About us
Golden Rule ReEntry's staff help the formerly incarcerated by walking beside them with love so they can navigate the challenges of reentry successfully. Most of our staff have lived experience and know the challenges that come with reentering society.
Our Values
Connection
Compassion
Community
Caring
Our Staff
Founder / Executive Director
Abigail Lewis
Abby founded Golden Rule because she staunchly believes that everyone does better when we remove barriers and care about people.
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Executive Assistant / Grants Manager
Andrew Mount
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Career Pathways Case Manager / PSS
Brandi Ferreira
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Office Mgr / Maintenance Mgr / PSS
Jeff Shepherd
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Bookkeeper / HR / Graphics
Jennifer Zeitler
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Lead House Manager / PSS
Newtown Apartments House Manager
Lonnie Croghan
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Senior Executive Advisor
Paul Sheldon
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Education Specialist / Bilingual PSS
Vera Hughes
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Our Board of Directors
Sean O Ceallaigh
Board President
*Founder of Freedom Farms
*Gangaji Prison Program volunteer
Jennifer Henderson
Board Secretary/Treasurer
* CEO Henderson Behavioral Health
Dr DeWayne Hendrix
Board Member
* Former Warden @ Sheridan Federal Prison
* Founder of A NewDaylight
Harold "Bear" Cubbedge
Board Member
* Founder of CrimAnon
* Lived Experience of Incarceration
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Charmagne Reavis
Board Member
*Owner of Reavis Renovations
* Instructor for GRR's Women's Construction Program
*Lived Experience of Incarceration
Our History
The Spirit of Golden Rule
We see each person as a whole being - we do not define anyone by their mistakes, labels or diagnoses.
When a person is being difficult, we mentally ask not “what's wrong with you?” but “what happened to you to make you act this way?”
We honor the fact that everyone’s life is a complex weave of cause and effect, destiny, karma, and purpose. We understand that these things are often beyond our ability to perceive. Some of the things in our lives that seem like tragedies may have been necessary for personal growth. There is a higher power/order at work that we may not understand.
We understand that success can mean different things to different people.
We heal by allowing for “Extravagant Tenderness.”
We witness each person’s journey - good, bad and ugly without judgement.
We can't help everyone, but we will always help those who want to help themselves.
We offer kindness, support, reflection and opportunity; what the participant does with that is up to them.
We stand in awe of the struggle and suffering that the incarcerated have endured. As Father Gregory Boyle Says:
“Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.”
We allow people to fail because each failure brings them closer to success.
We do not abandon people because they make mistakes.
People who have endured abuse, addiction and incarceration and are able to rise above these things demonstrate an almost super human capacity for overcoming obstacles.