OUR STORY
Imagine if you spent your teenage years incarcerated.
If you were released into the community on your 18th birthday, would you know where to go? Or how to get there? Would you know how to get the documents you will need to work? Would you know where to connect to resources? Would you know a trustworthy adult who could help you if you had questions? If you struggled, would you know how to connect to a lifeline? If you were on your own and making positive decisions, would you want someone to tell you that they were proud of you and encourage you to keep going?
These questions are the reality for youth who age out of juvenile justice facilities. Some youth spend their childhood in the system. Through the years of ministering and volunteering at Adobe Mountain School, the local juvenile prison, I have heard their stories. A few years ago, an aged out youth shared they were considering re-offending in order to access resources and safe housing in the adult correctional system. I started doing research locally and nationally to see what programs existed for youth who age out of juvenile corrections. I found a limited number of programs who establish relationships with youth while incarcerated and then provide connection to services once they age out of juvenile corrections. If the recidivism rate is so high between juvenile corrections and adult corrections, why not create a non-profit to serve this gap?
In 2019, God put into motion a full vision for Hope In Motion (HIM), a ministry-based non-profit. While mentoring and running church services inside of the local juvenile prison, volunteers came together to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Since 2019, we have gone wherever there is an identified need for aged out youth who reach out. Hope In Motion has responded to parks, parking lots, homes, churches, courtrooms, baby showers, and memorial services. We have prayed in cars and parking lots. We have provided resources on 18th birthdays and Bibles to youth who are released from the facility. We held our first event where aged out youth came from all over AZ to connect for a few hours. We piloted and completed our first round of life skills programming for the girls’ unit at the local juvenile prison, where every girl received a completed resume and certificate.
God’s unconditional love is the basis for Hope In Motion and our goal is for everything we do to point to HIM, because it is through Him that all of this is possible. Hope In Motion is an official 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
Our Mission:
We are a ministry-based organization who provide hope, encouragement, trauma-informed care, life skills training, mentorship, and community re-entry support to youth who will be aging out of juvenile corrections and youth who have aged out of juvenile corrections.
Our Vision:
We are a Christian-based organization and come from all walks of life to share God’s unconditional love for incarcerated youth and aged out youth. Our Kingdom vision is for youth to emerge as leaders in their communities, peer groups, and families as generational strongholds are broken. Hope In Motion is an acronym of HIM, because our vision is for all we do to point to Him.
Our Program Goals:
- To provide life skills training and mentorship to youth who are currently incarcerated.
- To provide transitional resources on the day a youth ages out of juvenile corrections, including a personalized Bible in addition to the personalized resource lists.
- To reduce the recidivism rate between juvenile corrections and adult corrections by providing continued community re-entry support through mentoring and connection to resources and churches post release.
OUR LEADERSHIP
Elizabeth Michaelis, LMSW
Founder and Director of Hope In Motion
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Elizabeth was inspired as a teenager by the community work her mother did at the Thomas J. Pappas School for Homeless Children and Lions Club International. Elizabeth became a LMSW with the goal to make a difference in the life of someone every day. A professional social worker and a strong woman of faith, she has seen God move in incredible ways in the lives of the youth at Adobe Mountain School. She is continuously in awe of God’s provision, the incredible volunteers, and the stories of the resilient youth.
Vanessa May
Co-Founder, Life Skills Program Facilitator & Outreach Coordinator
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Vanessa May obtained her AA with an emphasis in communications. She is a Certified Life Coach and an active volunteer at Adobe Mountain School. As a former juvenile, who has been through the Arizona group home system, Vanessa has a passion for youth of all walks of life and believes in empowering them to use every opportunity and/or set-back as a catalyst to their purpose. She is a strong woman of faith who stands firm that there is power in sharing each and every young adult’s story. She values every life trial as momentum for positive transformation, she pursues wisdom by seeking guidance, and she stands firm that there is strength in community support. “Ask, see, knock, and you will find.” (Matthew 7:7, AMP)
Rachel Sloma
Co-Founder, Life Skills Group Facilitator & Outreach Coordinator
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Rachel is a wife and mom of 3. She recognized a passion for teens and prison ministry while visiting a childhood friend in prison. She has completed coursework in childhood trauma and mentoring women in crisis. She has been blessed to minister at Adobe Mountain School for 3 years. She loves engaging with teens to help with life and family skills all while showing them the love and hope that can be found in the redeeming power of Jesus.
Community Partners
Hope In Motion is a member of the Every Youth Every Facility Coalition. We value every connection that has been made with juvenile justice ministries, community nonprofits, and organizations.