Freedom Within Prison Project
Creating a future where prisons are obsolete
Welcome to Freedom Within.
The Freedom Within Prison Project, also known as Freedom Within, is working to reduce recidivism and change the culture inside prisons and jails, from one of violence and gang oppression, to a place where incarcerated individuals learn to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions through self-awareness and emotional literacy.
The impact of this work has a powerfully positive effect upon our program participants, their families, communities, and upon our society as a whole.
Our Mission.
Restoring wholeness to Individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration through a path of compassion, insight & accountability.
What is the Freedom Within Prison Project?
Freedom Within Prison Project, or Freedom Within, is dedicated to the inner personal growth of incarcerated men. The goal of Freedom Within is to create environments where incarcerated individuals learn to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions through self-awareness and emotional literacy.
With the aid of outside volunteers and professionals, who have deep commitment and experience in the unique arena of men's group work, we conduct weekly circles and occasional weekend intensives where participants can safely explore — and work through — personal issues that have prevented them from living up to their full potential as human beings.
Through working with Freedom Within, our participants take behavioral, emotional, and spiritual responsibility for their lives, positively impacting the level of consciousness in the entire prison community, as well as within their families, and aspects of society outside the prison walls.
Why Support Freedom Within?
Check out this one-minute video to see what we’re all about.
What we Provide.
Inside state prison environments, Freedom Within facilitates weekly discussion groups, coupled with intensive weekend trainings, to allow incarcerated individuals to make a positive shift in their lives.
This allows the culture inside the prisons to change, from a place of violence and gang oppression, to one where men learn to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings, and actions through self-awareness and emotional literacy.
The impact of this work has has a powerfully positive effect upon the participants, their families, communities, and upon our society as a whole
Feel the power of what we do.
Hear From Our Program Participants.
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Matthew Sheppard
“Being able to express myself and get support from my brothers in the (group) has literally prevented me from doing harm to myself and others. It has also held me accountable for the choices that I make and has allowed me to maintain my integrity.”
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David P.
"Freedom Within Prison Project has enabled me to make an honest assessment of my life, given me the tools & guidance to affect positive change, and made me feel wholeness, gratitude, compassion, humility, joy and love. Thank you so much for making a difference in my life.”
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Aaron "Money" Pennell
“I am sincerely grateful to all who participate and facilitate to make this group such an uplifting step on our road to recovering a sense of self-worth and rehabilitation.”
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Dartagne "Blessed" Williams
"The strength that I have received from SVSP Inside Men's support group has been a light to my foggy mind.”
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Derek "DeNice" Anderson
"I was constantly stumbling in life's life’s turmoil…”
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Donald
"The men's circle has helped me fully understand that actions truly speak louder than words.”