Ben Amador: Champion of Second Chances | Sacramento News

Sacramento News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 20, 2026 · 1m

Ben Amador, a tireless advocate for formerly incarcerated individuals seeking redemption and second chances, died in a weekend car accident while hiking. A former inmate himself—having endured solitary confinement—he founded the Phoenix Project at San Joaquin Delta College to empower formerly incarcerated students through education. Known for his lived experience and unwavering belief in rehabilitation, he pushed for policy reform across California, Texas, and Washington D.C. As a devoted husband and father of three, his loss deeply affects his family. Tributes are being planned, but the…