Let Freedom Ring Initiative
Having and assembled a stellar and committed board of directors, staff, volunteers and strategic partners that together create a specially trained network of supporters who innovate programs, opportunities and coaches that help members and clients successfully transition and transform into highly productive citizens. This initiative encourages and equips our clients and members to live the American Dream and actualize their best version of self. NOAREO, recognizes that the primary aim of any evidence-based reentry initiative is to target the criminogenic factors that lead to re-offending. Our holistic transitional services include targeting and addressing these factors. Shamari J. Lewis leads this initiative as President of the National Organization for Anti-Recidivism and Economic Opportunity, Inc. and as a formerly incarcerated person.
According to the Department of Justice and the National Institute of Corrections it costs $24,265 per year to house a prisoner in Florida under the department of corrections.
We propose that if we as a society invest half that cost [$12,132.50] in persons transitioning back into society, we will be less likely to spend that $24,265 ever again on that single individual all because we choose to invest in sustainable outcomes rather than outdated models of ineffective correction. Essentially by making a decision to serve the people—the stakeholders in the community i.e. taxpayers so that the return taxpayers see in the use of public funds for the propagation of the correctional and justice systems is an actual correction in behavior and a reduction in crime and recidivism. The meaningful and purposeful act of investing in holistic transitional programming backed by research and evidenced based models is not only a hedge against inflation its also preemptive strike against upward ticks in building new prisons, restless youth, threats against law enforcement and general resentment toward institutions that serve the populace.
By investing in successful transitions, we will drastically decarcerate Florida detention facilities and bring a closer end to recidivism and the costly burden of failure.
The overarching goal of our investors, volunteers, partners, staff, board and founder is to aid our clients and members in moving up the hierarchy of needs to the point of self-actualization by increasing their practical knowledge, work and career opportunities, including personal and leadership development with a specific focus on developing discipline, attitudes, passions and strengths.