The Battle Has Already Been Won

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. Whoever would have thought that a bad decision at an early age, could result in an American no longer being viewed as a citizen. After an American citizen is convicted of a felony offense, certain rights are rescinded. Also, there is a negative stigma that goes farther than the rescinded rights, and makes reentry into society virtually impossible.

I took a group of LifeLine to Success clients to the National Civil Rights Museum on Monday afternoon. We viewed the exhibits and watched the video. I have been several times, but this time I was a convicted felon that has been attempting to successfully reenter society. I was shocked by the realization that the rights the Civil Rights Movement was fought for, were the very same rights that have been stripped from the ex-offender population.

In one exhibit, there is a group of statues that are portraying a march. The statues are carrying picket signs. The three signs all had different statements. The issues were Voting, Housing, and Wages. I was stunned because all of those are issues that I face today, as an ex-offender. The right to vote, the right to affordable, descent housing and the right to a livable wage are all rights that an ex-offender no longer is privy to after a felony conviction.

The right to vote is one of the most significant rights an American citizen has. But after a conviction, that is one of the rights that a person loses. “The system” has been notorious for hindering segments of our society as it relates to voting rights. Women and blacks were both denied the right to vote and the fight to change that resulted in bloodshed. It took amending the United States Constitution for those groups to enjoy a benefit that was intended for all citizens.

The federal government provides housing assistance and allows local jurisdictions to disperse it. Many municipalities will not allow a convicted felon to receive any governmentally funded housing assistance. One of the requirements for a probationer or parolee is stable housing. If an individual has served any length of time, odds are that person will not have a place to live upon release. So how, then, is it possible for a citizen that has been convicted to obtain housing when the government that classifies him as a citizen will not assist him with housing that is available to its citizens?

The last of these issues is not an actual right that was stripped, but it comes as a result of the negative stigma that comes with a felony conviction. Convicted felons lose 40% of their earning potential simply because of the conviction being on their criminal record. Employment is very hard to come by. Minimum wage jobs are now conducting background checks. What is a person to do? Does the American dream die with the conviction?

When will we, ex-offenders that have done what society required, be allowed to be full-fledged citizens again? Yes, we did it. We broke the law. But is there no remedy? Do we have to live as refugees in our own country for the rest of our lives? Dr. Martin Luther King didn’t just march for garbage workers. He didn’t willingly go to jail for bus boycotts only. He didn’t give his life for blacks only. He died for us all to have the rights that come with citizenship to the greatest nation on earth. The battle has already been fought- and won! Why do we have to continue to fight for rights that bloodshed and lives have been given for?

Is Crime a Culture?

The Criminal Culture

Is crime a culture? Culture is the totality of socially transmitted behavior patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and all other products of human work and thought. We know that we are products of our environments. Our environments reflect our culture. Criminal thinking is usually learned behavior. So, to become a criminal, there must be some form of education involved. Robbers generally learn how to rob from someone that has robbed before. A forger has to be taught the “art” of forgery by someone that has forged a document before. A person that chooses a life of crime has chosen to learn a negative set of actions and values.

The criminal culture also involves the actions that surround the crime that a person commits. Robbers need customers for the products that they steal. Forgers need a way to find documents to forge. That creates an environment of negative behavior that creates its own culture.

We know that people that are not citizens of American tend to assimilate, learn and use the characteristics and customs of the citizens of a particular region, into the American culture. They learn the language and the customs that the majority of the citizens perform. That also means that they give up some of their customs, and replace them with the customs of the region, in order to fit in and become accepted.

Since crime is a culture, those with criminal mindsets must assimilate into mainstream society, and leave the criminal customs and behaviors behind. They must learn the customs of non-criminals. How does a person with a criminal mindset learn the customs of non-criminals?

In order to learn how to become a productive citizen, and leave a life of crime, a person must begin to associate with people that already have the values and customs that they want to live by. This requires effort. It will not be easy. But it is possible. And, you must be willing to let the bad habits go. You must be willing to learn!

One of the first signs of assimilation is the way a person dresses. We all have seen someone that came to America from another country, and they dress like they did in their native country. Little Italy and Chinatown are examples of regions that are occupied by immigrants that did not want to give up their native cultures. Those areas resemble the native land of the people that live there.

In order to assimilate back into society, you must not allow your appearance to speak negatively of you because the perception already exists that you are not worthy of another chance. You must “dress for success”. That doesn’t mean that you must wear a suit and tie everyday. But it does mean that your pants should fit, and no one should see your underwear. You should look worthy of another chance. Your attire should speak volumes because you only have one chance to make a first and lasting impression. Don’t stack the cards against yourself before you have a chance to be heard.

(Excerpt from LifeLine to Success: LifeSkills Curriculum )

LifeLine is Recognized

One thing that we stress to our clients is, "Hard work overcomes obstacles". We know that to be true. We were also informed by the President of The LeMoyne-Owen College, Dr. Johnnie B. Watson, that we should "overcome our handicapping conditions" by embracing the very thing that we may be ashamed of. Ownership of it allows us to address it in others and assist them in their recovery.

Our Ban the Box efforts have garnered us international attention by way of Prison Fellowship. Click this link to see how God has blessed.

http://www.prisonfellowship.org/inside-out/io-issue/june-2010/entry/20/15024

The Joy of Transformational Ministry

When one thinks of prison, usually the tendency is to visualize a dark, desolate place, filled with gloom and doom. Despair, pain and desolation are considered to be the norm. Prison has the connotation of being a place that no one wants to go and no one in their right mind would go there intentionally!

Well, allow me to dispel that notion. Prison is a place that is filled with hope. There can be joy inside the cinder walls and barbed wire. The possibilities are endless. Light does shine on the inside. Sometimes, love, hope and joy are pumped in by outsiders that are called by God to spread the gospel to those that have either strayed away, never been introduced or just need to be revived in the power and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

As a former inmate, I have first hand knowledge of what prison really is. Television has painted a picture that is grossly distorted because if the truth were to be told, no one would watch. Is it dangerous? Sure. Do people get hurt? Yes. Can it be a dark, cold place? Of course. But there is still hope. And prison is the best thing that could have happened to some of us.

Look at a prison. Then, look at a school in the inner city. Both are made with cinder blocks and concrete. Neither have many windows. The colors of the outer walls are similar. The only real difference is the absence of the gates, fences and armed guards that distinguish prisons from all other facilities.

So how is there joy in a place like that? How can hope exist? How can love be spread and shown where so much pain exists and where so much evil is taking place? One way is through the inmate realizing who he/she is and acknowledging the fact that the power lies within them. The other way is through volunteers bringing those things in with them. Darkness is driven away by light and evil is pushed out by love.

Prison Fellowship has begun its Transformational Ministry in Memphis, TN at the Mark Luttrell Correctional Facility for women. We met for 4 weeks, one day a week in preparation for the grand opening event that took place on Monday, August 30, 2010. In our previous 4 weeks, we began building our relationships with each other and our participants. A bond was formed that was only made complete and strong by the power of God.

On Monday, the inmates (I hate that word) presented me and my wife with hand made gifts for our newborn baby. The ladies knitted baby Jewel a blanket, a hat, shoes and they even handcrafted a gift bag. To top it off, they made cards and all of them signed their names. I was almost in tears. I was crying on the inside. It was beautiful. And it was not what I expected. I went in to bring them a message, and I ended up leaving prison with gifts! I LEFT THE PRISON WITH GIFTS! These ladies don’t have jobs. These ladies have VERY limited resources. Yet they felt the desire to be a blessing.

Transformational Ministry is one that brings so many rewards to the volunteer. In assisting others, our faith is increased. In our efforts to love others, Jesus’ love toward us becomes more concrete! By caring for those that society has given up on, God has to bless us with the strength to endure.

There is no greater joy than to see someone finally realize that Jesus is REAL! And knowing that you helped to make that happen gives one a sense of accomplishment and it makes one want to duplicate that feeling over and over again. It’s addictive. It makes life worth living. I love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for the world! If you haven’t tried any ministry outside of the church, give it a try. The rewards are priceless.

I challenge you to facilitate change in someone’s life. Your life will never be the same.

Ex-offenders: An Untapped Labor Source

When you think of the word untapped, or tapping, it generally relates to the acquisition of a valuable resource. Its value has to exceed the cost of its acquisition, in order to make the harvesting feasible. The value comes from a well defined market for the product.

Consider oil. Oil is a very valuable resource. Wars have been fought and lives lost over it. Oil exists in places beneath the earth’s surface in places that are hard to find, and even harder to reach. And it is only found by people that are intentionally looking for it because they know the value of it.

After the resource has been found, it then must be acquired, tapped. It takes skilled people to harvest the raw material. That is what the Reentry Service Providers do. We find the resource and harvest it. We break through the tough surface and reach the resource. It isn’t easy and it isn’t cheap, but the value of the commodity greatly exceeds the cost of acquisition.

The Gulf Coast oil spill is an example of the potential danger in tapping. If it is done by individuals that are untrained or by those that do not see the value of the resource, disaster will strike and that valuable commodity will become a natural disaster. It will turn from a valuable resource, to a hazard to the ecosystem and anything in its vicinity.

After the commodity has been located and harvested, it then must be refined. The impurities must be removed, and it must be transformed into a substance that can be consumed. The materials that are taught in our classes do just that. Our lessons remove the negative thinking of our clients and replace it with the tools that are necessary to succeed.

Our job, the Reentry Service Provider, is to locate the commodity, harvest it, refine it and get it to a gas station near you, so that it can be consumed. Oil on a tanker does no one any good. But after it has gone through the cycle, it then becomes one of the world’s most sought after materials.

Ex-offenders are just like oil. They are a group with much potential. After completing a program, they then become a valuable commodity. But society must be informed of the value. We must find innovative ways to market our product and find innovative uses for our product. The possibilities are endless. Let’s make it happen!

Is the Debt Ever Paid?

There is a common saying among people that have been released from prison, back into society. They say, “I have paid my debt to society”. The feeling is, since the sentence that was imposed by the judge has been satisfied, consequently, the debt has been satisfied. The sentence is viewed as the payment for the harm that has been done to society by the individual.

Where did that idea originate? In my days, I have never found out who I actually paid. If I could find them, I would ask them this question, “is the debt ever paid?” During the sentencing phase in a criminal court room, the sentencing judge will read a list of reasons for a defendant to consider before entering a plea of guilty. Nowhere in that list does it mention that, “You will not be able to find a job”, “You will no longer qualify for government subsidized housing”, “You will be viewed as a menace to society and an outcast for the rest of you natural life”. Had a judge told me those things, I never would have pled guilty.

What is the purpose of prison? Is it to punish the individual for the crime? Is it to rehabilitate the individual and make him a positive influence on society? Is it to make the general public safer by removing the troublemaker from society? We need to define prison’s purpose and make it as efficient as possible in that regard so our nation can become a safer place.

The “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” mentality is no longer feasible. The cost for that is becoming too much to bear. So we must find ways to receive more return on the investment that is made to keep an individual incarcerated. Prison works- if it is administered correctly. Prison offers a unique opportunity for society to train individuals that either didn’t receive home training, or they choose to ignore what was instilled in them at an earlier time. Warehousing the inmates serves no purpose. That only creates an angrier inmate that will return home with a bad attitude. This person will now cause more trouble than he caused before his incarceration. They need to trained and educated.

If society can begin to see convicted felons as humans, as opposed to, convicts that only want to take and harm society, we will begin to see crime trends decrease. Why can’t we get “the benefit of the doubt”? We are now guilty, until proven innocent. Even those that claim to want to help have a preconceived notion that we will re-offend. It’s not a matter of “if”, it’s a matter of “when”. So why even try to convince them? It would be so much easier to just continue with a criminal lifestyle and get the things you desire. But when you have a true change of heart, you no longer desire the things that led you to a life of crime. And that’s what is frustrating. You know you have changed, but no one will believe you.

Give us a chance, we WILL prove you wrong!

Jobs are NOT the solution (Reentry Assessment)

Ex-offender reentry is a vital part of public safety. Over 95% of individuals that are incarcerated will be returning to society. Since that is the case, society must make provisions for that. Many organizations feel that job placement is the answer. They spend the bulk of their resources and time on job development, job readiness and job placement. When they give their statistics, the most important one is the number of participants that are employed. That is the wrong approach.

People that commit crimes generally received “home training” and they know right from wrong. So that is not the issue. Although they have received “home training”, something in them made them feel it was okay to go against what they had been taught. What would make a person go against their morals and ideals that were instilled in them from an early age- in most cases? That should be our focus.

Generally, they commit crimes because of a sense of entitlement. Entitlement makes it seem reasonable to use force to take someone else’s possessions, or to use deception to acquire goods or services. They feel the world owes them something.

People with this mentality should not be given jobs or assistance with job placement simply because they have a felony conviction. There is a price that needs to be paid. There must be some form of sacrifice to justify the assistance they receive. Life Skills, communication, anger management, etiquette, diction and other classes should be part of a comprehensive reentry plan. Job placement should only be an option AFTER the client has successful completed the designated programs. This instills a sense of value and responsibility in an individual that has usually shunned those ideals for many years.

Scholars have different opinions as to why people commit crime and continue to go to prison. Some say it is because there was no father figure in the home. Others attribute it to a lack of home training. While others say these actions stem from a flaw in a person’s character. Although these factors may play a role in the equation, those factors only play a limited role. The major factor is the decision making process of the individual.

Many times when an ex-offender is making a plea for equality, they will use the phrase, “I made a mistake”. I take exception to that because that removes the responsibility from the individual and places it on circumstance. Mistakes generally are beyond our control and we tend to learn from them and correct that behavior. But if a person continues the same or similar behavior, that is no longer a mistake. This person makes bad decisions. After that realization, he can now be trained on how to make better decisions.

When mistakes are made, consequences are never considered. When decisions are made, consequences are considered. So if an ex-offender decides to become a productive citizen, he can now be equipped with good decision making tools and methods to break the cycle of making bad decisions, thus changing his outlook on life. He can now develop a sense of self-worth and purpose.

Reentry programs MUST give their clients hope. That hope begins with a self assessment and a realization that “my circumstances are my fault”. No one else is to blame. After responsibility has been accepted, the next step is the building of a foundation that takes into account that individual’s past and present environments and moral instruction. This is only the beginning. This individual is NOT ready to enter into the workforce.

A common misconception is that a job will solve a criminal’s problems and make him end his life of crime. That notion is incorrect because most jobs will not pay what the individual was making in his illegal endeavors. So why would that be incentive enough to give up the past life?

We don’t want the job for the money. Again, more money can be made illegally. But that money comes with risks and it is not guaranteed. The job gives me stability and consistency. Now I can plan and prepare a budget and not risk my life for money. The job gives me a sense of responsibility because now I will be able to meet my obligations. I now value the money that I make because I earned it honestly.


To get a person to this realization takes time. This is not something that will be embraced after a job readiness session. Coping mechanisms need to be taught because $500 a week only can go so far. How does the individual deal with the dreams of the past- when money was not an issue because there was plenty of it around? How does the individual deal with not being able to spend with no regard for the bills that need to be paid. Now he has to budget. A job does not answer those issues.

Conflict in the criminal world is seldom resolved with kind, civilized words. How does this individual handle being chastised by his supervisor? Where did he learn how to communicate without raising his voice or using profanity? Putting this individual to work only sets him up to fail.

Is Work a Right?

Why do people feel that having a job is a right, as if they are entitled to work? A job is a privilege and it has to be earned. People expect us to put them to work, but they don't want to go through the classes we have to offer. Men haven't worked in 3 years can't give us 8 weeks... hmmm. Do they really wanna work?

Our phone rings constantly, and the person calling asks, "Can you get me a job". First of all, we don't know who the person is. Responsible people would never set someone up for failure. That's what we would be doing if we simply sent men and women out to work without, first, getting to know them and instilling our programs values into them.

So many people say they want work, but they are not ready for work. They lack the basic skills that employers are looking for. That is why the job searches are always unfruitful. Our job is to train men and women in the areas that employers look for. We don't have a magic formula, but we do know what employers want.

We MUST be able to vouch for anyone that we send to an employer. That only comes with time. That is why our program is structured the way that it is. We have been very successful so we can not begin to stray from our core values.

I'm sure many men and women have hung up angry. But if they would give us a try, they would see that it is not hard. And the time will be over before you know it. Explain this logic: a woman hasn't had a job in 4 years. We tell her that if she completes our program, we will send her to an employer that works with us. She doesn't come. huh?

People don't really pay attention sometimes. If I have been unsuccessful in my job search for YEARS, why can't I give an organization 2 months in a situation where I won't even have to search anymore. The employer will be waiting for ME? STRANGE!

Ban the Box

Ban the Box is a national movement that removes the question, "Have you ever been convicted of a felony" from the employment application. Many people wonder why that is so significant. Opponents even argue that felons should not be allowed to obtain city jobs.

Removing the box from applications may seem small to the common man, but to those of us that have felony convictions, it is a tremendous sign of hope! I've often stated that, "Where there is no hope, the only thing that can be expected is failure". The removal of that box gives us HOPE! And that hope is motivation to go ever harder and perform even better and contribute to society.

Banning the box does not remove the criminal background check. That would be crazy. But it does move it farther down the line in the hiring process. As it stands right now, that box is the first method of dismissal for potential employers. The City of Memphis is taking a great leap in leading the city's private sector toward fair hiring practices to ensure that they have the most qualified workforce possible.

I hope that the private sector sees the benefit in giving men and women hope. Crime is at an all time high. We can reduce that with measures such as this. This shows men and women that have criminal background histories that everyone is not against them and that opportunities are available. Knowing that one has an option will spur him/her to fight on and not give up. Prison, then, becomes a deterrent and is no longer an option.

I applaud the Memphis City Council, led by Chairman Harold Collins and Janis Fullilove, for taking the initiative to make Memphis a city of choice.

I know there are many questions. Please feel free to ask and I will do my best to provide an answer.

Are There Bad People in our World?

Are There Bad People?

What determines who a person is? We say that you can tell a tree by the fruit that it bears. So that means that bad trees will bear bad fruit. We believe that one’s character is defined by one’s actions. Actions come from thoughts. Then, one that has bad thoughts and acts on them has bad actions. Those bad actions, in turn, would make him a bad person- if our previous thought holds true.

We know that statement is incorrect. Good people have bad thoughts and they act on them. Yet, we don’t call them bad people. We excuse the action and say they made a mistake. So are there any bad people in our world then? And if there are, can they be converted from bad to good?

In our society, ex-offenders are seen as bad people. Their bad actions are not viewed as mistakes. The evidence is found in the fact that criminal background checks are becoming the norm. Employers have blanket policies that state that they will not hire anyone that has been convicted of a felony at any time in his life. Public housing agencies have the same policy. Even some privately owned complexes ask about a person’s criminal history. Local, state and the federal government also use felony convictions as a method of disqualification of otherwise qualified candidates for employment. The negative stigma that is associated with a felony record is one that is virtually impossible to overcome.

It appears that a felony conviction makes a person bad. Society says that they can’t be redeemed. Once bad, always bad. Otherwise, there would not be so many restrictions placed to keep ex-offenders out of society. Ex-offenders live among non-offenders daily. They are your neighbors and, in some cases, your co-workers. You attend church with them. They serve you at your favorite restaurant. They are your friend. In most cases, you would never know they had a record if they hadn’t revealed it to you. And once the revelation is made, you never see them the same again. You begin to expect them to do things that are illegal or immoral. You begin to look for their faults. You stop trusting them and begin to analyze their every action. Is that fair?

What separates an ex-offender or convicted felon from the average citizen? The convicted felon has a documented record of wrongdoing, while the average citizen just didn’t get caught. Their actions are the same, but getting caught makes one worse than the one that got away.

The original question was, “Are there any bad people (in our world)?” It appears to me that the answer would be “no”, but our perception tells us that is not the case. Fear of the unknown and media hype has made the label of ex-offender worse than the Scarlet letter. A criminal record follows a person for the remainder of his life and it is a roadblock that can’t be removed. The simple fact that a person was caught breaking the law makes them a bad person- FOREVER. Rehabilitation is possible for sex addicts, drug addicts and those addicted to gambling. Employers will even allow an employer with an addiction a chance to get help and remain employed. But society doesn’t believe that a criminal can be reformed. Society doesn’t have any faith in the prison system as it relates to its ability to correct a person’s actions. That theory will not stand against scrutiny, but no one will stand and cry out against this travesty and grave injustice.

Prisons are necessary and there are individuals that need to be separated from society because they refuse to follow the rules and law of the land. There are people that choose to rebel and they have no respect for life or freedom. They need to be locked away. But the majority of ex-offenders are not in the previous category. Most ex-offenders eventually learn their lesson and have a sincere desire to change their negative behavior into productive behavior. The problem is society doesn’t separate these two distinct groups. The only thing these two groups have in common is the fact that they both were found guilty of breaking the law. The latter will never do it again, while the former uses his time in prison to hone his skill to come out an be a better criminal. And we have a place for him.

If we are ever to become a successful society and reduce crime, we must see the importance of re-entry. It is vital that we grasp the concept that all people have the capacity to be reformed. We must allow them a chance to prove themselves. If they have followed the prescribed method of repayment to society and completed whatever sanctions that were levied against them, they MUST have a chance to provide for themselves and their families. They MUST have the ability to obtain housing. They MUST be able to be seen as humans that bleed, breath and live just like those that have never broken the law.

I never knew that breaking the law would make me forfeit my ability to be a human. Animals have more rights that convicted felons. This should not be so. There is no such thing as a bad person. But there are people that refuse to be obedient.

What is the purpose of prison?

What is the purpose of prison? In today's society, there is a tremendous amount of emphasis placed on one's criminal background. In order to find employment, one must submit to a criminal background check. The same is true for obtaining public housing and other aspects of life, such as certain career paths. And the negative stimga that is attached to having a criminal background makes it virtually impossible for one without a large number of resources to re-enter society.

The Encyclopedia Britannica states, "There are a number of accepted reasons for the use of  imprisonment. One approach aims to deter those who would otherwise commit crimes (general deterrence) and to make it less likely that those who serve prison sentences will commit crimes after their release (individual deterrence). A second approach focuses on issuing punishment to or obtaining retribution from, those who have committed serious crimes. A third approach encourages the personal reform of those who are sent to prison. Finally, in some cases it is necessary to protect the public from those who commit crimes- particularly from those who do so persistently. The increasing importance of the notion of reform has led some prison systems to be called correctional institutions."

So what happens when prison works? What is the next step when prison is successful in deterring, punishing and reforming an individual? The criminal background check removes the posibility of re-entry in most cases. Released individuals are then left to beat the pavement and attempt to look for employment in places that use the criminal background check as their first form of removal for potential employees. Society doesn't realize that it is easy for ex-offenders to go back to the lifestyle that led them to prison and that they do not want to go back to. The background check is becoming more punishment than the prison sentence itself.

What is the solution? We can reduce crime in our communities if we open some doors and allow individuals that used the time in prison wisely and are ready and willing to contribute to society the ability to enter the workforce and find decent housing. If we begin to see people as humans and not as monsters that only want to destroy the world, we will not throw people away. When our children need to eat, or when child support is due, or when I need  shoes because the rain is coming through the hole in the sole of my only pair, what do I do when I can not find someone that will allow me the chance to prove myself? Until we figure this out, crime will continue to rise and we will have more victims. Is it right? Of course not! But it is reality.

Out4Life

Reentry of ex-offenders is crucial to the reduction of crime and the advancement of public safety. That is why the Out4Life movement is so important to our society. Groups from various backgrounds are focusing their efforts collectively towards a common issue with a common goal, with a common expectation of success. This country has never seen such a moment since the Civil Rights movement. Secular, faith-based, governmental agencies, and common people with a heart for men and women are coming together to equip individuals with felony convictions with the tools necessary and with the opportunities to reenter society with a POSITIVE impact on their communities.

The Tennessee Out4Life conference was a HUGE success. We had 286 participants from all over the state. We even had representation from Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Lousiana- just to name a few. I would like to thank God for the direction and Prison Fellowship for receiving the vision and leading us in this charge to impact lives.

The break-out sessions were relevant and well organized. The presenters were prepared and informed. The class sizes were managable. The participants were receptive and engaging. The leadership was on one accord- in the public's view.There were no major glitches. And I believe this conference will be a model for the Out4Life conferences that follow all over the country. Great job Aimee, Larry, Ed, Jean, David, Arleen, Mary, Bruce, Greg and all of the volunteers and service providers. I am glad and proud to say that I was a part.

Moving forward, we must be sure to not lose the momentum that Out4Life has begun. Information was shared. Ideas were exchanged. Visions and plans were enhanced. Relationships were formed and fostered.Coalitions were established and others were strenghten in numbers and mission. I pray that individuals were stirred up to fight even harder. We are on our way. Memphis Transformation Network- LET'S CHANGE THE WORLD!