For 23 years, Lakeisha Williams was addicted to crack cocaine.

That sentence alone carries weight. But it does not carry her whole story.

“I tried many programs,” she said. “But none of them met all of my needs. Nothing seemed to fit.”

While incarcerated at the Merlin Correctional Institution for Women, she heard about Hope House, a housing program of The Ladies of Hope Ministries designed for women who have been incarcerated, who have struggled with substance use, and who have survived abuse and domestic violence.

“I am one of those women,” she said plainly.

When she was released, she made a decision that would change the trajectory of her life.

Before coming to Hope House, Lakeisha didn’t know how to put the pieces of her life back together. “I had been doing what was familiar for so long that the dysfunction felt normal.”

Her identity had been swallowed by survival. By addiction. By the labels others placed on her.

“I felt hopeless. It was a constant battle with negative thoughts.”

Then something shifted.

“I realized I had to get out of agreement with the lies spoken over me and the perceptions others had placed on me.”

That moment wasn’t just emotional. It was transformational. But transformation requires support. It requires structure. It requires safety.

And most of all, it requires someone to believe you are worth rebuilding.

A Different Kind of Welcome

“From the moment I arrived at Hope House, I was greeted with open arms,” Lakeisha said. “I could feel the love in the room.”

Not pity.
Not judgment.
Not surveillance.

Love.

The staff did not coddle her. They did not overwhelm her. They did something far more powerful.

“They pushed me, not in an unhealthy way, but with a gentle yet firm refusal to let me give up.”

They provided stability, food, and clothing. Access to mental health resources and employment opportunities.

But more than services, we provided belief.

“They made me feel like I mattered.”

And for a woman rebuilding after 23 years of addiction and incarceration, that belief is not small. It is foundational.

What Your Support Actually Builds

Because of Hope House and LOHM’s Rapid Rehousing programs:

Lakeisha is now employed. She has rebuilt relationships with her six children. She has repaired bonds that addiction once fractured, and now she wakes up with purpose.

“When I wake up in the morning, I wake up with purpose,” she said. “When I look in the mirror, I love the person I see.”

That is not just personal growth.

That is generational repair.

“Ladies of Hope didn’t just help me survive, they helped me rebuild my life.”

Why This Matters

Housing is not just a roof.

It is the difference between relapse and recovery. Between isolation and community, shame and self-worth. Between surviving and living.

Lakeisha’s story is not an exception. It is evidence.

Living proof that when women are given safe housing, structure, and sustained support, they do not just stabilize — they rise beyond measure.

They reunite with their children.
They enter the workforce.
They contribute to their communities.
They reclaim their names.

A Thank You And An Invitation

Lakeisha closes her impact statement with gratitude:

“I want to thank Dr. Sam for paving the way for women like me. For believing in us. For opening doors.”

But this work is not powered by one person.

It is powered by donors.
By partners.
By funders who understand that reentry requires investment.
And people who refuse to see women as disposable.

If you are reading this, you are part of that story.

And more women just like Lakeisha are waiting for a door to open.

When you give to The Ladies of Hope Ministries Housing programs, you are not funding a temporary shelter.

You are funding stability, family reunification, and second chances that ripple for generations.

Because every woman deserves the chance to say:

“I got out of agreement with the lies. And I rebuilt my life.”

Lakeisha’s story is not about rescue. It is about access.

Housing creates the conditions for change. When stability is funded and sustained, it reduces returns to incarceration, strengthens families, and allows people to move forward with dignity.

In 2025, LOHM invested more than $1.22 million directly into rental assistance. Stories like Lakeisha’s show why that investment matters.

Housing is not the finish line. It is the starting point. To support this work, visit thelohm.org.

Every day, system-impacted women across the country are fighting to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of incarceration, violence, poverty, and systemic harm. The barriers are high, the pathways narrow — yet every time a door opens, possibility returns.

At The Ladies of Hope Ministries (The LOHM), we believe that safety, dignity, education, and opportunity are not luxuries; they are the foundation every woman deserves as she reclaims her life and future.

And that is exactly what your giving makes possible.

Whether you support us during Giving Season or throughout the year, your generosity helps fund programs that restore hope, expand opportunities, and ignite transformation. Here are five powerful ways your giving opens doors for justice-impacted women every single day.

1. You Open the Door to Hope: Housing & Healing

A safe place to live is the beginning of everything.

Housing is stability, safety, and the breathing room a woman needs to heal. Thanks to your support, our housing programs across Miami, New York City, Detroit, New Orleans, and Prince George’s County provide women (and now men) with the dignity of home after incarceration.

Your giving provides:

• Move-in support & essentials
• Rapid Rehousing assistance
• Trauma-informed case management
• Safety planning for survivors of domestic violence
• A foundation for rebuilding family, finances, and future

When a woman receives her keys, she gets more than an address — she receives a chance to begin again.

2. You Open the Door to Opportunity: Pathways 4 Equity (P4E)

Economic mobility is the pathway to lasting freedom.

Your giving empowers justice-impacted women to step into careers that pay living wages, offer advancement, and build generational stability.

Through Pathways 4 Equity, women gain:

• Digital and professional skills training
• Leadership development
• Paid fellowships
• Hands-on career experience
• Direct pipelines to employers committed to fair chance hiring

This isn’t your average workforce development — it’s economic liberation.
When a woman earns a living wage, she earns her independence.

3. You Open the Door to Skills & Digital Access: Grow with Google

Digital access is one of the greatest barriers facing women reentering society.

Your giving removes that barrier by helping women earn Google Career Certificates in fields like IT, Data Analytics, UX Design, and Project Management.

You help provide:

• Laptops & reliable tech access
• One-on-one coaching
• Resume + LinkedIn guidance
• Job placement support
• A community that believes in its potential

Grow with Google graduates step into a workforce that once felt unreachable, now with confidence, skills, and a support network behind them.

4. You Open the Door to Visibility & Voice: Faces of Women Imprisoned

For decades, justice-impacted women have been spoken about — rarely spoken with. FOWI changes that.

Your giving helps women become paid public speakers, trained to share their stories with power, clarity, and purpose. FOWI speakers present at:

• Universities
• Corporations
• Conferences
• Policy roundtables
• Media events

Their voices challenge stigma, shift narratives, and humanize an issue that is too often misunderstood.

Your giving ensures justice-impacted women are not hidden; they are heard.

5. You Open the Door to Justice: Advocacy & Remission Now

Many women leaving prison remain trapped by restitution debt that follows them for decades.

Your giving supports #RemissionNow, our legislative and legal campaign advocating for:

• Federal restitution reform
• Relief for women burdened by lifelong debt
• Support for petitions submitted to the Department of Justice

Your support helps women break free from systems designed to keep them in cycles of poverty and punishment — long after they’ve served their time.

When you invest in advocacy, you invest in freedom.

Your Giving Opens Every Door

Reentry doesn’t happen all at once. It unfolds over time — through support, trust, and people willing to walk alongside someone as she rebuilds.

Because of your generosity, women are finding safe places to live, meaningful work, supportive community, and the confidence to use their voices. They’re not just surviving — they’re moving forward.

And that matters.

Thank you for showing up with compassion.
Thank you for believing in second chances.
Thank you for standing with justice-impacted women as they step into what’s next.

If you’re able, give today and help open the next door at thelohm.org

A mother. A law student. A survivor. A sister.

Tanya walks with the weight of a story that could have broken her, but instead, she built a path to power from the rubble. Today, she stands at the intersection of lived experience and legal brilliance as a 2L at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and The LOHM’s first-ever Law Clerk. Through the Minnesota Justice Foundation’s Public Service Program, Tanya is not only studying the law — she’s wielding it.

As Chairwoman of our #RemissionNow Campaign Legislative Committee, Tanya, with fierce grace, carries the voices of women shackled by restitution into the halls of power. With every meeting, every policy brief, every impassioned speech, she demands what the system was never built to give us: fairness. dignity. repair.

As LOHM’s liaison to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Tanya helps lead the charge for the Fairness in Restitution Act because she knows firsthand what it means to be criminalized and then billed for your own oppression. She also supports our clemency work — offering hope, second chances, and legal support to those still behind bars.

Tanya is the kind of woman who makes it impossible to forget that justice-impacted does not mean powerless.

“Women impacted by restitution deserve more than reform, they deserve justice.” — Tanya Pierce

Her dream is to become a white collar Federal Defense Attorney. But she’s already defending something far greater — our right to be more than what we’ve been through.

At The LOHM, we don’t just believe in second chances. We believe in resurrection. We believe in taking what was meant to destroy us and turning it into purpose. And we believe that when one of us rises, we all do.

Tanya Pierce is rising. And we’re lifting with her.

After years of surviving violence, homelessness, and incarceration, Lovezella B. found her way to The LOHM’s Rapid Rehousing program — and finally, a safe place to begin again.

When Lovezella came home from jail after seven years, she had nothing but determination. She cycled through shelters, worked two jobs, and faced disbelief from those she turned to for help. “No one would believe my story,” she recalls after surviving abuse. While pregnant and struggling to find stability, a shelter director referred her to The LOHM.

“It was God-sent,” she says. “Knowing that everything would be taken care of financially took away so much stress. It was beautiful — me, my baby, and by ourselves.”

Through our Rapid Rehousing, Lovezella received case management, transportation assistance, and access to The Healing Hub — a space where women heal from trauma and rediscover their purpose.

“I feel responsible, grateful, and positive,” she says. “Now that I have positive people in my life who want to see me do good, it makes me want to do more.”

Today, Lovezella is focused on growth as a mother, a woman, and a survivor. “I’m realizing my strengths. I’m noticing I can do this, even if no one helps me.”

Her hope for the future? “To buy a home for me and my children.” Lovezella’s story is proof that when women are given safety and support, they don’t just survive — they soar.

Support programs that provide housing, healing, and hope. Visit thelohm.org

My writing journey began during my freshman year at Mount St. Mary’s University. My father had just passed away, and I found myself sitting in class with an English assignment due, unable to think about anything other than my grief. I poured my emotions into that paper, writing about loneliness and relating it to a lone boat adrift in the ocean. From my classroom window, I could glimpse the sea, and it became a mirror for what I felt inside.

When my professor returned my paper, she looked at me and said, “You could be a writer.” That moment stayed with me. It sparked something. Since then, stories have always lived in me — some on paper, others still waiting their turn in my mind.

My chapters in Rewriting Her Story were inspired by my sister’s incarceration and everything our family endured during and after her time inside. Even after her release, she still needed us — and we showed up. At the same time, I was researching how women over 50 navigate reentry after incarceration. Their stories stuck with me: tales of injustice, resilience, and pain. Some spoke about their treatment behind bars; others opened up about what led them there and what life looked like after. I knew their stories deserved to be shared.

I’ve always been someone who prefers to stay behind the scenes. But this book pulled me out of the shadows. Being part of this project has pushed me in ways I never imagined — slowly stepping into the spotlight, opening up on social media, and even preparing to speak publicly. It’s like I’ve turned a page in my own life — a restart I’m embracing with open arms.

My chapter, “Watch What You Say,” is about the power of words. Words can uplift or destroy. If you reflect back on your childhood, I bet there’s a negative comment that still lingers in your memory. I have one of those, too. It was Cinco de Mayo, and I was in elementary school. Our class was performing, and the teacher applied orange lipstick on me. The ridicule I received about how my lips looked that day was unforgettable. Even now, I won’t wear red, orange, or any bold lip color. Some may say, “It was so long ago,” or “Get over it.” But those words had weight. They left a lasting imprint. Words matter. They shape who we become.

I want to thank everyone who has supported Rewriting Her Story, and those who will. If there’s one thing I hope readers take away from my chapters, it’s this: Support your loved ones, both while they’re incarcerated and when they come home. It might be financially or emotionally challenging, but staying in touch, sending care packages, and simply showing up can make all the difference. And just as important: be mindful of the words you use. Language carries power. Let’s use it to uplift.

With gratitude,
Dr. Eva C. Brent
Author • Scholar • Advocate

Twenty-seven women from across the country walked together into the Department of Justice on August 14; the air felt heavy with history. Not just the weight of marble halls and government power, but the weight of stories, of lives paused and stretched thin under the invisible shackles of restitution.

Restitution: The Silent Sentence

People often think prison ends when the gates swing open. But for so many women, freedom comes with a hidden clause — restitution. Court-ordered debt that clings like a shadow. Debt for money never received. Debt for losses never claimed. Debt that, in some cases, even the government itself admits cannot be traced.

It’s the punishment that keeps punishing. A financial life sentence.

Imagine rebuilding your life, your family, your future, while being told you can never buy a home, never open a bank account, never get insurance, never stand on stable ground because of debts you’ll never live long enough to pay.

That’s what restitution is. That’s why we fight for remission.

The Walk to Justice

On that humid D.C. afternoon, I watched as women pressed their scripts close, as if holding tight to the proof of their own humanity. The goal was to stick to the facts when we were in front of the U.S. Pardon Attorney.

We gathered on the steps of the DOJ, not as defendants or convicts, but as advocates and mothers, as daughters, sisters, and leaders.

Inside, we met with Pardon Attorney Ed J. Martin — not with bowed heads, but with raised voices. These women told their truths:

The former attorney carrying a $5 million restitution order that no victim has ever claimed.

The mother paying monthly for a debt that has never reached a single hand it was meant for.

The social security check being garnished. The banks accounts being frozen.

The survivors of the 2008 mortgage crisis — punished with billions in restitution while banks got bailouts.

Their words cracked open the silence. Their presence declared: We are not debtors. We are daughters of this nation who deserve a second chance.

What We Carry

This is not the first time we have walked these halls.

In 2022, during the Biden Administration, we stood in this very place, carrying the same petitions, the same stories, the same desperate hope for freedom from debts that were never truly ours. We shared our truths then, believing that shining light on restitution’s cruelty would be enough to move mountains.

But remission is a clemency tool rarely used — only 38 petitions granted in nearly 80 years, and only three to women. Our visit in 2022 ended without the relief we prayed for. The petitions sat in silence, while the women behind them continued to live in the shadow of debts they could never pay.

“Restitution has quietly kept women like us in chains long after we walked out of prison. It’s a sentence that follows us to the grave, robbing our families, our futures, and our freedom. We deserve justice. We deserve our lives back.” Elise Roper, chair of the #RemissionNow campaign, said.

Dr. Topeka Sam, our Founder and CEO at The Ladies of Hope Ministries, whose voice cut through the room with the clarity of truth:

“These women have done everything asked of them. They served their sentences. They rebuilt their lives. Yet no matter how hard they work, they remain trapped by debts they can never escape. This is their last hope for a true second chance.”

Her words echoed what I know in my bones: remission is not mercy — it is justice long delayed.

Beyond Petitions, Toward Freedom

That day was more than a meeting. It was a reckoning. It was the beginning of the end for a system that trades in women’s futures like they are collateral damage.

We left the DOJ not with answers, but with resolve. Whether remission comes tomorrow, next month, or next year, this movement will not stop until restitution is no longer a life sentence for anyone.

Our fight is for every mother locked out of opportunity, every daughter inheriting her mother’s debt, every woman who deserves to be defined by her dreams — not her restitution balance.

The Call Forward

If you are justice-impacted and need help with remission or clemency, you are not alone. We are building a pathway out of this financial prison together. Because freedom should not come with a payment plan.

Join us. Tell your story. Submit your form. Be part of history.

Click the link to submit your story today.

#RemissionNow

When justice-impacted women tell their stories, something powerful happens: silence turns into strength. On April 4th, we celebrated the official release of the Faces of Women Imprisoned Rewriting Her Story book, a groundbreaking collection of real-life stories written by women who survived incarceration and found the courage to rise.

This book isn’t just a publication — it’s a platform. It is the voice of 6 justice-impacted women who stepped into their truth and chose to speak out, not just for themselves but for all the sisters still behind bars or rebuilding after release.

This book invites the world to hear what justice sounds like through the eyes of those who have witnessed the system firsthand. And it reminds us that women impacted by incarceration are not statistics — they are storytellers, leaders, mothers, and advocates.

We invite you to purchase the book on Amazon, host a community read, or book a speaker from the FOWI network. Because her story matters. And her freedom starts with being heard.

My name is Crystal Scott, and I am a Web Accessibility Engineer specializing in creating digital solutions that adhere to the highest standards of accessibility. With a deep understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and WCAG guidelines, I’ve guided countless projects towards full WCAG conformance, enhancing usability for all users. As an IAAP Certified Professional in Web Accessibility (CPWA) and a Trusted Tester, I’ve built my career around the belief that technology can create inclusive digital environments for everyone.

The purpose of this blog is to share my journey — how I overcame challenges as a justice-impacted woman, carved out a space in the tech industry, and now advocate for others to do the same.

Early Challenges

Reentering society and finding my place in the tech industry was no easy feat. One of the biggest challenges I faced was fear — fear that potential employers would reject me due to background checks and the five-year gap in my work history. I knew this gap would raise questions that I wasn’t comfortable addressing in the initial stages of job applications.

My journey into tech began while I was incarcerated, thanks to The Last Mile coding program. I made a decision at the California Institution for Women that coding was going to be my career path, and I committed myself to learning everything I could. However, upon release, my only experience in web development was from a coding program in prison — a hard sell when seeking a junior developer role that required mentorship.

Turning Point

The turning point in my career came when I met Peter Shikli while finishing my last sentence at the Coffee Creek Institution for Women. Although I didn’t qualify for the Access2online In Prison program, Peter saw my passion and determination. He believed in me and offered me a job as a marketing specialist and front-end web developer upon my release. That opportunity changed everything. It helped me realize that I was worth something, that I was an asset to a company, and that my past did not define my future.

Working with Peter allowed me to gain real-world experience in accessibility, WordPress, web development, and Adobe tools. This experience solidified my path forward and helped me build the confidence I needed to grow in the industry.

Education and Certification

In the tech industry, education is crucial. There are always new platforms, frameworks, and updates to stay on top of, and if you don’t keep learning, you quickly fall behind. I’m currently pursuing my BA in Graphic Design and Media Arts at Southern New Hampshire University, and balancing that with my professional work is a challenge I embrace.

One of the most valuable skills I’ve acquired is my expertise in Webflow. At Zenyth, I’ve rebuilt and currently maintain our website on the Webflow platform. Additionally, I’ve rebuilt numerous WCAG-conformant websites for clients, which I continue to maintain today. Webflow has become a powerful tool for creating born-accessible websites, and this expertise has made me a valuable asset at Zenyth.

Professional Growth

As a Web Accessibility Engineer at Zenyth, I often lead remediation projects on the Shopify platform. Working within the confines of Shopify’s Liquid programming language, I leverage my expertise in ARIA and JavaScript to craft accessible solutions for complex eCommerce components. These projects not only require my technical skills but also my ability to manage and run the projects effectively, ensuring that we deliver high-quality results for our clients.

The most fulfilling part of my work is knowing that I am making a difference in accessibility. I take pride in auditing, building and remediating websites, ensuring equal access for all users. I also love sharing my knowledge and leading the Accessibility Book Club on LinkedIn.

Advocacy and Mentorship

While I haven’t formally mentored other justice-impacted women yet, I actively advocate for their inclusion in the tech industry. My involvement with The Ladies of Hope Ministries has allowed me to share my experiences and speak at events like the Business Roundtable, where I discussed the importance of giving justice-impacted individuals a chance at employment.

I believe that as more opportunities for mentorship or advocacy arise, I’ll be ready to support other justice-impacted women as they navigate their own paths into tech.

Future Goals

Currently, I’m focused on expanding my skills as a graphic and web designer. My goal is to become a triple threat: a front-end web developer who can design and build accessible websites from the ground up. By mastering design, accessibility, and development, I’ll be able to bake accessibility into every stage of the process, ensuring that all digital spaces are born-accessible. I’m excited about what’s ahead, and I look forward to continuing my journey in tech.

Conclusion

If there’s one message I want justice-impacted individuals to take from this, it’s that your background does not define you. What matters most is your education, skills, and determination. Knowledge is power, and once you become an expert in your field, your past becomes irrelevant.

No matter how many challenges you face, if you hone your craft and become irreplaceable, your skills will speak louder than your past. And if an employer can’t see your worth because of where you’ve been, then they don’t deserve you.

Call to Action

Follow my journey on LinkedIn, where I regularly share insights on web accessibility, career development, and advocacy for justice-impacted individuals. For those looking to explore tech as a career path, there are countless resources out there — use them, learn, and grow.

This story is written by Crystal Scott, a web developer and LOHM Pathways 4 Equity Fellow and is part of our Breaking Chains Series: Women Thriving Beyond Incarceration.

A system that was not designed to help people entering society truly succeed. For many of us transitioning after incarceration, the job pool is slim to none. Either we work menial minimum wage jobs that do not create pathways to career advancement or we create our path.

When no one gave us a chance, we paved our own.

There has been progress in the movement but not enough to give people real opportunities for employment and many formerly incarcerated Black women face daunting barriers. Therefore many have turned to entrepreneurship as a path to economic independence. Not only are we creating opportunities for ourselves but also for other justice-impacted people.

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

Our journeys are powerful testaments to the human spirit’s capacity for transformation and resilience. Despite facing systemic obstacles to reentry, these women have not only rebuilt their lives but have also become catalysts for economic growth and job creation.

The Vital Role of Black Businesses

Black businesses are integral to the fabric of our communities. They provide essential jobs, stimulate local economies, and often serve as cultural and social hubs. However, these businesses face unique challenges, including disparities in access to capital, mentorship, and market opportunities.

Supporting Black-Owned Businesses: A Call to Action

Supporting Black-owned businesses is more than a consumer choice — it’s a crucial investment in fostering a more equitable and prosperous future for all. This month, let’s make a difference by:

• Shopping Black-Owned: Make a conscious effort to purchase from Black-owned businesses.
• Networking and Mentoring: Offer your skills and knowledge as a mentor to up-and-coming Black entrepreneurs.
• Advocating for Supportive Policies: Support and advocate for policies that enhance the growth of Black businesses.
• Hiring Formerly Incarcerated Individuals: Consider the benefits of hiring formerly incarcerated individuals, who bring unique perspectives and skills to the workforce.

A Legacy of Empowerment

The stories of formerly incarcerated Black women entrepreneurs remind us that with the right support, individuals can overcome adversity to achieve remarkable success. Their perseverance and achievements enrich our communities and inspire future generations.

Let’s use this month to amplify our support for Black business owners and commit to building more inclusive economic opportunities. By taking these steps, we can help level the playing field for Black entrepreneurs and create stronger, more vibrant communities.

Why #SheSpeaksJustice Matters

Elevating Authentic Voices

The heart of #SheSpeaksJustice lies in the authenticity of the stories shared. These videos bring to light the unique and often unheard perspectives of Black women navigating a complex web of challenges within the criminal legal system. Each narrative is a testament to resilience, strength, and the unwavering spirit of survival.

Fostering Empathy and Understanding

Through these personal testimonies, the series aims to bridge the empathy gap, providing viewers with a profound understanding of the systemic issues that disproportionately impact Black women. By listening to their stories, we cultivate a shared sense of humanity and empathy, essential for cultivating social change.

The Faces Behind the Voices: Humanizing Narratives

To humanize the storytellers, we offer glimpses capturing the moments of vulnerability, strength, and camaraderie. These insights reveal the profound connection between the storytellers and the mission of justice, empowerment, and rectifying historical disparities.

Engage and Elevate: How You Can Contribute

1. Watch, Share, and Amplify

Experience the #SheSpeaksJustice Series firsthand. Watch, share, and amplify these powerful stories to broaden their impact. By doing so, you contribute to breaking down the barriers that silence these voices and work towards dismantling historical inequalities.

2. Join the Conversation

Engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and be part of the dialogue surrounding justice, empowerment, and criminal legal system reform.

3. #ShespeaksJusitce Challenge

Extend the reach of the campaign by taking part in the #SheSpeaksJustice Challenge. Share your own stories or those of the women in your community using the hashtag. Let’s create a united space where every voice is heard, particularly those historically marginalized.

Looking Ahead: Beyond the Series

The #SheSpeaksJustice Series is more than a collection of videos; it is a catalyst for change. We invite you to be part of this movement, where every voice contributes. Together, let’s amplify the voices that speak justice and address historical disparities for a more equitable and compassionate future. #SheSpeaksJustice.