![\"Michael](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2026/04/Michael_James.jpg?resize=300%2C300&ssl=1\")
Sentenced to 26 years to life, Michael James found something inside prison that he says set him free eight years before he ever came home — Christian Science. In this Embraced:Fully Interview, Michael talks with David Fowler about how a chance encounter with Science and Health rebuilt his thinking, his relationships, and his life — from a violent prison yard to Cal State LA, marriage, and a life of helping others.
\n
Michael James was sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison. Today he is rebuilding a life shaped by faith, discipline, service, and purpose.
\nChristian Science played a defining role in that transformation. Michael is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at California State University, Los Angeles, working with Caltrans as a Back-Up Driver, building his car hauling business Catch a Ride Service, teaching financial literacy through Trap House Trading Academy, and developing the Community Chess Blueprint to help keep resources circulating within the community.
\nThe conversation explores what real transformation actually looks like — not as an idea, but in practice: faith, accountability, reentry, work, and building something that lasts.
\n\n\n
Catch up on past interviews and inspiring stories:
\n![\"Embraced:Fully](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2025/03/embraced_fully_videos_lg.jpg?resize=600%2C454&ssl=1\")
In partnership with others, Embraced:Fully supports incarcerated and returning citizens in their moral and spiritual journey toward successful reentry. Through Angel Team members, we help connect individuals with community, faith, housing, employment, transportation, friendship, and mentorship — building bridges of hope and belonging.
\n![\"Marshall,](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2024/12/David_Byron_Marshall_cropped.jpg?resize=600%2C600&ssl=1\")
![\"Embraced](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2023/11/Embraced_Fully_Dropdown1.png?resize=800%2C481&ssl=1\")
![\"Embraced](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2023/11/Embraced_Fully_Dropdown2.png?resize=636%2C334&ssl=1\")
![\"\u2197\"](\"https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/72x72/2197.png\")
Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.
If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:
\n\n\n\nThe Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861
View additional donation options here
\n\n\n\nPlease remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.
\n\n\n\nEmbraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.
\nWatch the replay of our interview Charles Jones:
\n\nAbout our guest
\nCharles Jones was arrested at 14 and incarcerated at 16 for a murder he didn’t commit. The real killer? The detective who arrested him.
\nAfter 27 years maintaining his innocence, Charles is finally free. During those decades behind bars, he earned his GED, Associate’s degree, and studied law\u2014using that knowledge to advocate for himself and fellow inmates. Now 43, he’s preparing to have his record vacated as Kansas faces a lawsuit over his wrongful imprisonment.
\nJoin us to hear Charles’s remarkable story of resilience, self-education, and unwavering hope.
\n\n Note: Please be sure to select “Embraced Fully” in the “Fund” drop-down list on the donation page.
If you would like to support the work of Embraced:Fully with a check instead of an online donation, please make it out to:
\n\n\n\nThe Principle Foundation
Memo: Restricted – Embraced:Fully Project
Mail to: 10670 Barkley St, Overland Park, KS 66212-1861
View additional donation options here
\n\n\n\nPlease remember to specify Embraced:Fully as the program you’d like to support.
\n\n\n\nEmbraced:Fully is a fiscally sponsored program of The Principle Foundation, registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, tax ID number 43-0816306.
\n![\"Daniel](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2022/04/Daniel_Alexander_and_Angel_Team.jpg?resize=800%2C796&ssl=1\")
My initial encounter with Christian Science was merely to get some time out of my prison cell. I was serving a life-sentence for second-degree homicide for a crime I had not committed, although I had engaged in criminal activity from the early age of seven. Several of my family members, numbering a total of 16, were also involved in criminal behavior, raised in a home with no father.
\nAs I listened to the viewpoints of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, I scoffed at the notion of healing, associating it with the television ministry\u2019s claims to instantaneous relief from bodily ailments. It was only after I reviewed my personal experiences that I discovered that I was actually living a Christian Science lifestyle myself. I was greatly influenced by my grandmother, who was frequently called upon to treat the afflicted in the black community. At that time, blacks were not allowed in the hospitals and found themselves with no other resource than to rely on spiritual means for healing. Without even realizing it, I was following in my grandmother\u2019s footsteps in prison, helping those whom I encountered, as medical attention to prisoners was scant at the time.
\nI found myself administering to those who had injuries from sporting activities to stab wounds in violent altercations to mental health challenges of those who had lost their way, striving for a finish line with no end in sight. Suicide by hanging and wrist slashings were common occurrences among those who had given in to the darkness of hopelessness and discouragement.
\nIt wasn\u2019t long before I attracted the attention of prison guards, who also came to me in their distress. After 47 years of incarceration, my sentence was reduced and I was released on parole. Within only a week of my release I found that there was a Christian Science Church within walking distance from my home. I began attending all the services the church had to offer, including Sunday services and a Wednesday testimony meeting, where members would share personal accounts of healing through the application of the laws of God known as Christian Science treatment. The outpouring of love that I received upon my first visit was overwhelming.
\nFor the first time in my life I was able to see a God that was active in my day-to-day affairs, as opposed to one that was beyond my reach, only to be known and understood in the hereafter. A God that had provided for my every need all of my life even though I was blind to His presence. I came to see that this loving, divine Presence had been with me at every critical juncture of my life, providing guidance, comfort and protection. Throughout my life I had been told, from the most callous of criminals to the sincerest members of law enforcement that I encountered, that I had a spiritual sense about me. Now I came to see that that spiritual sense was my God-given identity as the child of God which was untouched by environment, racial viewpoints, heredity, social norms.
\nSince that first day when I walked through the doors of my neighborhood Christian Science church I have been constantly embraced and supported by the members of that church. Words alone cannot express the gratitude for the teachings I have acquired in Christian Science and its transformative effect on my life. I now am an active member of this church, striving each day to bear witness to all the good that God has to give.
\n\u2013 by Daniel Alexander
\n![\"Hand](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2023/07/akira-hojo-pLJ97CLuYcU-unsplash-e1689116770586.jpg?resize=800%2C647&ssl=1\")
Photo by Akira Hojo on Unsplash
\n", "content_text": "My initial encounter with Christian Science was merely to get some time out of my prison cell. I was serving a life-sentence for second-degree homicide for a crime I had not committed, although I had engaged in criminal activity from the early age of seven. Several of my family members, numbering a total of 16, were also involved in criminal behavior, raised in a home with no father.\nAs I listened to the viewpoints of Mary Baker Eddy, the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, I scoffed at the notion of healing, associating it with the television ministry\u2019s claims to instantaneous relief from bodily ailments. It was only after I reviewed my personal experiences that I discovered that I was actually living a Christian Science lifestyle myself. I was greatly influenced by my grandmother, who was frequently called upon to treat the afflicted in the black community. At that time, blacks were not allowed in the hospitals and found themselves with no other resource than to rely on spiritual means for healing. Without even realizing it, I was following in my grandmother\u2019s footsteps in prison, helping those whom I encountered, as medical attention to prisoners was scant at the time.\nI found myself administering to those who had injuries from sporting activities to stab wounds in violent altercations to mental health challenges of those who had lost their way, striving for a finish line with no end in sight. Suicide by hanging and wrist slashings were common occurrences among those who had given in to the darkness of hopelessness and discouragement.\nIt wasn\u2019t long before I attracted the attention of prison guards, who also came to me in their distress. After 47 years of incarceration, my sentence was reduced and I was released on parole. Within only a week of my release I found that there was a Christian Science Church within walking distance from my home. I began attending all the services the church had to offer, including Sunday services and a Wednesday testimony meeting, where members would share personal accounts of healing through the application of the laws of God known as Christian Science treatment. The outpouring of love that I received upon my first visit was overwhelming.\nFor the first time in my life I was able to see a God that was active in my day-to-day affairs, as opposed to one that was beyond my reach, only to be known and understood in the hereafter. A God that had provided for my every need all of my life even though I was blind to His presence. I came to see that this loving, divine Presence had been with me at every critical juncture of my life, providing guidance, comfort and protection. Throughout my life I had been told, from the most callous of criminals to the sincerest members of law enforcement that I encountered, that I had a spiritual sense about me. Now I came to see that that spiritual sense was my God-given identity as the child of God which was untouched by environment, racial viewpoints, heredity, social norms.\nSince that first day when I walked through the doors of my neighborhood Christian Science church I have been constantly embraced and supported by the members of that church. Words alone cannot express the gratitude for the teachings I have acquired in Christian Science and its transformative effect on my life. I now am an active member of this church, striving each day to bear witness to all the good that God has to give.\n\u2013 by Daniel Alexander\n\nPhoto by Akira Hojo on Unsplash", "date_published": "2022-04-14T16:02:08-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-07-11T16:45:55-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2022/04/Daniel_Alexander_and_Angel_Team.jpg?fit=2000%2C1989&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Healings", "Inspiration", "News", "Returning Citizen", "Testimony" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=612", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/join-us-for-our-next-embracedfully-interview-on-thursday-december-2-at-600-pm-pacific-with-special-guest-carlos-cervantes/", "title": "Join us for our next Embraced:Fully interview on Thursday, December 2, at 6:00 pm Pacific with\u00a0special guest: Carlos Cervantes", "content_html": "Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be this Thursday, December 2, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.
\n![\"Carlos](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/11/Carlos-Cervantes-ARC.jpg?resize=183%2C275&ssl=1\")
Carlos Cervantes is Life Coach & Ride Home Program Manager for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC).\u00a0 We’ll be discussing tips and best practices for the ride home process, as well as issues to be aware of and how to prepare for this important part of the reentry process.
About our guest for this call:
\nCarlos has been involved with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) since its creation. Carlos strongly believes in being present with those being released from prison. In 2012, along with Michael Romano, Director of Stanford School of Law Three Strikes Project, Carlos co-founded the ARC Ride Home Program, which was nationally recognized by the administration of President Barack Obama and was awarded the Champions of Change Award. The\u00a0New York Times Magazine\u00a0has profiled Carlos for the Ride Home Program.
\nCarlos is currently ARC\u2019s Ride Home Program Manager and Life Coach for the 2nd Chance Apprenticeship Readiness Program participants. Carlos was awarded the Empowerment Congress 2019 Emerging Civic Leaders 40 Under Forty Award by Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Second District. Carlos is currently a John W. Mack Movement Building Fellow. He was recognized by Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. Carlos sits on the Clothes The Deal Board of Directors www.clothesthedeal.org
\nCarlos was featured in a Netflix documentary.\u00a0 Learn more about Carlos and The Anti\u200b-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) here:
\n\n
\n", "content_text": "Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be this Thursday, December 2, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.\nCarlos Cervantes is Life Coach & Ride Home Program Manager for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC).\u00a0 We’ll be discussing tips and best practices for the ride home process, as well as issues to be aware of and how to prepare for this important part of the reentry process.\nAbout our guest for this call:\nCarlos has been involved with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) since its creation. Carlos strongly believes in being present with those being released from prison. In 2012, along with Michael Romano, Director of Stanford School of Law Three Strikes Project, Carlos co-founded the ARC Ride Home Program, which was nationally recognized by the administration of President Barack Obama and was awarded the Champions of Change Award. The\u00a0New York Times Magazine\u00a0has profiled Carlos for the Ride Home Program.\nCarlos is currently ARC\u2019s Ride Home Program Manager and Life Coach for the 2nd Chance Apprenticeship Readiness Program participants. Carlos was awarded the Empowerment Congress 2019 Emerging Civic Leaders 40 Under Forty Award by Mark Ridley-Thomas, Supervisor, Second District. Carlos is currently a John W. Mack Movement Building Fellow. He was recognized by Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti. Carlos sits on the Clothes The Deal Board of Directors www.clothesthedeal.org\nCarlos was featured in a Netflix documentary.\u00a0 Learn more about Carlos and The Anti\u200b-Recidivism Coalition (ARC) here:\n\nA Ride Home From Prison | Op-Docs | The New York Times\nNBC Nightly News-Lester Holt Ride Home Program\n\nhttps://www.netflix.com/title/80240923\n\nhttp://www.antirecidivism.org\u00a0\u00a0\nhttps://law.stanford.edu/stanford-justice-advocacy-project/\u00a0\n\nNYT | “You Just Got Out of Prison. Now What?”\u00a0\n\nNYT | “The White House’s Pick-Up Artists”\u00a0\n\nNYT | “Out of Prison, and Staying Out, After 3rd Strike in California”\u00a0\n\nRolling Stone | “Inside the Three Strikes Project: An Inmate’s Letter”\n\n \nSubscribe to our list if you’d like an invite to this Zoom meeting series.\n ", "date_published": "2021-11-30T07:02:12-08:00", "date_modified": "2021-11-30T07:09:34-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/11/Carlos-Cervantes-ARC.jpg?fit=1067%2C1600&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Interview Series", "Interviews", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=608", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/circle-of-thanks-special-embracedfully-online-meeting-this-sunday-11-21-at-700-pm-pacific/", "title": "\u201cCircle of Thanks\u201d \u2013 Special Embraced:Fully online meeting this Sunday 11/21 at 7:00 pm (Pacific)", "content_html": "
![\"Be](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/11/Embraced_Fully_featured-Give-Thanks.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
We invite you to join a special Embraced:Fully online gathering on Sunday, 11/20/21 at 7:00 pm (Pacific time zone).
\nTopic for the meeting:\u00a0 “Giving Thanks for Our Blessings”
\nThis will be an open floor meeting, and you are invited to share your blessings, challenges, and hopefully leave with good momentum going into Thanksgiving week.
\nOur apologies for the last-minute notice, hope to see you if you can make it!
\n\n", "content_text": "We invite you to join a special Embraced:Fully online gathering on Sunday, 11/20/21 at 7:00 pm (Pacific time zone).\nTopic for the meeting:\u00a0 “Giving Thanks for Our Blessings”\nThis will be an open floor meeting, and you are invited to share your blessings, challenges, and hopefully leave with good momentum going into Thanksgiving week.\nOur apologies for the last-minute notice, hope to see you if you can make it!\nContact Us or join our email list to request an invite to this special Zoom meeting.\nOur mission is to help organize, train, educate and enable Angel Teams across the United States to help prepare qualified returning community members for successful reentry.", "date_published": "2021-11-20T11:57:19-08:00", "date_modified": "2021-11-20T12:00:55-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/11/Embraced_Fully_featured-Give-Thanks.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Study Group", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=575", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/i-was-supposed-to-die-in-prison-troys-story/", "title": "\u201cI was supposed to die in prison\u201d \u2013 Troy\u2019s story [Video]", "content_html": "\nOur mission is to help organize, train, educate and enable Angel Teams across the United States to help prepare qualified returning community members for successful reentry.
Our guest for this interview is Troy Spann Jr., a Returning Community Member living in Southern California.\u00a0 At the age of 17, he was sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole.\u00a0 Watch this story to learn how he found Christian Science while in prison, resulting in a truly amazing life transformation.\u00a0 Recently released from the California Men\u2019s Colony in San Luis Obispo, he has been settling into his new life on the outside with the support of a dedicated Embraced:Fully Angel Team.
\nPlease visit https://embracedfully.org/subscribe to join our email list to receive notifications of our regular Angel Team meetings (guests welcome!) and also when we share new videos like this one.
\nWe welcome your comments below, and also ask you to share this video with anyone you think would appreciate it!
\nEmbraced:Fully is a sponsored program of The Principle Foundation.\u00a0 We welcome your financial support for this work… please donate today.
\n", "content_text": "Our guest for this interview is Troy Spann Jr., a Returning Community Member living in Southern California.\u00a0 At the age of 17, he was sentenced to life in prison with no opportunity for parole.\u00a0 Watch this story to learn how he found Christian Science while in prison, resulting in a truly amazing life transformation.\u00a0 Recently released from the California Men\u2019s Colony in San Luis Obispo, he has been settling into his new life on the outside with the support of a dedicated Embraced:Fully Angel Team.\nPlease visit https://embracedfully.org/subscribe to join our email list to receive notifications of our regular Angel Team meetings (guests welcome!) and also when we share new videos like this one.\nWe welcome your comments below, and also ask you to share this video with anyone you think would appreciate it!\nEmbraced:Fully is a sponsored program of The Principle Foundation.\u00a0 We welcome your financial support for this work… please donate today.", "date_published": "2021-10-28T00:26:01-07:00", "date_modified": "2023-09-27T14:32:30-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/10/i-was-supposed-to-die-in-prison.jpg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Interview Series", "Interviews", "Returning Citizen", "Video" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=554", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/join-us-for-our-next-embracedfully-interview-on-thursday-october-7-at-600-pm-pacific-with-special-guest-troy-spann-jr/", "title": "Join us for our next Embraced:Fully interview on Thursday, October 7, at 6:00 pm Pacific with\u00a0special guest: Troy Spann, Jr.", "content_html": "![\"Troy](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/09/Embraced_Fully_Troy_Spann.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1\")
Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be Thursday, October 7, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.
\nAbout our guest for this call:
\nOur guest for this interview is Troy Spann Jr., a Returning Community Member living in Southern California.\u00a0 Recently released from the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, he has been settling into his new life on the outside with the support of a dedicated Embraced:Fully Angel Team.\u00a0 He’ll share his story, including how he found Christian Science while in prison, and the true life transformation he’s experienced.
\nYou are welcome to join the Zoom call to hear Troy’s story and to learn more about the role that Angel Teams can play in a successful return home for Returning Community Members.
\n\n", "content_text": "Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be Thursday, October 7, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.\nAbout our guest for this call:\nOur guest for this interview is Troy Spann Jr., a Returning Community Member living in Southern California.\u00a0 Recently released from the California Men’s Colony in San Luis Obispo, he has been settling into his new life on the outside with the support of a dedicated Embraced:Fully Angel Team.\u00a0 He’ll share his story, including how he found Christian Science while in prison, and the true life transformation he’s experienced.\nYou are welcome to join the Zoom call to hear Troy’s story and to learn more about the role that Angel Teams can play in a successful return home for Returning Community Members.\nSubscribe to our list if you’d like an invite to this Zoom meeting series.\n ", "date_published": "2021-09-28T16:36:24-07:00", "date_modified": "2021-09-28T16:36:24-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/09/Embraced_Fully_Troy_Spann.jpg?fit=2000%2C1500&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Interview Series", "Interviews", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=508", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/embracedfully-interview-with-boyce-dancer/", "title": "Join us for our next Embraced:Fully interview on Thursday, August 5, at 6:00 pm Pacific with\u00a0special guest: Boyce Dancer", "content_html": "
![\"Boyce](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/08/Boyce_Dancer_headshot_cropped.jpg?resize=300%2C241&ssl=1\")
Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be this Thursday, August 5, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.
\nAbout our guest for this call:
\nOur guest for this interview is Boyce Dancer, a Returning Community Member in Texas.\u00a0 Raised in Fort Worth, Texas, he was incarcerated and served a number of years in prison.\u00a0 During this time he took up the study of Christian Science and was released in April 2021.\u00a0 Welcomed home by members of the Embraced:Fully Houston and Dallas Angel Teams, he shares that he is “making great progress towards his goals with God’s guidance.”
\nYou are welcome to join the Zoom call to hear Boyce’s story and to learn more about the role an Angel Team can play in a successful return home.
\n![\"Boyce](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/08/Boyce_Dancer_with_new_truck_cropped.jpg?resize=600%2C355&ssl=1\")
\n
\n", "content_text": "Our next Embraced:Fully Interview Series call will be this Thursday, August 5, at 6:00 pm Pacific.\u00a0 We’ll be recording the session in case you can’t make it.\nAbout our guest for this call:\nOur guest for this interview is Boyce Dancer, a Returning Community Member in Texas.\u00a0 Raised in Fort Worth, Texas, he was incarcerated and served a number of years in prison.\u00a0 During this time he took up the study of Christian Science and was released in April 2021.\u00a0 Welcomed home by members of the Embraced:Fully Houston and Dallas Angel Teams, he shares that he is “making great progress towards his goals with God’s guidance.”\nYou are welcome to join the Zoom call to hear Boyce’s story and to learn more about the role an Angel Team can play in a successful return home.\nBoyce With His New Truck\n \nSubscribe to our list if you’d like an invite to this Zoom meeting series.\n ", "date_published": "2021-08-05T12:38:55-07:00", "date_modified": "2021-08-05T12:38:55-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/08/Boyce_Dancer_headshot_cropped.jpg?fit=2000%2C1606&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Interview Series", "Interviews", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=436", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/next-embracedfully-angel-team-meeting-this-thursday-may-20-at-600-pm-pacific/", "title": "Next Embraced:Fully Angel Team meeting this Thursday, May 20 at 6:00 pm Pacific", "content_html": "
![\"Returning](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/05/Returning_Community_Member_in_Texas.jpg?resize=800%2C533&ssl=1\")
Join us this Thursday, May 20, 6:00 pm Pacific for our monthly Angel Team Zoom call.\u00a0 This is a monthly working meeting for Angel Teams across the nation, and also people interested in volunteering to either start or join one.\u00a0 Angel Teams help returning community members succeed in not going back to prison or jail.
\nAgenda for the call:
\n\n", "content_text": "Join us this Thursday, May 20, 6:00 pm Pacific for our monthly Angel Team Zoom call.\u00a0 This is a monthly working meeting for Angel Teams across the nation, and also people interested in volunteering to either start or join one.\u00a0 Angel Teams help returning community members succeed in not going back to prison or jail.\nAgenda for the call:\n\nIntroductions – Introduce yourself, where are you, are you currently or planning on working with any returning community members?\nInvite participants to share any progress updates or immediate challenges\nRecent Texas release / welcome home report (Houston and Dallas Angel Team experiences)\nShare details about Embraced:Fully and The Principle Foundation \u2013 they have agreed to be our fiscal sponsor!\nFundraising update \u2013 2 applications submitted so far\nDecember 2022 Goal of 100% Angel Team coverage for qualified RCMs (potentially ~72 individuals served nationwide in next 18 months)\nConfirm next meeting dates, wrap up meeting\n\nContact Us to request an invite to this Zoom meeting.\n60%-70% of those released from prison return within 3 years.\u00a0 Our mission is to help get the recidivism rate as close to zero as possible for participating Returning Community Members through direct support as well as providing training, mentorship and education for volunteers who share this goal.", "date_published": "2021-05-18T16:57:21-07:00", "date_modified": "2021-05-18T16:57:21-07:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2021/05/Returning_Community_Member_in_Texas.jpg?fit=2000%2C1333&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Angel Team Meetings", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] }, { "id": "https://embracedfully.org/?p=314", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/next-steps-for-embracedfully-11-11-20-meeting-recap-zoom-invite-for-next-meeting-on-december-1-at-600-pm-pacific/", "title": "Next Steps for Embraced:Fully \u2013 11/11/20 Meeting Recap & Zoom Invite for Next Meeting on December 1 at 6:00 pm Pacific", "content_html": "60%-70% of those released from prison return within 3 years.\u00a0 Our mission is to help get the recidivism rate as close to zero as possible for participating Returning Community Members through direct support as well as providing training, mentorship and education for volunteers who share this goal.
![\"Embraced:Fully](\"https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2020/11/November_Meeting_Recap.jpg?resize=800%2C449&ssl=1\")
Thanks to everyone who was able to make our last Zoom meeting on 11/11. It was great to hear directly from two returning community members (Joseph and Carlos) about some of their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future.
\nGoing forward, we\u2019re planning on a recurring series of meetings, each focused on a different aspect of this work.
\nThe first will be a series of interviews with a Q&A session afterwards, featuring returning community members, probation officers, chaplains and other people involved in this work. Everyone is invited to attend this series, and it will be recorded and shared afterwards for people not able to make it.
\nWe will also continue our series of ongoing meetings with Angel Team working groups. These sessions will be focused on logistics, training, checklists, fundraising, and other activities related to actively supporting RCMs as well as soon to be released individuals.
\nOur next Interview Series meeting will be on December 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm Pacific. We will be diving deeper into the experiences of a RCM who was recently released (Joseph) and will be sharing some stories of how he found Christian Science in prison, the pre-release process, and some of his experiences after being released. All are welcome to attend, and feel free to forward this Zoom invite to anyone you think would like to come.
\nContact Us for an invite to our next Zoom meeting.
\n\n
Recap of our last Angel Team Working Group call on 11/11/20:
\n– Introductions, welcome RCM participants Carlos and Joseph
\n– Discussed overall goals and upcoming projects for Embraced:Fully
\n– Joseph and Carlos shared some of their experiences. Joseph recently got out of prison and is living in transitional housing, Carlos was released in the early 2000’s and is done with his supervision this upcoming January.
\n– Discussed the high significance of transportation and housing
\n– Discussed Albert Baker Fund Career Alliance (https://abfcareeralliance.org), Healing101Talks.org (https://healing101talks.org/) as potential resources for RCMs interested in career connections and watching Christian Science lectures / videos
\n– Joseph mentioned a number of other (non CS) groups offering support to RCMs: Volunteers of America, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition,\u00a0 and the California STOP program (Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming)
\n
If you would like to join the next Angel Team Working Group meeting (currently scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 6:00 pm Pacific), please email David Fowler (gofinddavid@gmail.com) or Gabriel Serafini (gserafini@gmail.com).\u00a0 Here is our current agenda for the next Team meeting:\u00a0https://docs.google.com/document/d/18UK_OJ0GilWCTRDHdx9U59oWo0g3AquA–pLdBxODd0/edit?usp=sharing
\n\n
\n", "content_text": "Returning Community Member Joseph sharing an experience after he was released from prison\nThanks to everyone who was able to make our last Zoom meeting on 11/11. It was great to hear directly from two returning community members (Joseph and Carlos) about some of their experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future.\nGoing forward, we\u2019re planning on a recurring series of meetings, each focused on a different aspect of this work.\nThe first will be a series of interviews with a Q&A session afterwards, featuring returning community members, probation officers, chaplains and other people involved in this work. Everyone is invited to attend this series, and it will be recorded and shared afterwards for people not able to make it.\nWe will also continue our series of ongoing meetings with Angel Team working groups. These sessions will be focused on logistics, training, checklists, fundraising, and other activities related to actively supporting RCMs as well as soon to be released individuals.\nOur next Interview Series meeting will be on December 1, 2020 at 6:00 pm Pacific. We will be diving deeper into the experiences of a RCM who was recently released (Joseph) and will be sharing some stories of how he found Christian Science in prison, the pre-release process, and some of his experiences after being released. All are welcome to attend, and feel free to forward this Zoom invite to anyone you think would like to come.\n\nContact Us for an invite to our next Zoom meeting.\n\n \nRecap of our last Angel Team Working Group call on 11/11/20:\n– Introductions, welcome RCM participants Carlos and Joseph\n– Discussed overall goals and upcoming projects for Embraced:Fully\n– Joseph and Carlos shared some of their experiences. Joseph recently got out of prison and is living in transitional housing, Carlos was released in the early 2000’s and is done with his supervision this upcoming January.\n– Discussed the high significance of transportation and housing\n– Discussed Albert Baker Fund Career Alliance (https://abfcareeralliance.org), Healing101Talks.org (https://healing101talks.org/) as potential resources for RCMs interested in career connections and watching Christian Science lectures / videos\n– Joseph mentioned a number of other (non CS) groups offering support to RCMs: Volunteers of America, the Anti-Recidivism Coalition,\u00a0 and the California STOP program (Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming)\n \nIf you would like to join the next Angel Team Working Group meeting (currently scheduled for Tuesday, December 15, 2020 at 6:00 pm Pacific), please email David Fowler (gofinddavid@gmail.com) or Gabriel Serafini (gserafini@gmail.com).\u00a0 Here is our current agenda for the next Team meeting:\u00a0https://docs.google.com/document/d/18UK_OJ0GilWCTRDHdx9U59oWo0g3AquA–pLdBxODd0/edit?usp=sharing\n \n ", "date_published": "2020-11-18T20:01:23-08:00", "date_modified": "2021-02-16T17:20:18-08:00", "authors": [ { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" } ], "author": { "name": "Gabriel Serafini", "url": "https://embracedfully.org/author/admin/", "avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/24bddbb394eff14300a8d1b157a5407e4c7c907bc3c74f4f50f8313e8ef70c0f?s=512&d=mm&r=g" }, "image": "https://i0.wp.com/embracedfully.org/files/2020/11/November_Meeting_Recap.jpg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1", "tags": [ "Embraced:Fully Interview Series", "News", "Returning Citizen" ] } ] }