A Female Re-entry Program
Joyce Thornton was inspired by her own experiences when she started 180 Degree About Face in 2015.
After being arrested on a drug charge, she spent six months in a boot camp. When she came home, no one believed that she could be a nurse. But she got her license. Soon, she started out helping other women doing prison ministry at the Fayette County Prison.
The 180 Degree About Face program provides counseling, spiritual support, workforce development and family reunification services to women recently released from prison. Thornton and community volunteers donate volunteer hours and donations to keep the program funded.
In 2017, the program was moved to a retro-fitted church building in McCllelandtown. The facility offers 5-6 bedrooms, fully functional kitchen, spacious grounds, office space, and meeting rooms. It is located conveniently on the bus line.
The overall goal of the re-entry program is to help reduce the rate of recidivism among female offenders by offering temporary housing and support to women who have been incarcerated, drug addicted or looking to turn their lives away from a negative situation.
Joyce Thornton learned about the Community Foundation of Fayette County when her husband brought home a copy of the organization’s annual report. She read about the organization’s grantmaking program and applied for funding. She received a grant in the spring of 2018 to help with operational expenses.
“I just want to help. People in the community don’t have enough knowledge about the program. It is my personal goal to pay forward to help these women a better way of life. The sober and non-sober communities need to know that this organization is a beacon of help,” said Joyce
