No One Leaves Alone (NOLA) connects formerly incarcerated men and women with a circle of volunteers. Together they journey toward restoration and reintegration. NOLA circles meet regularly, stay in contact, and provide support in five areas: housing, health, employment, education, and relationships. Click here to learn more about NOLA.
The NOLA pilot program is volunteer driven. This means volunteers lead the circles, provide guidance and support to parolees, and give weekly updates to case managers, who, in turn, empower and support volunteers. With week-to-week circle leadership in the hands of our capable volunteers, case managers are now able to oversee more circles.
Since April, seven parolees have participated in NOLA for a minimum of three months, with two graduating. (The program duration is 3 to 12 months.) Presently, 10 NOLA applicants are still in prison and waiting for release.
Our case managers, Steve Roukema and Allyson Johnson, continue to work closely with parole officers in the community and at institutions, growing relationships and promoting NOLA through Zoom presentations.
“We’ve been encouraged by the 26 referrals we’ve received to date,” Steve said. “And we look forward to working closer with corrections staff as pandemic-related restrictions subside.”
Additionally, the NOLA team continues to invest in volunteers by offering training sessions and reflection times via Zoom. With more parolees requesting support, additional volunteers are needed in communities from Chilliwack to New Westminster.
If you are interested in volunteering in the community with NOLA or as a prison mentor, send us an email at info@m2w2.com
Bridging a Gap
For Andre, a NOLA graduate and current volunteer, the desire to help others stems from the acceptance he experienced through the program.
“I was used to being judged,” he said. “When I came across NOLA, they connected. They didn’t judge, so that was profound for me. They heard me without judging me.”
After completing NOLA, Andre saw that he could volunteer and offer something unique: His experiences.
“It’s hard for an outside person to realize what it is like inside. Through my own journey, I can relate. I can help bridge a gap.”
“My understanding can help other volunteers to connect. It helps the participant feel at ease. They might say, ‘Here’s someone who has done it. So if I’m struggling maybe I can speak to him without any worries or any concerns about being evaluated.’”
To hear more about Andre’s story, join us October 2, 2021, for our annual fundraiser. Andre will be among those sharing their stories of restoration and healing.
This story originally appears in our Fall 2021 newsletter.