5 Questions: Stacey Putka, Executive Director of Breakthrough

To Stacy Putka, the belief that people are more than the worst thing they have ever done is not an abstract philosophy. It is something she learned at home. Growing up in an entrepreneurial household, Putka watched her father honestly navigate recovery from addiction. His openness about that journey, and the way he used his own success to mentor and uplift others, shaped her understanding of accountability, redemption and what it looks like when someone is given the tools and trust to become their best self.

That foundation followed Putka into her early career, which took her inside prisons and other facilities where she spent hours listening to people who had long been written off by the systems surrounding them. Again and again, she encountered individuals who were intelligent, resilient and deeply capable, yet rarely met with belief or opportunity. The more time she spent inside, the clearer it became that while the criminal legal system excels at punishment, it leaves little room for healing, growth or meaningful second chances.

Those experiences led Putka to help create Breakthrough Alliance of Colorado, a nonprofit designed to restore connection between prisons and the communities beyond their walls. In this week’s 5 Questions, Putka reflects on what motivates her work, how Breakthrough challenges stigma and what years of proximity to incarcerated people have taught her about hope, dignity and the quiet power of someone finally hearing “yes.”

Where does your motivation to help those who are incarcerated come from and what was your inspiration in creating Breakthrough?

My motivation comes from a deep belief that people are so much more than the worst thing they’ve ever done. My father struggled with substance misuse and was always open with me about what it took for him to maintain sobriety. He stayed sober from the time I was born through the rest of his life. He was the best dad a little girl could hope for and used his entrepreneurial endeavors to lift up and mentor others. That inspired me to work with people like my dad, helping them become the best version of themselves. 

Early in my career, I spent a lot of time inside facilities, listening to people who had been written off by almost everyone. What I kept seeing over and over were smart, capable, deeply resilient human beings who had never been given the support, opportunities or belief they needed to unlock their potential. The system is designed for punishment, but it’s not built for rehabilitation or healing. So many people fall through gaps that we all know exist—but we just keep stepping over them. 

Breakthrough was born out of a refusal to accept that. I felt called to build something that honors people’s humanity, gives them real tools and restores connection—because connection is what changes lives. At its core, my inspiration comes from witnessing transformation firsthand. When you see a person who has been told “no” their entire life finally hear a “yes,” it changes them—and it changes you.

Citizens with a criminal history face stigmas that limit their ability to restart their lives. How do Breakthrough’s programs help decrease stigma in the community?

Stigma thrives in distance. The further people feel from the criminal justice system, the easier it is to label and judge. Breakthrough closes that distance. 

Our programs create real, humanizing interactions between community members and incarcerated people—volunteers, employers, leaders and neighbors come inside facilities and see for themselves the talent, emotional intelligence, humility and drive that exist behind the walls. Those experiences fundamentally shift how people understand returning citizens.

We intentionally design programs that highlight strengths, not deficits. We teach soft skills, communication, leadership, financial literacy and career readiness—things everyone needs. When volunteers witness the level of engagement, discipline and vulnerability from our participants, the stigma melts away. They go back into their communities and workplaces as advocates, hirers, mentors, donors and champions. 

Stigma breaks down when people stop seeing “felon” and start seeing “parent,” “learner,” “leader,” “neighbor,” “colleague.” That’s exactly what Breakthrough makes possible.

Many participants have spent years cycling in and out of the system and often lose hope. What events do you see as the most impactful in restoring hope?

Some of the most transformative moments happen during our in-facility events where volunteers and participants work side by side: mock interviews, coaching days, pitch events or that first day when they stand up and share their personal story with a group.

But if I had to choose one, it’s the human connection moments—the moments where a participant sees someone from the outside look them in the eyes with genuine belief. When an employer says, “You’d be a great member of my team.” When a volunteer says, “You’re talented.” When someone hears for the first time that their past doesn’t disqualify them from their future.

We also see hope spark when participants realize they have a community waiting for them—not just a program. They see graduates coming back to lead workshops and mentor others. That’s powerful because it shows that success is not hypothetical. It’s standing right in front of them.

Hope isn’t restored by abstract inspiration. It’s restored by belonging and believability. Our events create both.

Breakthrough accepts participants regardless of their charge, including those with long sentences. What has this program taught you personally when seeing such diverse life experiences?

Breakthrough has taught me that there is no such thing as a “type of person” who ends up in prison. Every room we walk into is filled with people who grew up in different communities, had different opportunities, different traumas, different privileges—and yet share a common experience of being defined by their worst moment.

It’s made me far more empathetic, more patient and more aware of how complex people are. It has taught me that change is possible at every age and every sentence length. I’ve seen people serving life sentences become leaders, mentors and healers within their facility. I’ve seen people who entered as teenagers leave as the strongest versions of themselves.

Personally, I’ve learned to never make assumptions about someone’s potential. I’ve learned the power of listening. And I’ve learned that when we create a space rooted in dignity and safety, people rise in ways you would never expect.

Breakthrough runs five programs inside prisons across Colorado. How would you explain the process and impact to someone new to Breakthrough?

I’d describe Breakthrough as a journey that starts inside and continues into the community. Our programs aren’t one-offs—they’re a multi-phase transformational process that builds confidence, skills and community at every stage.

Inside the facilities, participants start by developing communication skills, leadership tools, emotional resilience and a deeper understanding of their own stories. From there, they can continue into other in-facility programs that build professional skills, personal development, and readiness for employment and reentry.

What’s unique about Breakthrough is that the work doesn’t stop at the gate. When someone comes home, they’re met with a warm handoff, a community of graduates, access to job support, coaching, resource navigation, support groups and a network of partners who help them stabilize and thrive.

The impact shows up in ways you can measure—employment, recidivism, wage growth—but also in ways you can feel. You see men and women walk taller. You hear them communicate differently. You watch them become leaders in their communities and families.

Breakthrough is about possibility. Our process helps people see themselves as capable of a future they once thought was out of reach.