As a child, your parents likely told you who you could and couldn’t hang out with. If you’re a parent now, you’re likely concerned with who your children are spending their time around. Parents have a desire for their kids to hang around other good kids — kids that will have a positive impact on their children.

As adults, it should be no different. Being around a group of like-minded, driven individuals can play a huge role in your success. Throughout your annual journey of completing your goals, you must cultivate a support system around you of individuals who can push you, hold you accountable, and are driven to accomplish their own goals.

Similar Journeys

No one is starting from the same position as you are. Everyone was brought up differently and in various environments.

But if you can find a community that is working towards the same thing you are — such as a group that is on a fitness journey together — you want to involve yourself in that environment.

Surrounding yourself with people who will push you, hold you accountable, and chase the same goals as you will help propel you to the finish line and make the journey that much more special.

Peer Partnering

If you can find a like-minded person or group, everyone becomes invested in one another. You’re invested in keeping this peer on track and vice versa.

Find someone and say, “Let's have a regular rhythm. Let's meet and hold each other accountable.” Be willing to ask the tough questions (and answer them honestly). Understand that this form of accountability will play a critical role in helping you achieve your biggest ambitions.

Together, utilize the tools of the 4-1-1. Consistently go back and track your progress. Be willing to adjust your goals if it’s needed and never give up on one another.

Find that person to climb to the top of the mountain with and then find an even bigger mountain to hike next.

There’s nothing that is out of reach if you are willing to put the time and effort into chasing it. Limiting your beliefs and telling yourself you can’t do something is a quick path to the bottom.

As we begin the second month of 2024, it’s time to take accountability for your progress throughout January.

After 25 years in prison, 17 of them on death row, Jesse Johnson finally walked out of Marion County Jail in Oregon as a free man.

In 2004, Johnson was convicted of murdering 28-year-old Harriet Thompson in a Salem apartment. He maintained his innocence throughout his legal battle, turning down plea deals that would have resulted in less time served.

The Oregon Innocence Project began working on Johnson’s case in 2014. They shared that they faced strong resistance from the Marion County district attorney and the Attorney General when trying to conduct further DNA testing on the crime scene evidence that could have shed light on what truly happened that night in 1998.

They also shared statements of blatant racism by a detective involved in the case. The detective reportedly discouraged a neighbor from sharing that she witnessed a white man running away from the scene on the night of the murder because, as he regarded it: “A n— died, a n— is going to pay for it.”

Despite a complete lack of critical evidence in the case, it has taken 25 years for the Marion County District Attorney's Office to dismiss the charges against Johnson.

The community's support is now crucial to help Mr. Johnson rebuild his life. To support Johnson’s re-entry into society, consider donating to his GoFundMe campaign.

Re-entry after incarceration has many barriers and obstacles. Individuals exiting the correctional system are inconsistently prepared for re-entry. Many are disconnected from the reality of how to live and lack knowledge of what resources are available.

We recommend The Returning Citizens Survival Guide as a resource for this transition. The guide covers logistics on fundamental needs, as well as stories that spark inspiration and hope. For every Guide ordered, a copy will be gifted to a currently incarcerated person.

To learn more about supporting citizens returning from incarceration in Oregon, follow us on Instagram or visit our website at changingpatternsinc.org.

Tuesday, 08/22/23

--Woman incarcerated in CCCF

Extreme heat is not only a concern for the general population but also poses a unique and grave risk to incarcerated individuals, particularly those suffering from behavioral health conditions. The United States holds over 2.1 million incarcerated people, a disproportionately high number of whom experience mental health challenges. Suicide, sadly, stands as one of the leading causes of death within the prison population. A recent study conducted in a Deep South US prison system sheds light on the alarming connections between extreme heat, solitary confinement, and the prevalence of suicidal behaviors among incarcerated men.

The study's results illuminate a stark and disturbing connection between extreme heat and suicide incidents within the prison system. Compared to days with temperatures ranging between 60 and 69°F, the rate of daily suicide incidents surged by 36% when reaching extreme caution levels (90-103°F)...Keep reading.

Monday, 08/21/23

--Bryan Stevenson

A new report by the Women's Justice Project (WJP) has brought to light a distressing reality that has long been hidden within the confines of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) - Oregon's only women's prison. The report features stories of inmates incarcerated at CCCF, offering a stark glimpse into an environment marked by suffering, despair, and allegations of worsening conditions....Keep reading.

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