Successful Redemption
Our First Presentation at the Minnesota Corrections Association Conference
The Redemption Project (TRP) reached an important milestone in our journey of transformation and second chances. For the first time, we were invited to present at the Minnesota Corrections Association (MCA) Annual Training Institute, held October 28–30 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, Minnesota.
For those unfamiliar, the MCA is a statewide organization that has been serving Minnesota’s corrections professionals since 1933. Every year, the Association brings together hundreds of people from correctional facilities, probation, parole, community supervision, and reentry programs to learn, share, and collaborate. It’s a gathering of people who are deeply committed to public safety, justice, and, perhaps most importantly, hope.
Our presentation was titled “Successful Redemption.” I was honored to present alongside our Board Chair Mikhail Rostislavovich, volunteer Ann Staloch, and one of our own success stories, Dave Snider, a TRP Associate who graduated from our Virtues for Success™ program and now works for us.
From the start, we wanted our session to feel different, less like a lecture and more like a conversation. So, we kicked things off with a few icebreakers. The first was a fun round of “Would You Rather”, a game that got people laughing and thinking about how we make choices, sometimes small, sometimes life-changing. Later, we followed it up with a group activity called “Common Grounds.” Watching corrections officers, educators, and nonprofit staff find unexpected connections reminded us that shared humanity is the foundation of everything we do.
Those moments of laughter and camaraderie set the tone for deeper discussion. Standing next to Dave as he shared his story was one of those moments that brings everything we do into focus. Our work begins where incarceration ends. We help men and women rebuild their lives through character development, workforce readiness, and relationships built on trust and accountability. Seeing Dave go from sitting in one of our classes to standing beside us as a colleague is redemption in action.
At the conference, we shared how TRP’s model of personal transformation connects the work happening inside correctional facilities to what happens after release. We spoke about how our Virtues for Success™ curriculum provides practical tools for change, like emotional regulation, responsibility, and goal setting, and how our Senior Partner network and community partners ensure that support continues long after a person leaves prison.
As Mikhail said during the conference, “It was an honor to represent The Redemption Project among Minnesota’s corrections professionals. We believe collaboration between institutions and community partners is essential to reducing recidivism. When people are given tools for personal transformation and a network of support, the outcome is not just rehabilitation, it’s restoration.”
That spirit of collaboration was felt throughout the event. We connected with professionals from across the state who share a vision for what’s possible when we see people for who they can become, not just what they’ve done.
I’m deeply grateful to the Minnesota Corrections Association for allowing us to share our story and our approach. This was our first time presenting at MCA, but it won’t be our last. The energy, dialogue, and openness of this community remind us that transformation is a team effort. Together, we’re rewriting the narrative of what second chances can look like in Minnesota.
To everyone who continues to walk alongside us, our staff, volunteers, Associates, and community partners, thank you. You are proof that redemption is not just a possibility; it’s a process worth investing in.
If you’d like to learn more about The Redemption Project and how you can get involved, visit Overview — The Redemption Project or follow us on social media for updates on our programs, events, and impact stories.
Thanks,
Dwight