It’s been a year since our Board of Directors voted to make No One Leaves Alone (NOLA) a pilot program. In that time, we’ve worked hard to improve NOLA and bring its community reintegration support to a broader group of participants.
One recent, notable change is that NOLA now offers one-on-one support along with the circle-based support it has provided in the past.
Currently, NOLA has 51 participants. Some meet with a circle of volunteers and M2/W2 staff; others meet with a single volunteer or staff member. Either way, NOLA participants can access practical support in five areas: housing, health, employment, education, and relationships.
Each participant identifies the areas they want to focus on, and their circle or mentor works with them to set goals, take action, and move forward.
“NOLA meets people where they are and empowers them to make good choices as they rebuild their lives,” said Program Director Glenn Burchart. “While the model has evolved through the years, it has always promoted healthy community reintegration.”
Initially a research project, NOLA launched in 2018, backed by three years of federal funding. The funding came to an end in March 2021, and the Board voted to continue NOLA as a pilot program. In the time since, with many prisons closed to volunteer programs, NOLA remained relevant, providing vital post-incarceration support to people in the community.
“Thanks to our excellent program staff and volunteers, as well as our generous donors, we know that NOLA will continue to grow and reach more people in the future,” Glenn said.
NOLA is funded by the generosity of M2/W2 donors, the Province of British Columbia’s Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation Grant program, and the Envision Financial Community Endowment. Thank you!
This story appears in our Spring 2022 newsletter.