Our past and present
A living chronology of the moments, people, and history that shaped Joseph House, from the roots of re-entry work to the home and community being built today.
March
Joseph House presented "The Spirituality of Dorothy Day: A Conversation with Fr. Dustin Feddon and Robert Ellsberg." Ellsberg, author and editor-in-chief of Orbis Books, worked alongside Dorothy Day in the Catholic Worker Movement and has helped research and compile materials for her cause for canonization.
March
On March 28, 2026, something beautiful happened on the streets of Tallahassee, and our community made it possible.
Joseph House joined Springtime Tallahassee with a team of runners, a booth in the parking lot, and a mission to show the community what reentry looks like when people show up for one another. The morning was cool and breezy, maybe a little too breezy. Our backdrop spent most of the morning trying to fall down, and volunteers and passersby spent most of the morning making sure it did not. It just goes to show: there are no small jobs when we are doing work we care about.
At our table, runners stopped by to say they hoped to join us next year. Friends came by with hugs. Current and former staff cheered on our brothers and the runners who ran on their behalf. Kids grabbed candy and snacks and lingered. Fr. Tom Dillon from John Paul II Catholic Church and Fr. Tim Holeda from the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More ran right alongside our team. And when Joe and Timothy crossed the finish line together, Timothy pushing Joe's wheelchair through the final stretch, our team erupted in cheers.
A generous donor made every gift go further by matching donations dollar for dollar, up to $25,000. We not only met that goal; we surpassed it. We raised $38,435, and the match brought the total to $63,435.
We're already planning for next year: sturdier tent, more snacks, same mission.
View the Running Together: Joseph House at Springtime Tallahassee gallery.
March
Joseph House was featured in The Word Among Us, bringing wider attention to the mission of accompaniment and reentry.
April
Joseph House mourned Pope Francis, whose witness of closeness to prisoners and people at the margins helped shape the mission. The source reflection names his vision of a Church at the margins and his 2013 washing of prisoners' feet as part of the spiritual foundation of Joseph House.
May
Joseph House partnered with Connections First to provide monthly restorative circles and empathy sessions with the brothers.
Source notes include Jacques Maritain's language of existing with people and Fr. Dustin's framing of a peaceable, nonviolent way of living.
"What do people want first of all? What do they need most of all? They need to be loved; to be recognized; to be treated like human beings. For this, it does not suffice to say, "I love you." Nor is it enough to do them some good. One must, in the deepest sense of the word, exist with them." ~ Jacques Maritain
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"Following the example of Jesus, who met suffering with compassion, we commit to a peaceable way of living - one that is nonviolent in both actions and words" - Fr. Dustin
May
Joseph House joined the Church in rejoicing at the election of Pope Leo XIV, an American and Peruvian Augustinian missionary. The reflection connected his first words about building bridges, dialogue, charity, and welcome with Joseph House's call to serve people on the margins.
September
Fr. Dustin's book, "More Than Half Way Home: Accompaniment in the Shadows of Incarceration," was released.
Joseph House marked the launch with a reading and book signing at The Hub at Feather Oaks in Tallahassee.
September
Fr. Dustin and Andra' Robinson joined the plenary session "Pilgrims of Hope: Beginning the Journey Together" at the National Catholic Conference on Restorative Justice in Atlanta. The conference, presented by Catholic Mobilizing Network, gathered leaders around the theme "Tangible Signs of Hope."
October
Joseph House welcomed 401 attendees and raised $230,000 at the 7th Annual Fundraising Gala at the Dunlap Champions Club at Florida State University.
The featured speaker was Ian Manuel, poet and author of "My Time Will Come," who survived an 18-year sentence after being incarcerated at age 13, much of it in solitary confinement.
November
Joseph House launched the "One Book, One Prisoner" campaign to provide a copy of Fr. Dustin Feddon's book, "More Than Half Way Home: A Story of Accompaniment in the Shadows of Incarceration," to every person on Florida's death row.
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December
Joseph House received grants from Florida Blue and the National Black Catholic Congress, strengthening the work of accompaniment, housing, and reentry support.
May
Fr. Dustin, alongside clergy of different faiths, testified before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights on the federal role in enforcing religious freedom in prison.
June
Bishop William Wack blessed Joseph House's second location, marking a major step in the growth of the mission and its capacity to accompany more men returning home.
June
Fr. Dustin, Joe, and Pre traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, as invited guests of the Equal Justice Initiative for Juneteenth celebrations and the opening of the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. They also reunited with Andra, one of the brothers who interned with EJI that summer.
June
Joseph House was featured in America magazine, highlighting the Tallahassee mission and its work with men returning home from incarceration.
July
The "Jesus, the Prisoner" statue was installed in the Joseph House gardens in memory of Florida's incarcerated brothers and sisters who have died in prison. The statue stands as a reminder that God, who is Mercy, does not forget or abandon any of his children.
December
Fr. Gregory Boyle of Homeboy Industries visited Joseph House and spent time with the brothers before the 6th Annual Fundraising Gala.
December
Joseph House welcomed 360 attendees and raised $190,000 at the 6th Annual Fundraising Gala, held at the AC Hotel Tallahassee Universities at the Capitol. Featured guests included Fr. Gregory Boyle, founder and executive director of Homeboy Industries, and Dr. Maria Morrison, senior social worker at the Equal Justice Initiative.
January
January 2023 not only marks the beginning of a new year, but a very important year for us at Joseph House.
Back in 2018, our first resident came "home." Joseph House isn't simply an organization or a halfway house but a home. It's a one-story, with painted white walls, surrounded by roses, leopard plants, impatiens. Azaleas bunch together by the rock path that hug the outside of the house and wind through the fragrant gardenias, creating a small piece of paradise. It's a home where sunlight floods in through the living room windows as if darkness were nothing but a thought.
Home is where you can sit at the table and dwell in safety. It's where a community loves, repairs, and restores the lives of its residents. At home, our brothers can rest. At home home, our brothers can heal. At home, our brothers can regain their dignity.
Since the establishment of Joseph House, its house has been home to 11 residents. We have walked with our brothers to undo much of the negativity that has been experienced in prison and continue to accompany these men in order for them to rejoin our community and restore their individuality.
This year we celebrate five years of home and of restoration. This year we celebrate five years of community, saving each others one life at a time.
February
Hi, Joseph House Community!
A couple of weeks ago, Florida Representative Gallop Franklin stopped by Joseph House to see what we are about and, what it means for a person coming out of a long-term prison sentence to try and transition back into society.
Representative Franklin heard some of the stories about what goes on inside confinement dorms and prison in general. We all sat down and talked about some of the things we can do together to help. Fr. Dustin, myself, and the brothers that reside at Joseph House had a cordial conversation with Representative Franklin.
I want to thank Mr. Franklin to take time out of his busy schedule to share in this conversation with us, and gain a better understanding of the experiences and challenges of being formerly incarcerated.
April
It's been five years since Joseph House became a reality; ten since the first inklings of it came about in thought. Joseph House began simply. It was not a grand and radical idea. It was the immediate solution to an immediate problem, the smallest bit of innovation. When Fr Dustin first began going into prisons to visit incarcerated men, he found that many whose long-awaited freedom was dawning were dominated instead by fear, stress, and dread, rather than experiencing hope, excitement, and joy. They were with nowhere to go and nobody to receive them home. Joseph House was born for this, not just to offer housing, but to offer home, a place to belong, and community—a place to find oneself in freedom.
August
Since May of this year, Joseph House has been celebrating five years of accompanying men as they leave prison and reenter society. It's been ten years since the first musings of Joseph House began with two friends, brainstorming solutions for men soon to be released from prison facing homelessness. Since then, Joseph House has moved from concept to reality, and continues to grow with our third and final expansion soon on the way. We now have a home that houses five men at a time, scores of men both in and out of prison who have been reached by our mission, and countless that have been inspired to hope.
In both name and vision we model Joseph House after Joseph, son of Jacob, from the Old Testament. Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. After serving many years in prison in Egypt, he was eventually released and restored to his family. Many incarcerated men relate to Joseph as someone with whom they have a shared experience. Joseph had hope. He was a dreamer and longed for reconciliation. Eventually his dreams came true.
We continue to evolve to reflect the foundation of what we have built on. Over the course of the year we have been making branding changes to our platforms to support the growth that we have done in person and on the ground. As we move away from our original colors of bright red and yellow, we turn to colors that remind us of Joseph. With tones of desert orange and golds we nod to his time in Egypt. With earthy green and deep water blue, we look to the life and renewal that comes with nature. Our new logo visualizes our mission of restoration and grounds it in community, our home, and most especially, our tranquil garden.
Our garden is a haven. Thoughtfully curated, it draws butterflies, birds, squirrels, and cultivates a serenity that goes hand in hand with freedom. For those who have been confined in the harsh and hard world of concrete and bars, and deprived of earth, Joseph House has actively sought to reunite men with nature. More than one resident, fresh from prison confinement, has arrived, gone straight to our serene backyard, and lay in the sun-lit grass.
If you haven't yet visited Joseph House and seen our backyard oasis, we invite you to come to our open house in the next few weeks and be inspired and reminded of the beauty of accompaniment every time you see our new logo.
October
We know that the need is tremendous for creating a welcoming environment for those leaving prison. We get requests every week from those in need of a place to call home after leaving prison.
We are now thrilled that through the generosity of others who believe in our mission, we have purchased the house next-door and will soon welcome more brothers leaving prison!
Joseph House is all about creating a restorative community where we can encounter each other and so build our future together. It is our hope that over the next couple of months and years, we will build up a new home just as we have built up our home here at Joseph House through the love and support of you all.
Please consider supporting us monthly by donating as we are now expanding our community to 250 East Bradford Road.
December
This year we celebrated 5 years of our mission here at JH. For our 5th Annual Gala, we commemorated this special year with an extraordinary panel discussing how the mission of JH fits into the larger tradition of human rights. We heard from Terry Coonan, the executive director of Florida State University Center for the Advancement of Human Rights, and Attorney Patricia Okonta from Legal Defense Fund on how human rights are always near to home. In 1958 Eleanor Roosevelt wrote:
"Where do human rights begin? In small places, close to home, so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person -- the neighborhood he lives in, the factory, farm, or office where he works."
Joining our panelists were our own Andre Robinson & Pre Shelton who testified to the importance of Home, I can't think of a better way to celebrate 5 years than our own brothers testifying how critical our mission is to those returning home. Our discussion was moderated by our own co-founder Dr. Sonya Cronin. Perhaps the most important of all was to see old friends and meet new friends. We look forward to the future and more community events.
February
One of our dreams at JH was to visit with the man whose witness and mission sowed the seeds of our mission at the very beginning. A few of us met with Bryan Stevenson at the NY Encounter. It was for us a kind of homecoming. There was so much love in that room! We were honored as he started his talk by saying "there are folks who are my people in this space, there is a group of people called Joseph House, they are people who know firsthand the problems created by our criminal justice system." We are so grateful that one of our close friends, Alberto, invited us to this event. We will share more about this event and Bryan's talk here soon!
Two of my brothers - Fr. Dustin and Pre - and I had a been invited to share the mission of Joseph House on a panel on criminal justice system at the United States Catholic Conference. Pre shared passionately about solitary confinement in regard to his own experiences and what he faced and dealt with: the grim reality of being inside of Florida's prisons and its challenges. This also gave me the opportunity to talk about my re-entry experience and how having a community such as Joseph House makes such a profound difference in a person's outlook on his life after being incarcerated. Each day of incarceration takes something from you. From positive attributes about yourself to what you think about the world around you, it gets altered and it's very difficult to come out of such a horrific trance. A darkness where light doesn't dare shine.
But needless to say, while we are deemed "worst of the worst" in society by many in our state's justice system, here we are at Joseph House living in peace together. We live as a family. We motivate one another, uplift one another, give each other guidance as well as just have fun. As a result of the blessing we are inspired to let our stories be known so that others can be aware of changes that still need to be made in the justice system, as knowing that there is another Chad out there, another Pre out there, and is looking for that one person to say "hey we are here for you, and we want you to succeed." It's communities like that which I believe has the potential to change another person's life. It definitely changed mine!
Our brother Lamaar created a beautiful stone pathway in our meditation garden. Thanks Lamaar!
Please do not hesitate to give out brother Lamaar a call for all your landscaping needs. He shows great enthusiasm for this. HE LOVES IT. Landscaping is his gift and his dream.
He can provide you with lawn services to keep your yards groomed, gutters/roofs cleaned, and can also plant flowers, trees and shrubs. He has a green thumb!
February
Fr. Dustin and 3 of our residents attended the NY Encounter this past weekend. Bryan Stevenson was one of the keynote speakers and our residents and Fr. Dustin had front row seats for his presentation.
Bryan formally recognized Joe Sullivan and the work we do at Joseph House. At the end of his talk, he actually came down off the stage to give Joe Sullivan a hug! It was a great moment for Joseph House and we wanted to share the entire video with you.
March
Dear Family and Friends:
The NYC Half Marathon was Sunday and it was an honor to run for Joseph House. I want to send a big thank you to everyone for their amazing support, which has led to us exceeding our goal! As of last night, with the matching funds, we've raised $29,196.82. It's all thanks to you.
These funds will be of enormous significance to Joseph House, which will be able to increase capacity and assist more incredible and resilient people re-entering society.
Given my glacial pace, I should probably not quit my day job, but it was wonderful to run for reentry and to complete the race. (I also apparently don't know how to run in a straight line and ran 13.9 miles according to my running app.)
With lots of love and gratitude,
A friend of Joseph House
April
We are thrilled that Joseph House has been invited by the Friends of Maclay Gardens to feature our garden in their 2022 Tour of Gardens on Friday May 13th & Saturday 14th.
Starting from a clean slate 4 years ago, we created a garden for peace and serenity for our House. Our Gazebo, in our mediation area, features a spectacular mosaic done by a local artist. The front and back yard landscape has flowers and greenery for the birds and year-round pleasure for all.
Our brother, Lamaar, has maintained our beautiful gardens at Joseph House. While with us in our community, Lamaar has come to discover a great passion for the outdoors and landscaping. His vision is to bring artistry and design to the spaces we inhabit. This vision has led him to create his own business, Blue Landscaping, LLC. We encourage you to reach out to him for any landscaping needs you may have. Contact Blue Landscaping at 850-317-0270!
July
Joseph House today announced it received a $50,000 donation from Truist Financial Corporation to help in the organization's effort to reduce recidivism.
With great pleasure and genuine excitement, we announce an award from Truist. It is our goal to help as many formerly incarcerated men as possible. We are determined to show the human side of the data and the logic of the much-debated reentry topic. We believe that recovering the possibility to dream is essential for those working on restarting their new lives. We are humbled by this award and know it will help us achieve our mission.
"If we want formerly incarcerated individuals to build full and free lives, then it's critical that we support efforts to help them achieve self-sufficiency and employment," said Emily Dawkins, North Florida regional president for Truist. "Our grant to Joseph House will provide critical job training and other essential services to prevent
recidivism and enable long-term success, it's also how we fulfill Truist's purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities."
"The great work Joseph House is doing can't be put into words, they are having such a positive impact on our communities, said Chris Mills, Tallahassee Market President for Truist. "I had the great privilege to meet one of these residents that is owning his own economic success through his new landscaping small business. We are thrilled about our partnership, as we also look forward to working with these residents to teach them financial literacy in the not-too-distant future."
The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation's grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at www.Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation.
August
In the past two weeks two dear brothers of ours have found their own home. Both Pre & Lamaar will take a little bit of JH with them. This is core to our philosophy!
We are modeling love, care, and nurturing. Our aim is that the idea of home will be something our residents can imitate when they leave us. Numbers, statistics, and productivity are not our goal; rather restoration is. We have seen that restoration works itself out on its own timeline. As a result, each person's length of stay is based on their individual needs. Accompaniment does not have a timetable.
As our brothers find their own home, we now have welcomed Arthur to JH! Each of us build our homes, create community by how we welcome each other.
October
As a nonprofit ministry of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pensacola–Tallahassee, Joseph House is thrilled to be one of nine Tallahassee-area charities selected for GiveTLH 2022. #GiveTLH 2022: 'A new start': Joseph House shelters men released from prison.
The incredible efforts of GiveTLH, the Beatitude Foundation, and Rick Kearney advance nonprofit and community-enhancing initiatives throughout Tallahassee. Our selection confirms that the vital work of Joseph House enriches not only the lives of our residents but our beloved city as well. As an honoree, Joseph House will receive a generous $1,000 grant from the Beatitude Foundation and a 12-month membership to United Partners for Human Services.
In November, Tallahassee will have the opportunity to vote for Joseph House as their favorite profiled nonprofit and to make us one of three top honorees to receive an additional grant of $2,500, $5,000, or $10,000 and free registration and exhibitor booth space for the United Partners for Human Services Annual Conference! The first-place winner will also receive $5,000 in services from BowStern Marketing.
Joseph House is a volunteer-led organization of Tallahassee residents who echo in their service the principle of lawyer and author Bryan Stevenson (Just Mercy), who says, "each of us is more than the worst thing we've ever done." If you'd like to learn more about our beautiful home and see it for yourself, we invite you to our Open House on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
Another great event to learn more about us is our annual Community Gala Fundraiser on Saturday, December 2, 2022.
When voting opens in November, please don't forget to visit givetlh.com to vote for Joseph House.
November
Joining our team at Joseph House is Pre Shelton. Pre will be our Community Educator as he will spread the word about our community and its mission. Pre speaks from experience about the challenges of incarceration. He is especially attuned to the dire needs of those inside. Pre also brings a powerful sense of hopefulness of what our world can look like when justice and mercy embrace.
Check out Pre's interview on the Gaudium et Spes podcast.
Celebrating birthdays at Joseph House has this powerful effect where the joy of life is affirmed! Celebrating Joe's birthday is like witnessing one of those majestic geysers, it is itself a natural wonder right here on Bradford Road in Tallahassee. His joy, and the joy other brothers have for life, is an affront to the cruelty of a criminal justice system that often discards human life.
"The mountains and hills shall burst forth in glad song before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands."
Joe teaches us to go all out on our birthdays, knowing that when we celebrate our life to the hilt we vanquish the foe! Want to silence the naysayers, celebrate birthdays loudly & colorfully!
It's been nearly a month now since we welcomed our dear brother Arthur to our community. In just a short few days Arthur has already embarked upon a culinary apprenticeship at Refire, a culinary program in Tallahassee. Arthur sums up the power of cooking when he says,
"Here at Joseph House we make tacos, not tragedies!"
January
Kasia is our intern for her last semester of Florida State's Masters in Social Work program. After completing her undergraduate degree in philosophy at New College, she decided to pursue social work in order to address the many needs of individuals affected by the criminal justice system. Luke is finishing his Bachelors in Social Work. Luke started as a volunteer at JH last year and is now interning with us as well.
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" -Martin Luther King Jr.
I am a new resident at Joseph House, that in currently in school obtaining my Associate in Arts degree with the long term aspirations of finding ways to help others.
" Joy is peace dancing." - Frederick Meyer
Our brother Gabriel continues to work hard on his GED prep, as well as continues to dominate Madden 2k21.
Shout out to our brother Desa from the Communion and Liberation community down in Gainesville. Thank you for enhancing out community life with this fire pit.
One of the current rooms awaiting for a new resident.
"I looked out my window and I see that Father Dustin needs help. Cars were getting stuck out in front of Joseph House. One thing I like doing is praying. I prayed to God that we need help in front of the house because people are getting stuck. While I stayed in my chair I just imagined that I would get stuck. I started praying, "Open up my heart, my soul." With the faith God gave me, it was going to happen. Within an hour or so, God answered my prayers. The only thing I heard was trucks. Everything was being moved around, the earth, and the machines in the front yard. God sent an angel to rebuild the foundation of Joseph House. My friend showed up and said, "Holy crap. You mean to tell me that they are building it right now? It's impossible, I thought it was supposed to happen next week!" No Papa, I prayed last night, crying praying, I prayed alone, I cried alone. God sure answered Joe's prayer! It hast to come from your heart. You've got to be well known with God. This house should be safe for others and ourselves.
Jo- Jo, our guardian of the squirrels, continues to care for all of Gods creatures.
Quintin continues to pursue his bachelors degree and is currently working at Ace Hardware.
Thank you for reading, and we look forward to seeing you again for our next update!
February
We would like to honor Mike and Chandra with a huge thanks and much gratitude for presenting us with this beautiful artwork of our Patriarch Joseph!
Artwork of our Patriarch Joseph
Joseph is one of the most influential patriarchs of the Old Testament and he is our patron saint here at Joseph House. Joseph's story highlights the proper attitude toward difficulty and misfortune. As we all go on a journey of self discovery, we all will face our own trials and tribulations but what Joseph's story teaches us is that God always walks with us through the darkest moments in life.
Mike and Chandra with the Joseph House family, presenting the artwork of our Patriarch Joseph
In community here at Joseph House, it reminds me we mature and grow as we forgive each other in both minute and grand things. Another thing that correlates with me and the awesomeness of being here at the Joseph House is to use our gifts no matter where we are in life -- don't hide them! Even in the midst of hardship, God calls us to offer our gifts to each other for the sake of the salvation of the world. By salvation, I mean reconciliation which always brings greater peace and justice. Booyah!
Forgiveness is the way of love.
By,
Chad Grady
August
Read Chad's Joseph House experience in his own words:
Being at the Joseph House has allowed me to get a different outlook on life and family. The Joseph House through its love, dedication, leadership, and community I was able to positively integrate back into a society that I once despised.
Being around Father Dustin and establishing a pure solid foundation of love, trust, and peace allowed me to go through a series of changes. Having a father figure was something that I longed for. I always felt like there was a piece of me missing. An empty void in my life. Due to his persistency and reassuring me that he will be there for me no matter what created a bond that I could have never fathomed. Going through life can be difficult when you do not have the support that you need in order to survive the hurdles of life. On my journey, I have had numerous trials and tribulations that not only the feeling of love and support but the actions that the community itself displayed in those times. The willingness to be there and provide unconditional love to me was beyond anything I could have ever fathomed to be true in this cruel world.
Community life wasn't an easy thing to accept. I was coming from a place where I had adapted into a heartless and very much cold individual. All I expected from the community was some uppity, snooty individuals who would look at me as a nut case and disregard who I am now and only focus on what I had done in the past. Man was I completely wrong. The community allowed me the chance and the resource of comfort to decrease that demeanor so I could increase in my life. They continued to reassure me that they were not giving up on me and continued to show me respect. Some days I didn't believe I deserved such powerful hospitality. As I continued to speak more to the community, I realized that they understood me. The families of the community continued to show patience and resilience with me throughout my journey.
Thank you for reading!
September
We would like to invite you to our 2021 Joseph House Gala on Friday, November 5th, 2021, 6:30-8:30PM. Our theme for this special night is: Learning To Dream!
Keynote speaker via Zoom: Sr. Helen Prejean will share her witness and testimony on creating justice through accompanying the least among us. She is the author of the #1 New York Times Best Seller Dead Man Walking.
A plated dinner will be served in the Magnolia Room at the Capital City Country Club on 1601 Golf Terrace Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32301. Masks are required.
Other speakers include Bishop William Wack and a former resident of Joseph House Chad Grady.
January
Join us for our latest Joseph House Lecture on Thursday, February 20th at 7PM: Florida's Convict Lease System and its Legacy of Prison Abuse Presenter: Peter A. Cowdrey - Educator-in-Residence, Museum of Florida History
Please join us at Joseph House as we explore Florida's infamous Convict Lease System, a time when Florida's incarcerated were leased to businesses for the exploitation of prison labor. This system, which lasted from 1877 until 1923, was notorious for its brutality, and while it ended nearly a century ago, it established a violent legacy that has survived through the intervening decades. This program will feature slides of original photographs obtained from the Florida State Archives.
Please email us for more information on the event.
May
Two years ago tomorrow we began Joseph House by walking with Qwan the day he was released from solitary confinement at Santa Rosa CI. I invited Sonya and Brian on this journey by seeing if they could pick Qwan up one Sunday afternoon at the Tallahassee Bus Station. They did. And there began, in my estimation, the mission of Joseph House.
Sonya, Brian, and Qwan at Barnes & Noble in Tallahassee
Qwan will be released off probation and no longer under the control of the state starting tomorrow.
Qwan experiencing a new freedom.
One year and one day later, Joseph House had another origin-day, so to speak. We opened our house to Joe. Arriving from Montgomery, after spending a year with the staff at EJI, Joe made his home with us on Bradford Rd.
All who know Joe, know that he has a knack for drawing people closer. Joe builds community and he has done just that. Here are a few pics proving the point.
The great discovery I've happened upon over this past year is how vital community is in creating justice. When we make relationships the priority we keep from falling into abstract ideologies that only further divide. But when we sit and eat together. When we listen to each other's stories. When we hear each other cry, laugh or dream out loud. When we till, plant, and water together, something happens and the words "on earth as it is in heaven" becomes a reality here. It's easy to preach and debate. It's easy to join in the echo chamber of today's vapid culture wars. It's something else entirely to walk alongside those who have been cast aside and awaken to the sublime truth that God is very close to the most vulnerable probably because God chose to become powerless so as to enter into relationship with all of creation. This for me has become a discernible truth. Love makes all things beautiful and just. Look at where we began on 302 E Bradford and where we are now.
Then we did some dreaming...
And went to work...
And now we can speak of Joseph House gardens!
We look forward to our third year of accompanying those returning home. We know the journey is always filled more with zigzags than a straight line. We know setbacks and frustrations await us. But we also know that Jesus said his burden is light and his yoke is easy especially when we embark upon these journeys together. For now, we are grateful to have a home. And look forward to possibly more homes for those retuning back to us!
Thank you all for making this journey with us. We look forward to expanding our mission with you all alongside us!
September
This semester we are happy to welcome our new intern Kaly. Here's Kaly in her own words:
Hi! My name is Kaly Allison and I am currently in my last year of graduate school as a Social Work major at Florida State University. After receiving my undergraduate degree in social work I decided to further my education to ultimately become a LCSW. My main motivation for my interest in the criminal justice system was simple: it scared me. Growing up and having many friends and family members going in and out of the system, as well as losing loved ones to violent crimes, influenced my decision to become a Social Worker and address the one area of social work I was unsure of. For me, it felt too personal and a fear of mine was that it would affect my ability to be a competent social worker.
So for my undergraduate degree I interned at the state attorney's office as a victim advocate which led me to accept a job working at the injunction office at the local courthouse in Tallahassee, FL. Within this time I developed an interest in working with individuals coming out of prison and/or jail. I was familiar with the part of the system that sent individuals to prison, and wanted to be a part of the re-entry process for those coming out.
This has led me to interning at Joseph House for my final placement.
These first four weeks of being at Joseph House have taught me so much and have furthered my passion for the field!
September
We are growing.
Over the next couple of months we anticipate welcoming three new brothers at Joseph House. It was the funds raised at last years Gala that has enabled us to expand our house, building three new rooms. Without the support of you all this would not have been possible. This is why we know that our mission to serve those leaving Florida's prisons and jails is dependent on our larger community of friends.
Core to our mission is the belief that " the fruit of justice is sown in peace, to them that cultivate peace." We believe justice isn't an ideology but rather is way of life. Cultivating peace is something that can happen everyday when we take the time to see and listen to others. We at Joseph House are grateful to have folks who have made serving others their life's pursuit. We are happy to share with you all that we have hired our first fulltime staff person, Tyler Parker. Tyler is our Mission Coordinator at Joseph House.
Dear Joseph House community,
Hello, my name is Tyler Parker. I was formerly an intern at Joseph House in the Summer of 2019 and have now returned to Joseph House as of August 2020 to serve as a staff member in this blossoming reentry community. The love circulating the community and the dedicated mission of Joseph House has brought me back to Tallahassee and I couldn't be more excited.
The vision of Joseph House is broad, intentional, methodical, embracing, compassionate, inclusive, and so much more. To be a part of something like this is meaningful and really is a joy; but more importantly, it is a source of joy and healing to those whom we serve. Joseph House is growing and is hoping to have three new residents by the end of the year totaling in at five residents. The pandemic has slightly disrupted the rhythm of the Joseph House community as it has to so many of our lives, but we know that everyone is always with us in heart and in spirit. A special expression of gratitude to everyone who has managed to find ways to get involved even through these socially isolating times. We continue to improvise and find safe ways to slowly and carefully involve volunteers and friends back into the weekly activities; or to "chop tomatoes," as Bishop Wack has previously said.
The proverb states that it takes a village to raise a child, as we at Joseph House like to say that it takes a community to help our returning citizens to heal and thrive. Please feel free and comfortable to contact me at any time if you ever have any questions, want information on how to get involved, or if you just want to chat. My email is [email protected] where I can always be reached.
Best wishes to everyone and I hope we cross paths sometime soon!
October
As most of you know we are unapologetic dreamers here at Joseph House. We started dreaming a few years ago for a beautiful home for those leaving prison and jail - a home filled with love and support from our neighbors. Two weeks ago our dream came true again when we welcomed our most recent brother, Chad.
As you also can see below our dreams are expanding with our expansion project set to be completed next month which will allow us to welcome three more friends. These dreams become true because so many of you pitched in to help us along the way.
These three new rooms are built with love and respect so we as a community can provide a dignified space for our brothers to dream anew about the lives that were created for. In the weeks to come we will invite you all to pitch in by helping us furnish these rooms. As Jesus assures us he is preparing a room for all of us in his kingdom, so to we want to return the same gesture of hospitality by preparing a room for our brothers soon to arrive here at JH.
We would like to invite you to our 2nd Annual Joseph House "Virtual" Gala on Friday, December 4th. Our theme for this special night is: Come let us Dream Together! We are thrilled that Bishop Bill Wack will join us for this virtual gala. We are also thrilled that Dr. Micah McCreary, President of New Brunswick Theological Seminary, will be our Keynote Speaker. This virtual event will also feature our residents and community members sharing their dreams for the upcoming year at Joseph House.
Join "Big B" & all of us at JH for this special night:
You are invited to a Zoom webinar.
When: Dec 4, 2020 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Joseph House Gala 2020
May
Dear friends,
We at Joseph House are saddened by the news of Jean Vanier's death. Our house mourns the loss of this gentle prophet. Jean's witness was and will continue guiding us as we hope to form a welcoming community for the most marginalized in our community. Jean's struggle to realize and experience justice through communion with those forgotten is a light for us as we hope to walk with those seeking freedom. We had hoped to visit with Jean this summer in France; now we will rely upon his prayers for us. Jean's humility to allow the weakest and most forgotten to teach him what it means to be strong and welcomed as a friend of God will guide us in our journey.
Below is a quote a kind friend shared with me that I believe encapsulates Jean's enduring prophetic witness for those of us at JH.
"To be human is not to be crushed by reality, or to be angry about it or to try to hammer it into what we think it is or should be, but to commit ourselves as individuals, and as a species, to an evolution that will be for the good of all. Each one of us needs to work at searching for truth, not be afraid of it. We need to strive to live in truth, because the truth sets us free, even if it means living in loneliness and anguish at certain moments. Perhaps this search for truth is a process of letting ourselves be enfolded in truth rather than possessing truth, as if it were an object that we could possess, that we could use against others."
Jean Vanier
August
The Joseph "novella" (as it is often termed by biblical scholars), occupies the last fourteen chapters of Genesis, chapters 37–50. It is a story that punctuates two generations of family disfunction, and follows Jacob's beloved son Joseph through years of tragedy as narrowly he escapes becoming a victim fratricide only to be sold by his brothers into slavery in a strange land.
As if that was not enough, he then finds himself incarcerated for many years for a crime he did not commit. The story of Joseph though does not end with tragedy, but redemption. At the end, the reader finds that Joseph's life and dreams have purpose, and that not only was the God of his family with him throughout his suffering, but positioned Joseph in such a way that he, his family, and the entire world would be saved by his dreams and talents.
It is no wonder that this story is one with which many incarcerated men identify. This lecture will highlight the way the Joseph story has become an interpretive lens by which many incarcerated men view their own tragic lives, but also how the story offers hope, allowing them to imagine reconciliation with their families and communities, as well as purpose for post-prison lives.
September
We take dreams seriously at Joseph House. For those coming out of prison, to dream is to hope and to hope is to live the good life. We have also learned that dreams come true more easily when we share in life together. A life together where we share responsibilities, we share in laughter and meals, we share our home with friends and strangers. We want to introduce our House Manager, Quintin Storey, and let you hear from him.
Hi, I'm Quintin, The House Manager here at the Joseph House. I am currently enrolled at TCC in the Paralegal Studies Program. I plan to earn an AS Degree in the program. My participation in this mission is a very special part of my daily life because I was once released from incarceration. Just as the 1st station of the cross, when Jesus was condemned, I somehow feel that station relevant to my struggles of re-entry from incarceration.
The obstacles, struggles, and everything which was stacked against me almost seemed to be unreal – another aspect of condemnation. I remember those faithful saints that were there to guide me through that tough time of transition. Post-release is a very critical point for one returning into free society from prison. Here at the Joseph House, we take a frontline, hands-on approach to getting the necessary resources organized so that we may assist those in most need.
- Quintin Storey
Quintin is a student at Tallahassee Community College pursuing Paralegal Studies as he hopes to give back to the community by serving juveniles that are most vulnerable to incarceration. Quintin's presence at the house not only ensures the safety of our residents but also assists us in further forming our mission as someone who was formerly incarcerated.
Our hope is to create a social climate where education is valued and the opportunity to further one's intellectual gifts is increased. Studies show time and time again that when those that are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated are exposed to postsecondary education their chances of returning to prison dramatically decreases.
September
As we break bread together and celebrate our mission, we will hear the stories of residents, our 2020 Vision, and hear from Bishop William A. Wack, CSC and Tallahassee's Public Defender, Andy Thomas.
It is our hope to begin expanding our services soon by building additional rooms so that we may welcome a few more brothers back into society. We are already anticipating our next resident before Christmas! The proceeds from this event will further our work serving those most in need by expanding our house.
We have received a generous pledge from a donor to match ALL that we raise at this event to make this a reality.
October
Joseph House is very excited to be welcoming a new resident, who will arrive the first week of November. Settling into a new home - as well as into a new community - can be daunting for most of us which is why we hope to prepare a beautiful room for our new friend. We have put together a registry on Target with some essentials for our new resident.
If you have a spare minute, please consider donating by purchasing an item on the registry by clicking the link: Target Registry
November
Last month we invited Reverend Doris Green from Transforming Re-entry Services in Chicago to share with us her stories and wisdom from 38 years of serving the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated.
While sharing a meal with us, Rev. Green emphasized the everyday relationships that mobilizes a community working to uphold the dignity of every person. We are most appreciative for the time she took out of her busy schedule while in Tallahassee to visit our community at Joseph House. Her vast 38 years of experience in prison ministry and walking with those reentering society was a blessing to us all. She shared with us her vision of a more just and merciful society and encouraged us to always stay focused on each person God sends us to walk alongside. We are grateful for her visit with us at JH!
Godspeed Rev. Green with all the good you do in Chicago!
November
Last week we celebrated our first big community bash with over 100 close friends and supportive folks in our community.
We shared our stories with one another and discussed our mission. Bishop Bill Wack shared his thoughts on how the mission of Joseph House reminds him of Dorothy Day's mission to bring love and hospitality to those society tends to exclude. And Tallahassee's Public Defender, Andy Thomas, addressed the vast injustices in our criminal justice system and the importance of seeing those who often are unseen in our community.
We are happy to share that an additional success of our gala is that we raised enough funds to begin our house expansion project! This will afford us three more rooms for three more brothers in need of a home and community in their journey back with us.
December
Qwan Flemming was our first participant at Joseph House. In fact, Qwan was with us before there was a house in Joseph House. Qwan was born and raised in Tallahassee, Fl. He was caught up in the system at an early age. Two years ago Fr. Dustin met Qwan while he was in solitary confinement at Santa Rosa CI. Like many others, Qwan was released from prison while in confinement. He was put on a bus and homeless at age 23. Fortunately, our volunteers Brian and Sonya were at the bus station to pick up Qwan and begin the journey of walking with him as he reentered society.
Currently there are over 10,000 individuals warehoused in solitary confinement in Florida's prisons – that's double the nationwide average. We at Joseph House are working to ensure that those men exposed to solitary confinement are recognized and supported by a compassionate community upon their release because we accept numerous studies which show solitary confinement has harmful effects on an individual's mental health and body. And the trauma doesn't end there because it also has harmful effects on the communities these individuals are returning to.
A sad statistic that shocks us at Joseph House is that nearly all incarcerated individuals have been exposed to significant trauma. Eight months after Bishop Wack green-lit Joseph House, we began accompanying Qwan as he left directly from solitary confinement to the Leon County bus station where a few of our volunteers met him, took him to lunch, and began accompanying him through the various stages of reintegration. Some nine months later we purchased our first home in the midtown area of Tallahassee. It was our hope to create a dignified home in a safe area well-situated for our residents to live within the larger Tallahassee community. Our house was intentionally selected so we could have a therapeutic space that recognizes the rate of PTSD among the incarcerated is 4 to 10 times more than the rest of society. For this reason, we have sought to create and maintain a home that expresses love and peace for those staying with us.
Qwan now lives in Marianna, Fl with his girlfriend Samantha. He works with a construction crew that's helping rebuild parts of the panhandle destroyed by Hurricane Michael. Qwan's journey on the path of reintegration continues as does our journey with him.
"Sweat Box" used for solitary confinement at the Florida State Prison – Raiford, Florida. 1957 or 1958.
While the Sweat Box is now obsolete, solitary confinement remains a widely used form of punishment in Florida with roughly over 12,000 housed in confinement on any given day.
On July 16, 1949, Norma Padgett, a 17-year old Groveland, Florida woman, accused four black men of rape, testifying that she and her husband were attacked when their car stalled on a rural road near Groveland, Florida. The next day, Charles Greenlee, Sam Shepherd, and Walter Irvin were in jail.
Ernest Thomas fled the county and avoided arrest for several days until a Sheriff's posse shot and killed him about 200 miles northwest of Lake County in Madison county. Sam Shepherd and Walter Irvin were sentenced to death in a trial. 16-year-old Charles Greenlee, because of his age, was sentenced to life in prison.
In 1951, Samuel Shepherd and Walter Lee Irvin were shot by Sheriff Willis Virgil McCall while being transported from Raiford to Lake County. McCall said they had attacked him. Walter Irvin survived and accused McCall of forcing Shepherd and him from the vehicle in which they were being transported and shooting them down. It became known as the "Groveland Shooting".
70 years later the four men were pardoned for what was a racially motivated conviction.
Twenty three year old African-American laborer Claude Neal was accused of the murder of a white woman he had known almost his entire life. Neal was brutally murdered and left hanging on a tree outside the Jackson county (Marianna) courthouse.
The 'spectacle lynching' attracted a white crowd numbering over 2,000. There are 9 lynchings reported in Jackson county.
Florida had the highest rate of lynchings per capita of any state in the country in the 20th century.
This report sparked a radical critique of the South and the widespread practice of lynching.
December
In the early 20th century, the vast majority of state prisoners in former slave states were leased to private companies for hard labor in extremely harsh conditions.
Many were sent away deep in the pine forests of North Florida where prisoners were expected to labor from sunrise to sunset tapping pine trees for turpentine, clearing swamps, harvesting timber or building roads. Most of these prisoners were convicted of minor crimes such as loitering, vagrancy, or even changing employment without permission.
Numerous convict camps sprung up throughout north Florida in the decades following the Civil War. The primary industry in Florida was turpentine. These prison and forced labor camps were established during the period known as the New South when many southern states sought new ways to create industry in the postbellum South. Workers in these camps were mostly African American men who were arrested under what was known as the Black Codes and later Jim Crow laws.
Florida, along with other states in the South, began the practice of leasing out convicts – many of whom were criminalized for being unemployed, homeless, or incurring debt under a barbaric peonage system – to private industries that sought to modernize the South. As noted by historians, the roots of convict leasing in Florida stems back to the end of the Civil War and the establishment of the Florida Department of Corrections in 1869. By 1907 nearly 90% of all state prisoners were leased out to turpentine operations and the vast majority of these prisoners were African American men.
State prisoners often suffered from abuse, sadistic torture, inadequate diets, diseases, minimal health care and unsanitary living conditions. One historian estimates that the annual mortality rate in these camps throughout the South reached close to 25% of workers.
A public notice is issued by Charles S. Sibley, Commissioner in Chancery, appointed by the Superior Court of the Middle District of Florida, announcing the sale of enslaved persons at a plantation known as the Fauntleroy Place, near Tallahassee.
The enslaved individuals are identified by name in the notice, a stark reminder of the dehumanizing system that reduced people to property — listed, advertised, and sold by order of the court.
This document is part of the historical record of Leon County, Florida — the same community where Joseph House now works to restore dignity and belonging to those returning from incarceration.