Be Encouraged by these Project RETURN Success Stories
View "I am Blessed" video
Read about United in a Cause
Read Thomas' Story
Read Teri's Story
Read Monte's Story
Read Sandderea's Story
Read Larry's Story
"I am Blessed" Video
Music used with permission of Mike McCarthy (Closer to Thee)
and Sons of Korah (Psalm 27 and 91)
United in a Cause
Project RETURN has been blessed over the years to have a dedicated volunteer base who give countless hours to care for our clients.
There is a special block in Wauwatosa that goes well beyond caring. It is the 2400 block of 83rd Street in Milwaukee. For the past 15 years the families of this block have collected food, making Thanksgiving baskets for clients of Project RETURN.
“Judy, Manny, Chris, and Audi came up with this project in order to help families that were not so lucky,” states Chris, a member of the block that helps coordinate the efforts. “This year we added Sarah and Rachel to be part of this service project.”
The effort unites the entire block, young and old, in a common cause of making some unknown person’s holiday brighter. “I have been delivering the food that the 2400 block of 83rd Street collects for about eleven years now,” says Wendel Hruska, Executive Director of Project RETURN.
“This is an amazing project. This group goes out of their way to assist men and women and kids they have never and will likely never meet. We stress continually to those returning from incarceration that the community wants them to be successful. This initiative shows that, and has resulted in those assisted not receding back into prison.”
While the benefits to Project RETURN clients are quite apparent, Chris says this act of caring was a greater gift to the block. “The gift actually became one for the neighborhood – we became much more of a ‘family’ on our block.”
Thomas' Story
Thomas has been a Project RETURN client since January of 2009. Thomas was in our job search assistance program. He came in weekly for job leads and computer help with his online job search. During this time he filled out a ton of applications and had many job interviews.
Most jobs required a high school diploma or a GED and a valid driver’s license. With the help of his case manager at Project RETURN, Thomas enrolled at the YWCA for GED classes. He attended these classes and attained his driver’s license through the first part of 2009.
In the fall of 2009 Thomas took the position of a House Manager for a local non-profit shelter, supervising mentally ill clients. This was supposed to be for 4-6 months, but due to Thomas’ outstanding work ethic, nearly two years later he is still employed there.
Thomas also has a 2nd job, working as the head Groundskeeper and Gardener for another non-profit, producing fresh fruits for the neighborhood farmers market. He has had this job since April of 2010. This is a year round position, gardening in the spring, summer, and fall months, and ground keeping in the winter months.
Thomas has shown great improvement in his lifestyle and is doing well in his recovery by giving something back to the community. We are glad that Project RETURN could play a part in his success.
Teri's Story
Teri became involved with Project RETURN through the Milwaukee Women Correction Center (MWCC) in 1995 when Project RETURN volunteers came into the center doing monthly socials. At that time it was Pastor Joe Ellwanger, two staff members and a couple of Marquette students.
We played games – and talked about what Project RETURN did for the people who were incarcerated and the inmates when they got out. Teri remembers those socials, “I liked how they interacted with us as people and not inmates.”
Over the months Teri had built a strong relationship with her case manager. The case worker asked if Teri would be interested in working at the adult center at Cross Lutheran Church. Teri jumped at the opportunity to get involved with the women at the church, helping with activities and food preparation such as setting up tables for the breakfast and lunch they serve to the adults every Tuesday.
Teri recalls, “I met a lot of good women there who also nurtured my spiritual growth.” Over the years Project RETURN asked Teri to volunteer in a variety of programs, from sharing her life through speaking engagements to focus groups to assisting with our Summer Youth Program.
Teri was volunteering at Cross Lutheran Church’s Food Pantry when Project RETURN came calling once again. This time the need was for an employee, and Teri accepted the position.
“My greatest joy is being a case manager for Project RETURN; working in the prison ministry field , providing the clients with the same love and support that I received when I came through the door. As a case manager I provide the clients with the weekly job list, clothing assistance , housing information , furniture request , or anything we can help them with, even if it means just listening to them and taking the time out to let them know we are here for them and we will do everything that we can to make sure all or some of their needs are met.”
Monte's Story
Monte is a 42 year old male with a history of drug use, theft, and incarcerations. After a number of incarcerations Monte called on the Lord, asking for deliverance from all the things that distorted his thinking about life and fatherhood.
Upon his release, Monte says, “The Lord placed on my heart to do a play that I wrote while incarcerated. I wrote and performed the play while incarcerated.” Monte’s parole officer at the time told him to go to Project RETURN.
He came to Project RETURN and spoke with the staff. The Project RETURN staff assisted Monte to get employed. Monte continued to work with Project RETURN, particularly Andre Brown, his case manager, for over 3 years on different projects throughout the community.
Monte and Andre’s relationship is fueled by a shared ambition to benefit the community. This ambition led to Monte to begin to produce the play he wrote while incarcerated. This play was a way for Monte to teach young man the important role they play in a child’s life, and breaking the cycle of incarceration.
For young woman the message is virtue and self-worth. The play started with attendance of 60 people. Within a few months the attendance rose to 350. Today the play draws in 750 people.
As a final thought to the role of Project RETURN in his life, Monte puts it succinctly. “Project RETURN was instrumental in assisting me with my re-entry needs, so I plan to work with Project RETURN on re-entry for other individuals returning from prison.”
Sandderea's Story
Sandderea is an African American female 46 years old, and a mother of three. Sandderea has persevered through many struggles including incarceration, substance abuse related difficulties, and a custody battle for her three children.
Sandderea was one of the first ladies to graduate from the Treatment Alternative to Prison Program at the Milwaukee Women’s Correctional Center, an intensive alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) wraparound program designed to provide a connect for women with the community prior to release. Prior to her release, Sandderea was referred to Project RETURN’s AODA Support Group, meeting every Wednesday evening. She successfully completed the program.
When Sandderea was released from prison she enrolled in job development here at Project RETURN. Sandderea is currently working at a non-profit AODA treatment facility here in Milwaukee as an Administrative Assistant.
Sandderea has accomplished a great many things such as going back to school and gaining her HSED, and completing her internship at CYD as an AODA Prevention Specialist in 6 years. At her graduation ceremony, Sandderea spoke to her MATC graduating class.
Perhaps most important, Sandderea has gained full custody of her three children. And if that isn’t enough to keep her busy, Sandderea is planning to be married in 2012. Sandderea has grown throughout her time with Project RETURN, and we applaud her commitment to improving her life even while facing incredible obstacles.
A Life Found
The Journey of a Returning Citizen - Larry Griffin
During the time of the eighties, I was running around with a crew of individuals that were doing all kinds of crazy things. At that time I developed the stigma of running with a bad crowd. And before long I became the bad crowd. Although I joined them, in the end I was the one controlling things. This went on for a number of years, and we were successful. Well, as successful as devils can be. As we went along things began to take on it's own form, as in we started out to make money. But it got to the point where we were just doing things because we could. We stole cars, money and, in some instances, took over people's houses. As these things went on we just did crazier things. This went on for several years, progressing all the time.
When things were at the peak of craziness, it came to my attention that the people that I was involved with wanted to take over other people's places to set up shop. This involved home invasions, kidnapping and multiple assaults. At the time I was not down with that, so I moved around. I didn't want to have anything to do with it. But it went down anyway. As this took place I was moving around the streets. I got popped off for possession of weed, a dangerous weapon, and resisting an officer while armed.
As I was doing the sentence for the later crime at the House of Corrections, I became aware that I was also going to be charged with the crimes of my old crew. This consisted of home invasion, robbery, kidnapping, false imprisonment, and multiple assault charges. Upon them sending this information, I was also revocated on a ten-year sentence for an assault that was committed in 1985. I was not to be released until 1995. They send me back to the pen. I am taken into a probable cause hearing in which it was determined that I likely had something to do with the violent crime spree of my old crew. At that point I was sent back to prison to await trial.
For 13 years I thought I was imprisoned falsely, thinking that the system was putting me in places I couldn't stand, with people I couldn't get along with, all in an effort to break me and make me snap. That way they would have a reason to keep me in prison. While this anger lingered I was a difficult person to be around. Finally, I came to the realization that it was actually God's doing. So that I could learn how to endure dealing with people that I didn't like and situations I didn't have control over, I found that God was with me and would move me.
As I went on I came to learn that God is in control of all things. This allowed me to develop a relationship, my first healthy one in a quite a while. I would ask in my prayers that the things that do be pleasing to Him and hopefully be an inspiration to those around me. As I went along doing these things that I felt would be pleasing God and acceptable to those around me, I found a lot of good things started happening in my life. I had a long time in prison to address my anger and where I was.
Then one day I was called back to the unit and was told that I was going to court. After 13 years in prison the case was dismissed. I was released from prison on November 30, 2010, at 12:01 a.m. That night it was raining cats and dogs. But I didn't care. All I knew was that I was free and I was on my way home. Little did I know that I had no home left.
When I returned to Milwaukee, the first thing I tried to do was go to my mother's house. When I finally got there I learned that my mother was no longer alive. Adding to this saddening information was the fact that I no longer had any place to go. So from November 30th to December 14th I was homeless. I couldn't go to by brothers because they were into illegal activities and I did not want to go back to prison. My sister had moved to Oshkosh to go to school so that wasn't an option either. So I was on the streets. I would run into a lot of people I knew. But the only help they wanted to give was giving me dope to sell, and I knew that would just send me on a road back to prison.
All this time I continued to pray "Let the things I do be pleasing to you and be an inspiration to those around me." All I could do was struggle through, praying that God would help me through. I had nothing. No clothes, no identification, nothing. One morning I woke up in the garage I was sleeping in. I decided that on that day I was going to find a temporary service that would allow me to work. I would work any job, if only for a couple of dollars.
I was blessed to be given three bus tickets from a church, and I was pretty good with the bus lines in Milwaukee. But on this day I got mixed up and instead of going to a temp service on the south side, I ended up going downtown. I got off the bus on 6th and Wisconsin. When I got off the bus there was this gentleman standing there. He said "Good morning." I said good morning back, but in my mind I was thinking, "No it really isn't. I woke up in a garage. I have no money, no job, no identification." I didn't tell him that though. However, he must have sensed how I was really because he asked if something was bothering me. So I ended up telling him about the situation I was in. He ended up walking me over a couple of blocks to 6th and State, where I followed him into the State Office Building. By the time I caught up to him at the counter, he already had the service people readying the paperwork I needed to obtain my identification. Upon leaving the building, I was given the knowledge that he was actually a State of Wisconsin Investigator.
After leaving the State Office Building, I go across the street to the Courthouse to the District Attorney's Office. While waiting I meet another guy who was on his way to court. I shared a little bit of my problems with him. He asked me if I was aware of Project RETURN. I told him I had heard of it but that I had never been there. He told me the address and that I should check them out. I left the courthouse and started to walk to Project RETURN. I arrived at about 11:00 am. The people greeted me with open arms, they asked me how they could help me. I told them my situation. They gave me coffee, donuts, sandwiches, and fellowship.
I felt so comfortable with Project RETURN that I would go there everyday for the next week. I started to volunteer cleaning up their offices. It gave me purpose, a job, a meaning. One day I was there working. I was in the back where they keep clothing and furniture for the clients. A lady came in and was going through some of the clothes. I found out later that she was searching for clothes for a tenant in a building she owned. I was introduced to her. To my surprise Project RETURN had arranged with her for me to work and stay at one of the houses she runs. This made me feel so blessed, and so fortunate to have God bring these types of people into my life.
A little while later I was called to Project RETURN to meet with their Executive Director and another organization. This other organization is BASICS, a partner organization of Project RETURN. I am now working with them to start my own business. Now, I ask, how blessed is that?!?