cox, tax attorney for Gulf Coast Legal Services who led the workshop.

The workshop addressed vital information and explained how to properly fill out a W-4, how to receive a stimulus check, where to file taxes at no charge and so much more.

“I think the key will be if they contact us for 1:1 advice.  That’s where we can really help people,” Wendy added.

Gulf Coast Legal Services kicked-off Project 180’s first Resident Workshop that was designed to bring industry experts and professionals once-a-month to help educate Project 180 residents on a broad spectrum of topics.

If you or your organization would like to provide a workshop for Project 180 residents, please email Sandra.project180@gmail.com.

“We can’t thank Wendy and her team at Gulfcoast Legal Services enough for sharing their time and knowledge with our residents,” said Barbara Richards, Project 180 Founder and CEO. “Our residents had several questions about their taxes and they were relieved to have answers from trusted professionals who want to see them succeed.”

 

/by