I fundamentally believe that positive belongingness is a powerful force that can heal and sustain most humans. I also believe that society has too many structures and institutions that drive wedges between people and groups — and that this “othering” is the root cause of so many societal problems. Also, I love water and trees.

I am so incredibly proud of the FIELD program. My task when I started at FICGN was to develop a leadership program for formerly incarcerated nonprofit professionals, and I hit the ground running. I did extensive research on training curricula with specific interest in the nonprofit sector, trauma-informed care, personal leadership, and storytelling. With a limited budget, I had to narrow down the options so we could also include an in-person retreat and one-on-one coaching throughout the program.

The element I am most proud of — and something that warms my heart every time it happens — is the space and time provided for participants to partner, collaborate, and help one another.

There is not one piece of advice that works for everyone in reentry because the system is complicated and everyone has a different journey. What I have seen work most of the time is surrounding yourself with good people and leaning on the supports you build around you. We are stronger together.

The problem, unfortunately, is that one bad egg can ruin a soufflé — so sometimes a support system will lead someone down the wrong path.

I was at a site visit at a facility in Oregon last week and one of the Correctional Officers said he couldn’t trust his wards because “they are all in here for a reason.”

The myth is that everyone in prison deserves to be there. We have an incredibly flawed justice system that has put countless people behind bars who are factually innocent — or others who have decades of time served for offenses in one state that wouldn’t even be a crime in a neighboring state.

Some of the most caring and intelligent people I’ve ever met were incarcerated. Some of the worst people I’ve ever met were publicly elected officials. What does that say about our society?

Social justice work can be physically and emotionally exhausting because many systems are slow to change. Go in with your eyes open — and build your own support system before you try to build one for others.

I love this question. I would develop a retreat program for formerly incarcerated people that would include animal, nature, and psychedelic therapies along with programming centered around belongingness and community. Somewhere to heal, connect with self, life, and others — and to be prepared to return to society with a full battery and tools for success.