“OHOM is a place of unconditional love. There’s no requirements of you. Nothing is expected of you for them to give you their entire heart, for you to be able to start the journey of your life. It’s a place for you to gain back what was stolen from you: your innocence, your voice, your strengths, your truth.”

Crystal, isn’t shy about her past. Divorce, foster homes, domestic violence, and eventually prison made it difficult for her to trust people, especially men. But everything changed when she joined OHOM’s theatre program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. There, she found a safe space to work through her traumas, became comfortable with eye-contact and public speaking, and “gained back some of the innocence I’d lost.” Since being released, Crystal has channeled her past experiences into advocacy for people in similar situations: she recently spoke before state legislators on behalf of incarcerated mothers seeking more visiting time with their children.