FLINT, Mich. — The goal of the non-profit, Re-Connections, is to help people who have served time for their crimes and want to improve their lives.
The group includes many local partners educating those coming out of incarceration, who say the organization gave them a chance when no one else did.
They are our Local Heroes.
“Strength is not how you feel, but how you heal. I love you all,” said Keeley Diego Mitchell of Flint, who graduated from the program.
Keeley was a featured speaker at Re-Connections fall graduation.
He previously went through the program and spoke to the 11 people who are choosing to leave their criminal past behind them.
“To me, this opportunity represents growth, perseverance, opportunity. and most importantly, the chance to write a better chapter in my life,” sad one of this year’s graduates.
Along with these graduates, Keeley is turning his life around after serving 35 years in prison for murder.
“It’s not easy. It wasn’t easy. I had a stumbling block. I went back to jail on my birthday. and the first person to come down to the county jail was Jennifer from Re-Connections.”
Jennifer Rosenbrook, her husband, and dozens of partners in the community take on clients coming out of incarceration.
They offer them a variety of classes and other guidance to get them ready for re-entry into society.
However, they must promise they are ready for something better.
“So, we really focus on smart goals, in helping them accomplish incremental goals that will help set them up for success in the future. It’s really about facilitating behavior change,” said Jennifer Rosenbrook, Director of Education, Re-Connections.
Keeley feels those changes taking place.
Even though he was just 18 at the time he went to prison, he takes responsibility for his crime.
Now, Keeley is engaged, working a lot, spending time with his family, and so thankful for being given a third chance at a better life. He even bought his own car and got a driver license.
“I love ’em. I love ’em to death. Thank you. Thank you, Re-Connections, for even having me because I would never think I would be here. I thought I would die in prison,” added an emotional Keeley.
“It’s really, people believing in them and then, education. We’re all about education. You need to learn how to handle your finances. You need to learn how to deal with your past. you need to learn how to ace a job interview,” explained Jennifer.
Now it’s time for even more Re-Connections graduates to go out into the world, knowing at least a few people believe in them.
“I just want to thank my supporters who never gave up on me and stood by me this whole journey through Re-Connections so thank you,” announced one of this year’s Re-Connections graduates to the crowd at graduation.
Jennifer says often, people coming out of incarceration want to be better human beings and make necessary changes.
However, they need help acknowledging the barriers and learning what they need to know to knock down those barriers.
Send us an email to: [email protected] or [email protected] to tell us about Local Heroes in our Mid-Michigan communities.
Source: midmichigannow.com
