People deserve a real opportunity to rebuild.
Rising to Freedom Inc. is a Florida nonprofit focused on supporting individuals and families impacted by incarceration through mentorship, re-entry guidance, practical assistance and community connections.
Our story
For more than six years, Rosey Bailey Hawes volunteered and mentored incarcerated individuals across Florida. She repeatedly encountered the same concern: people serving long sentences could reach release with nowhere stable to live and few resources to help them restart.
Families were also carrying financial, emotional and practical burdens. Some individuals had strong advocates. Others had almost no support network at all.
After many conversations with her son, Shawn, Rosey was inspired to build an organization that could help bridge those gaps. Rising to Freedom Inc. grew from that vision.
Our mission
To support individuals and families impacted by incarceration with mentorship, re-entry resources, practical assistance and community connections that strengthen the pathway toward stability and independence.
Our approach
- Treat people with dignity and respect.
- Focus on practical barriers to successful re-entry.
- Connect individuals and families to available community resources.
- Build partnerships that expand opportunity and support.
- Be transparent about what we provide directly and what we provide through referrals or relationships.