I chose to intern at Lionheart because of their mission statement, “At the core of everything we do is the belief that all human life has value, inherent worth, dignity, and resiliency.” The things we do on our worst days does not have to define our entire lives. The Lionheart Foundation gives people who are incarcerated or juveniles that are entangled in our decrepit justice system the tools to make the most of their time through social and emotional literacy, developing self-awareness, healing, and inner peace.

My primary responsibilities included researching The Lionheart Foundations “digital footprint” by collecting and analyzing sources that reference The Lionheart Foundation and their programs. I worked closely with Ms. Jeanne in updating and ensuring accuracy of source database so that appropriate information is available to the public.

My experience with The Lionheart Foundation was incredibly motivating and inspiring. I learned so much from Ms. Amanda and Ms. Jeanne and how the Lionheart programs help so many people who are incarcerated, in juvenile justice system, in residential housing, young mothers and even the direct care personnel who work with them. In Houses of Healing, you can read the stories of people who have utilized the methods offered in these programs and the positive impact they’ve had on their lives. Offering the Making Time Count workbook in conjunction with the Houses of Healing book to the most vulnerable people who are in solitary confinement is an invaluable resource to focus the mind and body under such debilitating conditions. Instead of focusing on the myriad problems within our judicial system, my experience at The Lionheart Foundation really opened my eyes to some solutions to those problems through restorative justice practices and programs like those offered at The Lionheart Foundation. I am so grateful to Ms. Jeanne and Ms. Amanda for the opportunity to volunteer at such an amazing organization with such a powerful message and mission.

I feel incredibly grateful to be able to contribute to Lionheart’s mission. For me, Lionheart’s ideology is so compelling because it can be applied to so many people in high-risk settings, and it focuses on improvement and forward-looking solutions. I felt instantly inspired when I first watched the introduction videos on the website and saw the profound impacts that Lionheart has had on people who have utilized Houses of Healing, Power Source, and their other resources.The Lionheart team had a clear vision of what needed to be done and when it needed to be completed. This made it easier for me to support them and complete the conversion in a relatively short amount of time.