Research & Donations

Laying the Foundation: The Research Behind Our Work

From the first brick to the expansion—where vision built the mission that stands TODAY!

“Join the movement—we are here to serve. Together, we can make a global impact. Donate or volunteer.

Every brick we lay strengthens our foundation to transform one life, one family, one community at a time.”

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

“Did You Know?”

Recidivism

Understanding the Cycle of Justice Reinvolvement

Did you know that most individuals who enter the prison system come from environments marked by limited education, low-income living conditions, and weak social support systems?

Research shows that these factors often shape behavior long before incarceration begins.

According to national data, within three years of release, nearly two-thirds of formerly incarcerated individuals are rearrested — and within five years, nearly three-fourths face new charges. This ongoing cycle is not just about crime; it’s about broken foundations — of opportunity, education, and connection.

At LNKPWA, we’re rebuilding those foundations — brick by brick — providing the tools, support, and community needed to break the cycle and construct a pathway toward lasting change.

Depression/Anxiety

Women & Mental Health

Research shows that depression and anxiety are most prevalent among women today. Studies indicate that 1 in 2 women go undiagnosed, and 1 in 8 will experience depression in their lifetime—a rate nearly double that of men.

Many suffer in silence, balancing family, work, and emotional burdens that often go unseen. Common signs include:

• Insomnia or oversleeping

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Lack of energy or concentration

• Low self-esteem and self-worth

• Guilt, shame, sadness, or emptiness

• Anger and resentment

We recognize that healing begins by rebuilding from within—addressing emotional foundations and providing the support women need to rise strong, whole, and renewed.

Studies show that most felons have a desire to work, but the odds of finding a job after prison are slim to none. Being unemployed or underemployed is a likelihood of post release. With the combination of the two, most ex-offenders do not reform. Surveys show that ex-offenders make up a high percentage of the unemployment rate. This percentage reflects the first two years of release and makes up more than one-fourth of the population.

Systemic Barriers to Employment

Key Factors Limiting Job Opportunities

Studies show, most formerly incarcerated individuals have a strong desire to work, yet finding stable employment after release remains a significant challenge. Employers’ hesitancy to hire individuals with criminal records, combined with limited access to training and job placement resources, often leads to unemployment or underemployment. Within the first two years of release, ex-offenders make up more than one-fourth of the nation’s unemployed population. This lack of meaningful work not only affects financial stability but also hinders successful reintegration and increases the risk of recidivism. Providing equitable access to jobs, mentorship, and skill-building opportunities is essential to breaking these cycles and supporting long-term community and personal stability.

Served 2500+

LNKPWA’s reach extends to individuals and families through trauma-informed and justice-informed group workshops,

individual training, and community support designed to promote healing, growth, and long-term stability.

The Evidence That Strengthens Our Structure

Since our founding, LNKPWA’s model has evolved from a focused mission supporting women impacted by incarceration to a comprehensive framework that empowers individuals, strengthens families, and transforms entire communities. By integrating trauma-informed care, leadership development, community engagement, and financial literacy, we prepare participants for success while fostering lasting transformation across the neighborhoods we serve.

Over the past eight years, LNKPWA has expanded from serving women connected to the incarcerated and veterans into an all-inclusive organization supporting entire families, local communities, and even global initiatives. To date, we have impacted more than 2,500 individuals and families, enabling healing not just for individuals but for entire family units — because true transformation requires addressing the whole home.

Recognizing that prevention is as critical as intervention, we now also equip youth and adults with leadership skills, emotional regulation, and trauma-informed life habits, while raising community awareness to combat mental bondage, generational trauma, and injustice-informed cycles of poverty.

The need is urgent: globally, 1 in 7 adolescents aged 10–19 experience a mental disorder, highlighting the importance of preventive work. In the U.S., more than half of adults (51%) report a family member has faced a serious mental-health crisis, revealing the deep-reaching impact of trauma on families. Additionally, approximately 70% of U.S. adults have experienced some form of trauma in their lifetime — underscoring that investment in trauma-informed, justice-informed programming is not optional; it is essential.

At LNKPWA, we combine mental-health restoration, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship into a unified model. Through this holistic approach, families heal, participants gain stability, and lasting legacies are built — demonstrating the measurable impact and proven effectiveness of our evolving model.

Prevention and Community Empowerment

Recognizing that prevention is as critical as intervention, we equip youth with leadership skills, emotional regulation, and trauma-informed life habits early on, giving them the tools to navigate life’s challenges with resilience and confidence. Research shows that youth who receive social-emotional learning and trauma-informed support are 30–50% less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors and demonstrate higher academic and social outcomes. By fostering these skills at a young age, we aim to reduce the likelihood of future trauma, poor mental health outcomes, and involvement in the justice system.

At the same time, we actively raise community awareness and support, addressing the reality that nearly 70% of individuals report experiencing some form of trauma or chronic stress in their lifetime. By creating safe spaces and programs that are both trauma-informed and justice-informed, we help communities recognize, confront, and heal from generational patterns of poverty, injustice, and emotional distress.

Through this dual focus on youth prevention and community engagement, we not only prepare the next generation for success but also build a stronger foundation for lasting community transformation. For sponsors and partners, supporting these programs means investing in measurable outcomes—reduced youth risk factors, healthier families, and stronger, more resilient communities for years to come.

30–50%

Youth receiving social-emotional learning and trauma-informed support are 30–50% less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.

70%

Approximately 70% of individuals report experiencing some form of trauma or chronic stress in their lifetime.

51%

More than half of U.S. adults (51%) report a family member has experienced a serious mental-health crisis, highlighting intergenerational impact.

65%

Participants in community-based workshops and training report a 65% increase in social connections, mentorship opportunities, and access to supportive networks, strengthening both youth and adult resilience.

Be a Part of the Construction

Investment in trauma-informed, justice-informed programming is not optional — it’s essential. Become the "CHANCE" they need that they never had by donating financially or volunteering your time or talents with us. In the end, it's about making a difference, not how many years served or the crimes committed. Yet understanding we all make mistakes, they just got caught. Let's remove the judgment and stigmas and add value back into the lives of the people in our communities one family at a time. Let’s fight off these frustrations together and watch miracle happens.

DONATE TODAY AND CHANGE THE NEGATIVE NARRATIVE TOMORROW!

F.R.E.E.D.

Forget Reliving Experiences

that Entertain Defeat

1 Peter 5:6-7 New International Version (NIV)

6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Disclosure: LOCK-N-KEY is a support system designed solely for the woman to teach her how not to lose herself while helping her man to rebuild. At the same time, we assist her in making wise choices. We are not here to sell a dream for SUCCESS but to raise AWARENESS on how to be SUCCESSFUL after prison. Sadly, not every Prison Wife will have a happy ending. We are NOT a licensed therapy center. However, we are a living witness to the "AFTERMATH" after prison. We do not proclaim to know it all, but with research and personal experience, we know enough to know better (WISDOM). If a licensed therapist is needed, we can help pair you with someone in your area. We are here to help within reason, so stay CONNECTED!!

"Remember To Hold Onto Yourself While Holding Onto Him"