WIXLIB

Fall 2021Welcome Back VolunteersAngela House volunteers are truly special people who care deeply aboutour residents. They support us in every way imaginable. Our volunteersare a diverse population of students, non-profit partners, church groups,corporate partners, members of the Houston recovery community andschool groups. Over the summer, the Angela House staff was overjoyedto hear from a number of our devoted individual and group volunteerswho wanted to come back in person to connect with our residents afterfifteen long months of Covid-19 caution.Soon after the March 2020 shut down, several of our volunteersskillfully shifted to offer Zoom classes and enriching activities forAngela House residents, but as one of our most loyal volunteers, MaggieCorcoran, said, “Getting to know the residents in person is such a joy!Friendly hello’s, questions asked and answered, love and support freelyexchanged - these are the makings of warm relationships. Volunteeringat Angela House is the most rewarding activity of my week!”The volunteers who asked to come back felt comfortable to return.According to long time-volunteer Karen Pepkin, “I chose to volunteerat Angela House because I believed in that mission and wanted to be apart of it. Unfortunately, Covid-19 prevented me from continuing, but Ialways intended to return when it was safe.”Our residents missed the volunteers just as much as the volunteersmissed our residents. Before the shut down, the women of AngelaHouse looked forward to the groups who brought special meals, gamenights and creative projects to do together. Most of all they missedmeeting other people who care about them and want to contribute totheir success.“Without fail, each time we visit we leave inspired by the honesty,courage and commitment of the residents,” said Amanda Craig, SpiritualFormation Director at Mercy Street. “The women have inspired uswith their resilience and hope and we treasure the time we have sharedtogether.”“It was such a privilege to be able to volunteer at Angela House thisfall,” stated Stewart Heatwole, Theology Department Chair at St. AgnesAcademy. “The connection between St. Agnes and Angela House issuch a meaningful one because of the alignment of our missions: weboth share the goal of offering a place of support for women so that theycan become the truest and most vibrant version of themselves.”

from the executive directorKristin GuineyIn September we celebrated a milestone twentyyears in the making. Angela House welcomedour 500th resident! For two decades, AngelaHouse has provided life-saving support tomarginalized and forgotten women returningto our community. As monumental as thismilestone is, we find ourselves celebratingspecial moments every day.B OA R D M E M B E R SMaureen GrafChairSharon Karam, RCJSSecretaryAdam SzczepznskiTreasurerIn the last twelve months seventeen residentshave graduated our program and moved toindependent living. Seven of the currentresidents have found full-time employment inour community.Stephen LoftinChair ElectIke AllenSusan BrownPhylliss Chappell, MDElaine EichelbergerRev. Sean HorriganLori HuffmanBeau KaleelMick KleinClaire MathewsMaureen O’Connell, OPTeri PetersonElda SmithKristin GuineyExecutive DirectorPaul AntolikEmeritusDewayne HahnEmeritusShelley RobsonEmeritusS TA F F M E M B E R SAllison ClevelandTeresa DoyleMolly HittingerSarah MabryCynthia MontezFlorence Thompson37WOM E NSE RV E DIN 20203,790S A F E N IG H T SW E R E SP E N T ATA N G E L A HOU SE I N 2 0 2 04546VOLU N T E E RHOU R S 15,000H E L P S P R OV I DET R A N SI T IONA LHOU SI N GA N D SU P P ORTSE RV IC E S F OR ON EF OR M E R LYI N C A RC E R AT E D WOM A NF OR ON E Y E A R2 Opening Doors - Angela House NewsletterEach woman’s journey at Angela House is basedon her individualized reentry plan with her casemanager which includes life skills training,mental health and substance abuse counselingand job skills development. Yet beyond theexpectations and resources, graduates tell usthat Angela House offers something far moreimportant: compassion, respect and lessonson self-worth. For women who feel brokenor angry by a life of unaddressed addictivebehavior and past trauma, changes may nothappen overnight, but residents with a mindsetfor change do learn new skills that empowerthem to overcome obstacles and create a stablelife for themselves and their families.The women at Angela House prove time andagain that the power of second chances cannotbe destroyed by shame, addiction, traumaor incarceration. In the end there is alwaysHOPE. When we stop the cycle of addictionand incarceration, we can realize generationalchange. We look forward to seeing what thenext twenty years holds for Angela House. Onething is certain: we will continue to providesanctuary for women rebuilding their lives andreimagining their futures.

from our board chairMaureen Graf / Board ChairGreetings Friends –The mission of Angela House is to successfully transitionwomen into society after incarceration.That is the aim of Angela House,every day and with every woman. Westrive to prepare women to build aproductive life and to reclaim the lifethat they deserve to live. How do weknow if that goal is being met, how dowe measure success? Watching thewomen’s journeys and seeing theglow of pride on their faces as theymake their way is certainly gratifying,but it’s the recidivism rate of AngelaHouse residents that tells a compellingstory. Put simply, recidivism refersto a person’s relapse into criminalbehavior fall too often findingthemselves back in prison. Notably, only 13% of AngelaHouse graduates have returned to incarceration which isa rate significantly lower than both the state (46%) andnational (68%) averages.Upon being released from prison, women immediatelyface structural barriers that prevent their successfulreentry into society: where to live, how to find a job,how to access physical and mental health care, and howto stay sober. It should come as no surprise that giventhese obstacles many women struggle and ultimately fail.But the women who come to Angela House are given achance to overcome those challengesby securing a safe place to live, acommunity of loving support, extensiveindividual and group counseling,focused attention on addiction recovery,efforts towards job readiness and anurturing of their own personal growth.For the last twenty years Angela Househas made these resources available atabsolutely no cost to the residents or tothe taxpayers of Texas. Indeed, everydollar spent at Angela House is throughthe generosity of individual donors andfoundations.The women of Angela House arelearning to live their best lives. This means a better,brighter future for them but also for the many othersthey are connected to . their spouses, parents, siblings,children and friends. It is our honor to be a part of theirsuccess story.My best,Maureen GrafSave the Date!Please be our guest at our annualOpening Doors LuncheonBenefitting Angela HouseTuesday, April 19, 2022New LocationThe Junior League1811 Briar Oaks LaneHouston, Texas 77027We look forward to seeing you!For more information emailmhittinger@angelahouse.org3 Opening Doors - Angela House Newsletter

The Race For a Better Life.The residents of Angela House spent the summerpreparing for a 5K race thanks to trainers from BelInizio (Italian for beautiful beginning), a Houston nonprofit that has worked with women from many partneragencies to developself-confidence andlife skills throughfitness and nutrition.The ultimate goal isto train participantsto finish a 5K (threemile) course whichhelps prepare themfor the ultimate race-the race for a betterlife.Angela House resident, Joey B., had a previous spinalinjury and doubted she was capable of walking 3 miles.Bel Inizio Founderand Executive Director, Theresa Strong, and ProgramManager, Mika Foster, along with their volunteersworked out with Angela House residents two morningseach week adding distance to their walk or run or amore challeging exercise class each time.On race day, September3rd at the Purple Monkey 5K in Alvin EVERY teammember finished the 5K, faster than ever in training!According to Ms. Strong, “When Bel Inizio begantraining with the women of Angela House, we felt aspirit which was strong, willing and powerful. Theteam bonded and grew eventually naming themselvesthe “Savage Queens.”6 Opening Doors - Angela House Newsletter“Mika, from Bel Inizio was amazing, she was a motivator,then a congratulator. Shealways made me feel Iwas doing such a good jobthat I couldn’t wait to getto the finish line becauseshe was there cheeringfor me. I was able to feelmy body strengthen andit feels really good to dothat after years of abuse.And I am super proud ofmyself.”“On the day of the race it felt great to be a part ofsomething, to give back since the race was for acharitable cause,” said Angela House resident, JessicaT. “I love to go out with Angela House and represent. Ilike to show everybody that we are growing every day.”

Jessica T.It has been 7 yearssince I have beenemployed. Now, Ihave a full-time jobthat I love. I workas a server at Katz’sDeli in Montrose.There was a time in my life that Ithought I wouldn’t be able to get a joband become self-sufficient. Through hardwork at Angela House, I have learnedthat balancing recovery, work and selfcare are key to a successful future. TodayI am truly grateful for the changes in mylife.Angela House Sucess StoriesJoey B.I am so blessed to be here becausenot only has Angela House helped melearn how to live my life in recovery,but also, how to move toward mygoals and dreams while staying sober.I have not been employed in over 13years and didn’t have the confidence toeven go on an interview. I am currentlyworking at MOD Pizza. Thank youso much to everyone at Angela House, staff, residents, andsupporters, you are making my dreams come true.Houston Dash GameBig Texas Rally for RecoveryNicole W.Since living here atAngela House, I havegotten a job at Katz’sDeli and enrolled in thewelding program at HCC.I could not have done anyof this without the helpfrom Angela House staff.Angela House has helpedme gain confidence andknow my self worth. Eachday is a new opportunityand I strive to make itcount.Brazen Tables graduation at 2nd CupAmber K.Angela House has given meevery tool needed for success. After taking an eightweek culinary course throughBrazen Table, I was able toget a job at A 2nd Cup as aprep cook. I also have a part-timejob as an author's assistant.Sherita’snew apartment!Katie H.When I came to Angela House, I had an opportunity toearn a culinary certificate from the Brazon Table Program. I was hired by A 2nd Cup, a local coffee shopwhose mission is to train and employ people who havebarriers to employment. I have learned how to makeeverything on the menu from scratch.Danielle R.Angela House has helped meto come out of my shell. Wehave a strong sisterhood inthe house. I participate in aprogram that offers free tattoo removal to increase our employmentopportunities. I have been working atMOD Pizza for the last few months.7 Opening Doors - Angela House Newsletter