The premiere nonprofit for providing women-specific tools, resources, and care to both currently and formerly incarcerated women
"When you're in it, it seems impossible to break out. But when you're environment lifts you up, and doesn't give up on you, then you can set up routines that help you fight your way out. One day at a time."
No mentors
or leadership
Poverty
Depression
& isolation
Being taken advantage of
No support structure
Discriminated
in job market
Drugs / crime
Prison
Overburdened rehabilitation resources
Released with dismal support
Laura, 2x Felon, Georgetown grad, Peer Recovery Specialist
Laura's story: Goal-setting
"After two drug-related felonies and nearly two years of going in-and-out of correctional facilities, I was beat. I knew I had to set goals for myself."
"I used whiteboards to write
down my ideas.
Lots.
And.
Lots.
Of whiteboards."
Applied and went back to school
Received an Associates from Northern Virginia Community College. Then graduated George Mason University with a 3.8 GPA. Then finished grad school at Georgetown.
Worked in the non-profit sector
Cared for victims of sexual assault, fought mandatory minimums, uplifted entrepreneurs, worked at the Office of National Drug Control Policy, and supported UN initiatives for economically disadvantaged communities and women
Changed a hard-on-crime law to a smart-on-crime law
Wrote to hundreds of legislators, put on front page of The Washington Post, and testified in front of multiple committees
"I was fortunate to have Schai (founder of FIST) in my life. She encouraged, challenged and kept me on track. The FIST principles she advocates for on a daily basis were invaluable to me. I would never have been able to fight my way out of the cycle without people like her in my life."
