An independent 501(c)3, Houston: reVision was created in 2012 through a groundbreaking partnership between St. Luke's United Methodist Church, St. Martin's Episcopal Church, and the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department.
Houston: reVision works with youth enmeshed at every point of the school-to-prison pipeline — teens in trouble at school, in juvenile detention, on probation — as well as "certified" youth in adult prison. Intervening in the lives of male and female youth of all ethnicities, reVision has come into contact with hundreds of youth whose pathway into the criminal justice system began in their home schools, where they found themselves suspended, removed to alternative schools, and arrested and expelled.
Many of our system-involved youth are also in the foster care system, experiencing homelessness, are refugees, or are gang-affected. There is no other organization in Harris County with the capacity, expertise, and existing relationships to access this difficult-to-reach population. By connecting one kid at a time to caring adults, positive peers and a program that works, they offer disconnected youth the opportunity to revision hopeful pathways. Since its founding, Houston: reVision has grown to serve more than 1,100 youth per year with the help of over 400 volunteers.
The staff of trained professionals provides comprehensive and sustained training, resources, matching, and ongoing support to hundreds of faithful, caring adults who serve in a variety of roles, including mentors. A reVision mentor builds a caring, consistent, relational connection with a youth while he she is detained, on probation, or involved in the school-based program. Mentors help youth transition successfully from system involvement, providing encouragement, support, and positive role-modeling.
The first step is a willingness to be a someone to a kid who has no one. On the last two Thursdays of every month, they host orientation and training sessions about disconnected youth and opportunities to get involved. The events are open to everyone and refreshments are provided.
They work with every youth (age 14-17) in the state of Texas who has been certified to stand trial as an adult or is currently serving an adult prison sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Youth serving adult sentences are incarcerated at the Ellis Unit in Huntsville. They match youth with mentors, write them letters, and send them birthday cards. Once a month, they travel to Huntsville (transportation provided) for the First Friday program, bringing kids pizza and hope through art, music, and dance projects.
For more information on how to participate, email carrie@houstonrevision.org. The reVision staff are experts on issues involving the school-to-prison pipeline and other issues specific to the juvenile justice system. Request a speaker for your church, school, or other civic group at sean@houstonrevision.org.
CommUnity Night is a weekly gathering at reVision's southwest Houston headquarters on the Gethsemane Campus of St. Luke's United Methodist Church. Every Thursday from 7-9:30 pm, nearly 100 youth, volunteers, and community supporters gather to share a free hot meal prepared by volunteers, and cheer on hip-hop, breakdance and krumpers during dance battles.
Each April also brings about the Radical Revisionaries Luncheon fundraising event.