Changing Lives One Release At A Time
ABOUT
THE FREEDOM GRANTED INITIATIVE
The Freedom Granted Initiative fights to combat the hardships faced by those transitioning from prison.
OUR FOUNDER
Maurie A. Spooner founded the Freedom Granted Initiative, Inc. in the Fall of 2020 and currently serves as the Executive Director. Receiving her Bachelor of Science in Political Science from the University of Houston, her passion and commitment to the City of Houston has been evident throughout her professional endeavors. She has worked in local government where she previously managed the City’s Professional Service Selections Program for potential vendors seeking to improve and provide innovative solutions for Houston’s infrastructure.
She partners with various Houston nonprofits dedicated to breaking the cycle of crime. Maurie is a criminal and social justice crusader empowering those who have been stripped of their voice. She believes that without empathy we cannot achieve meaningful policy changes that ensure our communities are safe, our families are whole, and our economy is strong.
The criminal justice system was designed for rehabilitation yet fails far too many; At FGI we believe that we must afford our returning citizens a fair chance at reaching their full potential if we aspire to create a society that is truly reflective of the criminal justice system’s intended mission.
WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO
The Freedom Granted Initiative was established in an effort to combat the hardships faced by those transitioning from prison, a population of people which are disproportionately people of color.
THE BREAKDOWN
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The United States is home to 5% of the world’s population yet we house 25% of the world’s prisoners
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Black people only comprise 13% of the U.S. population, yet 42% of boys and 35% of girls within juvenile facilities are Black
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One out of every three black males born today can expect to be sentenced to prison, compared to one out of six Latino males and one out of seventeen white males.
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Formerly incarcerated people are almost 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public
With holistic wrap-around services such as counseling, classes in family reunification, job training, and placement we can create a society where those released from prison can live full productive lives becoming contributing members of their community; securing meaningful employment, adequate housing, and education & skills necessary for advancement.
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal or acts to improve the lot of others or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope."
-Robert Kennedy