These gatherings remind us that our community thrives on connection. They offer opportunities for networking, sharing ideas, and finding support as our alumni continue their journey beyond incarceration.
Transitional Programs
Our Work Is
THEI creates opportunities for autonomy and success through pre and post-release wraparound reentry services. THEI’s support extends beyond education, to address housing, employment, family reunification, mental health, and other critical needs. This portfolio was created with the understanding that THEI is much more than a degree-seeking opportunity; it is an intervention, a lifeline, a community, and a support system. THEI's approach to reentry is based on radical hospitality, stability, and upward mobility. We prioritize quality of life, focusing on more than just immediate needs.
Building Community
When a student enrolls in our programs, they become a valued members of our community, which builds trust that extends even after they are released. A year before release, students begin working with a reentry coordinator.
Support Services
THEI support includes access to recovery programs, counseling, gender-affirming care, healthcare, family reunification, employment, college access, housing, financial wellness, and more.
Mentoring & Coaching
Post-release, alumni receive a Coach – a formerly incarcerated mentor who checks in weekly through their first year. They visit in person during the first week home to share a meal, deliver resources, and strengthen the sense of belonging.
Long-Term Commitment
Even after immediate support needs subside, THEI staff and peers continue to provide support over time as challenges emerge, solidifying this social support network with our alumni.
THEI Housing Network
In 2024, THEI’s Transitional Programs team embarked on one of their most ambitious efforts yet. We opened the THEI Housing network, three different trauma-informed reentry residences located throughout the Nashville metro area. Residents can live comfortably without financial burden in these supportive homes, all while pursuing their educational goals and receiving essential assistance and resources.
Moving Forward Guide
The Moving Forward Guide outlines – through written narrative and a detailed user-friendly directory – resources for all essential needs for people transitioning beyond incarceration across all regions in Tennessee, including resources for housing, health and mental-health services, food security, employment and career development, higher education, legal and advocacy support, and information about reentry during COVID-19.
The Moving Forward Guide is a collaborative effort between THEI, the Memphis Interfaith Coalition for Action and Hope (MICAH), and the Education Justice Project (EJP).
This guide is a comprehensive statewide resource to support Tennesseans transitioning beyond incarceration.
Alumni Gatherings
We believe that success extends far beyond graduation. THEI’s Transitional Programs team regularly hosts Alumni Gatherings to create spaces where our graduates can reconnect, share their journeys, and celebrate their achievements. Past gatherings have included a fun outing at Game Terminal in Nashville, a collaborative meet-up with FICGN members and staff, and a warm Friendsgiving hosted at Ogburn House.