The project itself is a project about providing support to a growing population in our society. This population, returning citizens, are in need. They need love, support, resources, advocacy and at bare minimum a second chance at life. This is a personal project for me. I am a convicted felon. That statement is easy to write but the statement is not easy for me to say out loud. To say, "I am a convicted felon," in many ways as a society we have been conditioned to think that I am saying I am less then human not quite a citizen. By the grace of God and the love of some, "I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). I have paid my debt to society, turned in my “pound of flesh” and feel call to make a difference. When Claremont Lafayette United Presbyterian Church called me, I assumed they understood it was a package deal. However, during the contentious church “fight” individuals spread through the congregation I was a convicted felon. As a society, we have made progress in reducing the stigma associated with a criminal record, this tenure, this project taught me we have so far to go.

By being branded felons, entire communities have been reduced to the status of second-class citizens. The mistakes young people have committed have been a death sentence leading to poverty and limiting access to education, housing, and employment. A question addressed is: what is the lingering impact of incarceration? The study sought to explore what sort of ministry would be needed to address these crucial needs facing urban communities. What is the non-negotiable ministry mindset necessary for urban areas where ex-offenders and residents attempt to survive in open air drug markets? Upon release from prison, young adults turn to gang affiliation for a place of being and acceptance. Is the church available for a returning citizen who is not capable of obtaining gainful employment, housing, or mental health services? Regarding opportunity, there is a specific type of ministry needed in urban neighborhoods considering the symptoms of mass incarceration and the war on drugs. Should there be opportunities for a ministry that encourages, inspires, advocates and brings resources to families and communities burdened by unfair laws, policies, and procedures?

To understand the impact of mass incarceration and the war on drugs on the lives of individuals and their families, the project employed narrative-based research, which revealed the stories of those who have been negatively impacted by generation after generation of oppression inflicted upon the African American community. Officials and participants helplessly trudged along with no real solutions, giving their harrowing stories. To grasp a more in-depth understanding and sensitivity to those impacted by mass incarceration and the war on drugs, the project will include narrative-based research with those participating in the Circle of Inspiration at CLUPC.

The project also examined the dynamics and difficulty of a congregation attempting to adapt to the contemporary complexities of ministry in the 21st century. The church is on the decline and needs to reinvent itself and the way it introduces the gospel to those living on the fringes of society. The guiding biblical passage for this project is the parable of the Prodigal Son. In the parable, the father interrupts his celebration of finding his "lost son" to retrieve the older son he is now losing to bitterness. In Luke 15:32 (ESV) the father says, "It fitted to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost and is found."