Empowering Lives.
Bettering Communities.

Our Mission: Second Chances with a Human Focus

New Freedom inspires successful community re-entry for all members and drives their success through compassionate, introspective, peer-driven support.

Our Vision: Pioneers in the Re-Entry Space

New Freedom offers a complete solution that allows justice-contacted individuals to succeed in life by creating positive change for themselves and their communities.

We’re Servants at Heart

Together, we focus on serving others before ourselves. Our genuine desire to give back drives what we do.

We’re Transformative

Whether it be perceptions, lives, or our communities, we believe in the power of change.

We’re Compassionate

In all circumstances, we demonstrate humility and empathy without judgment, helping our members conquer their challenges in order to realize positive outcomes.

We’re Tenacious

We believe in the uncompromising pursuit of positive outcomes. With unfailing perseverance, we support our members and guide them through every step of their journey.

We’re Restorative

Everything we do is focused on making a personal, societal, and economic impact.

“I never thought it was possible to be where I am today, just like nobody thought it possible to create a community focused around re-entry. When I was in prison a place like New Freedom would have only existed in a dream. Little did I know, seeing a NFP flyer on the wall would redefine the course of not only my re-entry, but my entire life.”

Anonymous / Graduated January 2021

“I will never forget my first day at New Freedom. Here, I was given the warmest welcome that I have ever received. Not only by those who work here but by the members as well. New Freedom provided me with everything that I needed. At no cost to me. That much needed help took a huge load of stress off of me…”

“…With the assistance of my mentor and my support team I was able to center my focus on things like job preparation, options for housing and recovery. While attending process groups during the day I was able to address some childhood trauma and developed some very needed coping and life skills…”

“…I began to attend employment preparation groups and was able to gain employment. My experience has been that I began to get amazing results by taking the suggestions and help laid in front of me by my support team. The program design here has made it possible for me to reenter society confidently and successfully.”

Cesar / Graduated April 2021

Our Story: We Know Because We’ve Been There

The peer-to-peer vision originally conceived by our founders nearly 20 years ago is alive and well today.

Many of our team members and leaders have personally experienced incarceration and transformation. We know firsthand what justice-involved men and women need because we’ve walked that same road — from confinement to community.

In 2017, several dedicated individuals who had rebuilt their lives after incarceration joined forces with recovery advocates and entrepreneurs to create what would become the New Freedom Project. Their shared vision was to build a program that helps justice-involved men and women successfully transition from prison back into society through peer mentorship, housing, and comprehensive support.

Joe McDonald, a long-time leader in the recovery community, joined early efforts to connect local organizations and recovery experts. Working with the founding team, he helped form the Transition Coalition — a collaboration devoted to providing services that help justice-involved individuals re-enter society and thrive.

Denise McDonald, who had long been writing letters of encouragement to incarcerated individuals, helped redefine our purpose — to reach people still inside prison and prepare them for success upon release. Her compassion inspired a culture of mentorship that continues to shape our in-reach and re-entry programs today.

In late 2019, New Freedom officially launched by acquiring, permitting, and licensing a 248-room former resort. The site was transformed into a comprehensive, full-continuum facility providing stability, healing, and community for returning citizens rebuilding their lives.

Since its public opening in October 2020, New Freedom has implemented one of the most innovative re-entry models in the nation, serving 370 – 400 men and women at a time. Many of those who enter our facility were first mentored through in-reach efforts while incarcerated, continuing the same peer-support chain that began their journey home.

92.5%

Efficacy

New Freedom graduates who have stayed out of incarceration.

99%

Employment

New Freedom graduates who have gained employment.

$200

Million

New Freedom estimated impact on social savings.*

46.3%

Increase

New Freedom graduates’ average wage increase 2 years post-graduation.

*In the form of annualized crime/justice savings, Medicaid savings, plus net gained GDP

A Community Where The People’s Walk Matches Their Talk

Joe | Graduated July 2022

“Even though I have graduated New Freedom, I come back several times a week. Everyone knows me and calls me Uncle Joe as a term of endearment. I would say that I am a miracle, and I would say the people that allow New Freedom to touch so many lives, are a miracle too.”

Read My Story

I Haven't Looked Back Since

Heather | Graduated March 2022

“I tried every way possible to not have to look within myself to find what God’s purpose had been for me all along, to help His people. I earned my Peer Support Specialist Certification and I now have an amazing opportunity to help others. After graduation and working in behavioral health, I chose to come back and work at New Freedom. I always considered it home, and I want to give back what was given to me.”