Ms. Connie Chisolm wrote in her biography that she used to be a career criminal who was allowed to turn her life around after her last arrest on 11/6/2003 thru drug court. She got sent to a long-term residential program (i.e., Liberty Manor) and connected with the Healthy Sisters Soup and Bean works. Connie “flipped all my illegal skills into positive ones” and noted that “these programs gave me confidence and self-esteem.” After 20 years of using drugs and going to jail multiple times, Connie says she learned to be a productive member of society. She became a member of Narcotics Anonymous, held a service position in H&I (hospitals and Institutions), and was able to go back into the jails to carry a message of hope. Once she got hired at Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach, she was able to go into the jails and get PAID for going to jail. Unfortunately, Connie’s addiction spilled over into her family, resulting in her children being incarcerated. Today she has a relationship with all of her family. Her job at the Jennifer House allows her to give women the tools to be successful, where they provide housing and support for all the women that come through the Jennifer House. Today Connie runs a program for housing for the men and women that come through the Jennifer House program. The program provides case management to program participants, even after they move into their apartments, as well as helping with subsidies for their rent.
