Stories of Healing & Transformation
Explore powerful narratives of resilience and recovery, bridging the divide for a safer future.
Courageous Journeys
Shared Healing
Community Support
Stories of Healing
People who have harmed — Your story of healing is important to demonstrate to others what is possible.
Mental Health and Basketball in Prison
Mental health issues affect the vast majority of people in incarcerated settings. From distorted thinking to psychosis to the effects of adverse childhood experiences, mental health challenges are...
Value
Because of my deeply rooted character defects and the guilt and shame that I carried within, for many years I viewed myself as unworthy of any good-hearted, upstanding citizen's love or care. I have...
The Pressure
I have learned over time that I need to change the lens of how I see others. Viewing them as injured and traumatized has reduced my stress levels to a more manageable level. I now view people with...
Prayer and Faith
Prayer and faith in God got me through 34 years of continuous confinement. You see I was 35 years old when I was arrested. I did my time without one disciplinary report as corrupt as these places...
The People You Love the Most
Sometimes it's the people you love the most who make it the hardest. Today I talked to a friend and I figured out that the serenity prayer isn't for people suffering from substance abuse disorder,...
Open Letter from Aorrell Burrell
Dear District Attorney, I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the mercy you extended to me during my plea agreement. Your decision reflected a rare blend of justice and humanity. I do not...
Stories of Trauma and Trials
Survivors — Your story is important to show others that they aren’t alone. This point is critical because people tend to isolate when in pain and that is the worst thing one can do.
So Many Don’t Do This Work
I'm listening to "Dare to Lead," by Brené Brown. Areas I can improve on in her book are "armory, shame and empathy." I actually already check myself on these because they stem from traumatic...
As a Crime Survivor
by Enako Jefferson As a Crime Survivor those who harm and been harmed are both doing time. This week I sat in a healing circle meant for crime survivors. But healing was interrupted by the guttural...
Trauma Changed my World View
by Delfino Muñiz I want to take you back to the 1970's in a small neighborhood in Compton, California. I was a barefoot kid running up and down the street, laughing with my friends, chasing the ice...
Remembering Madonna Watson
Madonna Watson was a cherished friend and a resilient woman whose life was tragically cut short while incarcerated at the California Institution for women (CIW) in Chino, California. At CIW, Madonna...
Recognizing the Cycle
Jeffery A. Garrett T-15166 / DI 7-205-IL P.O. Box 409089 Ione, CA 95640 March 18, 2025 I suffered from countless adverse childhood experiences as a youth. I lived in a dysfunctional household which...
Voices of Change
“Sharing my story here has been a pivotal step in my healing journey. The support I’ve received is immeasurable.”
“Acknowledging my past actions was difficult, but the empathy and guidance from this community have been life-changing.”
“This platform gave me the courage to speak up and the strength to move forward with hope.”
“Finding a space that fosters understanding and growth has been crucial in my path to redemption.”
“The stories here remind me that I am not alone, and healing is possible with the right support.”
We Can Do This Together
"In the tapestry of healing, hope is the thread that binds us together."
– Dr. Emily Carter