When Reverend Dr. Michelle Simmons was released from prison in 1999, she found herself without a home, a job and no one to help her get her kids back. She felt stuck and had a hard time locating resources.
Just two years later, she founded Why Not Prosper, a nonprofit dedicated to helping formerly incarcerated women become contributing members of their community. Their latest initiative is their Rolling Engagement Van, which drives around Philadelphia providing free food, clothing, healthcare and mental health support — meeting formerly incarcerated women where they are.
“When I was using drugs and alcohol, I was stuck in an eight-block radius,” Dr. Simmons said. “Sometimes we ask people to come here, go to this office, go to that office, but what would it look like if we were bringing this stuff right into the hood and really holding their hand and supporting them to come out the hood?”
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 59% of women are rearrested within three years of their release. While men’s numbers have stayed flat, women’s have risen in the state over the past decade. The van’s goal is to reduce recidivism rates for women by empowering them to become self-sufficient.
“Why Not Prosper means that we give you a hand up, not a handout,” said Yolanda Durran, the nonprofit’s head house manager. “We’re never gonna stop moving. We’re gonna go wherever there’s somebody that is in need. That’s what our van is about.”
Today, more than 4,000 women are involved in the work of Why Not Prosper. Aside from the van, the nonprofit runs a traditional transitional house and offers access to employment opportunities, emotional and psychological healing and financial responsibility workshops. The women in Sisters With a Goal, otherwise known as S.W.A.G., mentor one another, run a hotline and volunteer on the van.
“When a person stays isolated to themselves, it’s hard to make the journey, but it ain’t nothing like having a sister,” Dr. Simmons said. “Nobody could do this work better than the formerly incarcerated themselves, so the sisterhood means everything.”
S.W.A.G. sister Tashia Green remembers first seeing the van on the streets of Philadelphia. She says her favorite part about volunteering is seeing the smiles on the women’s faces when they receive help.
“I don’t care how far you go in life, you just can never forget that part of your life,” Green said. “For me, giving back helps me stay even stronger with my goals and with what I’m doing.”
Learn more about the Rolling Engagement Van in the video above. Find out more about Why Not Prosper here.
