Christian Churches Collaborating for Change, Inc. strives to help those most affected by the criminal justice system. We have helped many individuals through dark times and feel that their words and stories will be helpful and inspirational to others in need.
“The process of reentering mainstream society from the prison system takes a great toll, both financially and emotionally on the individual and those connected to them. Citizens reentering society after incarceration, who have fulfilled their sentences and seek to restart their lives, are given little to no tools to do so from our current criminal justice system.
On November 15, The UT Community Engagement Center gathered key advocates and community members across faith, non-profit, and governmental groups for the third Front Porch Gathering to discuss challenges of and strategies for reentering community members.
Ms. Deborah Harper, a reentering community member who faces difficulties securing housing and basic necessities even five years after her release, graciously provided opening remarks for the evening by sharing her own story. Her transparency and candor in sharing the challenging process to reorient herself to the world set the tone for the evening’s conversation and encouraged those gathered to engage in the work with urgency and intentionality”.
“While there was a consensus regarding the lack of resources for people facing reentry difficulties, specific organizations and programs beyond those provided by churches were noted for their support:
- Goodwill Industries
- Communities for Recovery
- 4-C’s
- Travis County Reentry Roundtable
- Caritas
- Foundation for the Homeless
- Getting Ahead While Getting Out model available in some prisons”
DIVISION OF DIVERSITY and COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT-UT@ AUSTIN
“Dear [4Cs]…I remember you from Del Valle Jail 4Cs. You laid hands on me and prayed. For me boy I was crying hard. The Holy Spirit was in that place.” CH