Our symbol come from a West African belief that symbolize endurance and resourcefulness. The fern is a hardy plant that can grow in difficult places. “An individual who believe in this symbol suggests that he/she has endured many adversities and outlasted much difficulties.”

 

 

For some of us we have experienced drug addiction, incarceration gang affiliation, the loss of love ones and years of our youth. Yet, we have survived all that we have been through.

 

We believe that we have the ability to confront and withstand the hardships that we are going to face in our re-entry and transformation process. We have committed to a new life of integrity, self-determination, and self-accountability.

 

It is because we have survived the hardships of incarceration, gang affiliation and substance abuse, we see ourselves beyond being losers, or non-deserving of civil rights and full citizenship.

 

We are men and women determined to regain our full status as citizens of this country. We are reconnected with our families and community as productive and meaningful members.

 

As we come together in these re-entry circles, we gain strength to deal with the discriminative collateral consequences and invisible punishments impose upon us in spite of paying our debt to society.