I don’t know about you but when I read about a woman that is doing something extraordinary it gives me a swift kick in the butt to evaluate what I am up to. Thrive is about providing you with tools to make your life for full, but it is also about inspiring you to lead a full life. This month’s Inspiring Woman is someone who is dedicating herself to the outcasts of our society - inmates. She started an entire program called “Leaving the Cocoon (LTC) to help fill a desperate need. What amazes me about her is that she was a regular suburban homemaker, mother and wife that just happened to have a “defining” moment that launched her in a new direction. My interview with her made me pause and check my own judgmental attitudes. I hope you’ll be as inspired as I was. ~Karolyn

Q: How did you become involved in a Prison Ministry?

I had a friend who wanted me to travel with a team for weekend seminars. My first trip was to Carswell Federal Prison in Ft. Worth. I was hooked the first time an inmate came up and gave me a hug…I’m also a hugger.

Q: What do you think spurred you into action?

I saw the ladies coming back to prison after a few months of being released. It saddened me that we didn’t rehab. these ladies so I just started mentoring myself. My ladies were not returning.

Q: What do you think most people would find surprising about what you do?

I love the incarcerated. As a whole they don’t wear masks. I’m a no nonsense person. I don’t want to wade through a few years of “chit chat” before we actually get around to the important things in life. They are wonderful women who are anxious to change. They just don’t know how to start and I’m willing to take the time and help them. It’s very rewarding.

Q: If you had a genie give you three wishes for your work, what would they be and why?

(1.) Lots of money…I would like to see us build an apartment complex for the incarcerated after they are out and working. They need affordable housing and in a decent part of Nashville to live. Many places will not rent to a felon.

(2) Prisons with classes and rehab systems that really work. Along with good staff that care.

(3) Counseling for the inmate while incarcerated and when released.

Oh and did I say LOTS OF MONEY??

Q: What is the one thing you hope Thrive reader’s take away from reading about you?

Don’t be judgmental about those that are incarcerated. Only 5% are mean, 45% want to change but don’t know how, and 40% are good people who made ONE bad decision. yes, they need to be punished, but they also need to be given a better chance of change. Unfortunately, we set them up for a fall before they are released. It saddens me when people can be so judgmental and mean spirited toward a prisoner. We are all just “one decision” away from prison.

About Leaving The Cocoon (LTC)

In 2007, Leaving The Cocoon (LTC) partnered with the Tennessee Prison for Women’s Pre-release program to provide their reentry mentoring component. LTC became the official women’s mentoring program for the Tennessee Department of Correction. According to Richard Dixon, the Director of TDOC Volunteer Services, Leaving The Cocoon is a “pioneer in reentry mentoring”. Leaving The Cocoon’s mission has been to show Christ-like compassion to the needs of the incarcerated and help them rebuild their lives outside prison. With this in mind, LTC is helping the newly released “butterfly” to reach their God-given potential. Since 2003, a continuum of support for the whole woman has been provided largely through a powerful team of mentors who come by way of many of our church partners. Leaving The Cocoon’s long-term vision is to offer pre-release & reentry mentoring as well as affordable counseling to every incarcerated individual reentering our communities. With LTC, women find a safe haven where they will not be judged.

About Vicki Harvey

Leaving the Cocoon was established in March 2003 by Vicki Harvey, a suburban homemaker, mother and wife. While working with the Federal Prison Ministry, Vicki resolved to solve the recidivism problem that plagued our country by making mentoring, counseling, and discipleship readily available to incarcerated women. From 2003-2007, Vicki mentored 60 women. She knew that if she multiplied her efforts by training and mentoring mentors, she could better help the women. Her mission became “getting every woman in prison a mentor if she wanted one.”

In 2008, Vicki put LTC “on steroids” with Malinda D. Wilson, a counselor who specialized in reentry and transition issues, who also shared similar views and convictions. Unlike her relatives whose lives where devastated by these addiction and incarceration, she was able to complete college receiving her Master’s degree and is now working on her doctorate in Clinical Counseling. For over twelve years, Malinda developed programs with ex-offenders and their families through Project Return, Men of Valor, and Restore Ministries of the YMCA. The two resolved together to offer mentoring and counseling programs to all regardless of their ability to pay for them. In November 2008, Vicki and Malinda hit the recidivism problem by taking ex-offenders who have no (or very few) resources or networks. LTC helped them to establish themselves through mentoring, counseling, and a “continuum of care” services- basically helping with whatever needs arose in their life-plan.

The pre-release program at the Tennessee Prison for Women is designed to successfully transition the women from incarceration to reentry through a three phase progression. As a volunteer driven organization, LTC has over 40 mentors who contribute nearly 190-200 hours each month. In addition, LTC is responsible for training, supervising, and evaluating mentors for all the candidates of this program when they enter and participate in the second phase of reentry. Mentors are committed to visit the mentee at least twice a month and write letters during the intermittent weeks. These visits will continue until the inmates, Leaving The Cocoon “butterflies,” are released back into society. As they leave prison, mentors remain in relationship with their mentees as they relocate for an additional six months. During this period, mentors take their mentees to lunch, dinner, the movies, shopping, worship, or any other “girl” thing. The mentor has become her confidant, friend, sister, or mother for a short time. Often times these relationships last for many years.

Leaving the Cocoon (LTC) can be found on the web at http://www.leavingthecocoon.net/

Filed under: Author Karolyn, Inspiring Women