NGO Funding Request


The recipient entity's full legal name:  Reentry Mediation Institute of Louisiana

The recipient entity's physical address:
           P.O. Box 4252
Shreveport, Louisiana 71104


The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           P.O. Box 4252
Shreveport, La 71104


Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0898

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $300,000

What type of request is this?  Both

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Jack Ward
Legal Name: Louis Lagarde
Louislagarde71793@gmail.com
504-295-5060
Rev. Dr. Bruce McClue
Jules Griff
New Orleans Community-Police Mediation Program Director
Lisa Ellis
Alison McCrary, President
Sister Alison McCrary is a social justice attorney, a criminal justice reform advocate, community
mediator, and a Spiritual Advisor on Louisiana’s death row.
Curtis Davis, Executive Director


Provide a summary of the project or program:
           The Re-Entry Mediation Institute of Louisiana seeks to decrease recidivism rates and improve a person’s transition home from incarceration with the sustainable support of positive relationships with loved ones.
Mediations: We will conduct mediations inside the Department of Correction facilities in Louisiana.

Mediation Trainings: We will train formerly incarcerated people and other directly impacted people to serve as mediators in the Department of Corrections facilities through a high quality 50-hour mediation training program with monthly in-service trainings and an apprenticeship program. We plan to offer an annual training of 12 new mediators each year representing the diversity and geography of Louisiana.

Job Creation: Trained mediators will have the opportunity to apply as staff for the program and serve as a full time paid mediator and intake specialist for the program. We anticipate the hiring of 3-5 new mediators per year.

Mediations: We will conduct mediations inside the Department of Correction facilities in Louisiana.

Mediation Trainings: We will train formerly incarcerated people and other directly impacted people to serve as mediators in the Department of Corrections facilities through a high quality 50-hour mediation training program with monthly in-service trainings and an apprenticeship program. We plan to offer an annual training of 12 new mediators each year representing the diversity and geography of Louisiana.

Job Creation: Trained mediators will have the opportunity to apply as staff for the program and serve as a full time paid mediator and intake specialist for the program. We anticipate the hiring of 3-5 new mediators per year.


What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $230,000
          Professional Services. . . $70,000
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $0
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          The Re-Entry Mediation Institute of Louisiana seeks to decrease recidivism rates and improve a person’s re-entry home from incarceration through sustainable supports that prioritize the critical elements of relationships, mental health, and self-determination.
The Mediation Institute trains formerly incarcerated people and other directly-impacted people as professional mediators through a 50-hour high quality performance-based training and certification program. The Institute ensures a confidential meeting space in the prison. We assign two mediators to co-facilitate a frank and honest dialogue between an inmate and their loved one 6-12 months before the inmate’s release to make plans about housing, jobs, addiction recovery, and anything else important to them. This is often the first time they have spoken with each other in decades.
In a mediation, two mediators explain the process, gather information, and brainstorm solutions to topics that form a written agreement. Sometimes there are lingering conflicts from before the incarceration or different expectations around re-entry. Our goal is to have re-entry mediation established in every Louisiana Department of Corrections facility.
Mediation is a short-term intervention with long-term impact. Recidivism rates decrease with each mediation session. By rebuilding relationships between inmates and their loved ones, we tap into the resources indigenous to the community, strengthen these connections, and allow for collaborative transition planning. The process helps all people feel heard and understood and come up with their own solutions.


What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Facts & Figures
REMILA
100% of staff is directly impacted by the criminal justice system
50% of board formerly incarcerated, other 50% has immediate family either currently or formerly incarcerated
Diverse leadership
LA
50,000 people from LA are behind bars (Dec 2018)
Rates of imprisonment in LA have doubled 1978-2015
Mediation and Health
Mediation is a short-term intervention with long-term impact on mental health
Process helps all people feel heard and understood and come up with their own solutions
Mediation and Recidivism
Recidivism rates decrease with each mediation session
Even just one 2-hour mediation, can make the following impact:
Mediation reduces probability of arrest by 13%, each additional session reduces by 8%
Mediation reduces probability of conviction by 15%, each additional session reduces by 9%
Mediation reduces probability of being sentenced to incarceration again by 10%, each additional session reduces by 7%
Once someone has returned to prison, mediation reduces probability of returning by 12%
By rebuilding relationships between inmates and their loved ones, we tap into the resources indigenous to the community, strengthen these connections, and allow for collaborative transition planning


What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           We will need three years to demonstrate statistics that prove our program will reduce recidivism in Louisiana.

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/A
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/A

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 0

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  0

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/A

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/A

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/A

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/A

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 N/A

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               N/A


Contact Information
name:  Curtis Davis 
                                       address:  P.O. Box 4252
                                       phone:  5043234590
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  reentrymediationinstitute@gmail.com
                                       relationship to entity:  Executive Director