My name is Brandon Hollis Hall and I am the Prison Support Coordinator for the Georgia Justice Project. I come to Atlanta and the project through my year-long commitment to live in solidarity with the poor through the non-profit organization Mission Year. Every year, GJP selects a year long volunteer to fill the position of Prison Support Coordinator, so I feel very privileged to fill this role for 2009-2010. I am originally from rural Kentucky, so Atlanta has taken me quite some time to get used to. While here at the project I have met some of the most amazing and intelligent people, and I have met them in the prisons all throughout Georgia.
Each week I travel to different prisons throughout the state, to visit with and correspond with the GJP clients’ unfortunate enough to receive prison sentences. These men open up to me almost immediately as GJP is for some the only outside contact they receive. I have found my faith strengthened, and my heart filled by the stories that these men tell. Some share with me about remorse for the past. Some share stories of gratitude for the visits they receive from the folks at GJP. In every case though, they teach me that for every alleged crime, there is a face, and a story. In America often we strip humanity from those who commit crimes, and write them off, no matter the circumstances or the manner in which the crimes were committed. I have seen with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears, stories of released men not able to find jobs because of a blemish upon their record. Without ANGELS like the folks at GJP, these men would have no hope for job opportunities, or resources with which to find them.
GJP stands by their clients win or lose. The goal is breaking the cycle of poverty, not just simply representing people in court. If our clients win, we celebrate, we help them with employment through our in-house landscaping business NHL, among other things. We offer them much needed support and guidance through our in-house social service department. If our clients do end up serving time in prison, we go to the prisons to visit them. We send Christmas packages, we write, we let them know that there is somebody in the world that refuses to simply write them off. Upon release, all of our different teams within the building band together to best assist a healthy re-entry into society for the newly released. GJP has shown me that the words, JUSTICE, FAITH, and PRESERVENCE are obtainable. They have given a face to stories, and for that I am thankful. Feel free to email me at, Brandon@gjp.org for specific stories, or information.
Thanks. Brandon
Brandon Hollis Hall
Georgia Justice Project
Prison Support Coordinator
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