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We are More than a Story ...
We are a Movement

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Who We Are 

Nation Outside, is a statewide grassroots and advocacy organization entirely led by the justice impacted and formerly incarcerated.  Our mission is to drive policy and practice innovation that builds transformative systems of support for justice impacted
families and communities.

The Voice of the Formerly Incarcerated

Nation Outside (NO) represents the over 2 million Michigan families impacted by the criminal legal system. We call ourselves the voice of the formerly incarcerated because, collectively, our staff has over 350 years of lived experience within state and federal correctional institutions. The foundation of our work at NO is about challenging stigma, breaking barriers, amplifying voices, and empowering communities. 

 

We have a growing base of over 6,300 directly impacted members and allies ready to take action in our 11 regional chapters spanning the state; Valley Girls - for women returning home from Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Detroit, Flint, Lansing, Traverse City, Kalamazoo, Jackson, Grand Rapids, Muskegon, Ionia, and Washtenaw County.

"Nation Outside is empowering people with lived experience to reengage fully as citizens in our democracy and have a voice in policies that impact them and their communities." 

- Allan Wachendorfer

Empower

Reduce Stigma

Change

Policy

What can
you do?

Our voice is as strong as our members, join the movement today! Receive the Nation Outside newsletter to hear of events, policy updates, and stories of our members.

Attend a Nation Outside meeting, volunteer at an event, forward the newsletter to your own networks to share the success stories of formers.
 

We are a new and still developing organization and we need your help to build capacity! Donate today to Nation Outside to directly support formers and criminal justice reform efforts in Michigan.

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