In a place where men are often defined by their worst mistake, something quietly countercultural happens each year at Graham Correctional Center in Illinois.

Men gather to learn about leadership.

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, Graham has been hosting the Global Leadership Summit since 2020, creating space for men inside the facility to learn about character, responsibility, vision and hope.  

For many, the impact is deeply personal. After attending the Summit, one man, Isaac, said, “Thank you for seeing us as people.”

Creating a Different Kind of Environment

Graham Correctional Center houses approximately 1,800 individuals, including men newly sentenced as well as those who might be there for life.  

“The mindset can be that prison is just a terrible place filled with terrible people,” says Denessa Armstrong, who was appointed Warden in January after serving as Assistant Warden of Programs. “It doesn't have to be that way. Statistically speaking, the majority of our population is going to go home, and I would like to send them home better than when they arrived."  

Erin Fuson, Graham’s Volunteer Services Coordinator, echoes that sentiment: “Traditionally, it's a negative environment” she says. “We're trying to redefine it. We can create spaces that are positive and where we celebrate everyone's progress, no matter who they are.”

Leadership is one of the avenues to do just that.  

Why Leadership Matters Behind Bars

At first glance, leadership development may seem like an unlikely fit for a correctional facility. But it is deeply relevant.  

“Leadership is not a position,” Fuson says. “It's about character. That hits home with the men here because a lot of the time, they feel powerless. [The Summit] gives them hope and reminds them that they do have influence over their own life, each other and their family.”

Through sessions on growth mindset, vision and values-based leadership, men are invited to see themselves not as finished stories, but as people still capable of growth and contribution.

One man, James, shared that the Summit challenged him to step out of isolation: “I’ve become an introvert, but I want to take the lead and make a stand for Christ.”  

Another, Joshua, reflected on the power of small, faithful habits: “I’ll continue focusing on the small, consistent habits that may one day lead to tremendous results.”  

For many participants, these ideas translate directly into action. Residents of Graham Correctional Center have the opportunity to participate in peer-led programs. Men tutor one another in math and literacy, lead civics classes, help orient new arrivals and help vets with job readiness. Fuson often meets the men involved in these programs at the Summit, and they are given opportunities to actively apply the lessons they learned.

A Shared Hope for the Future

When asked about their hope for Graham’s future, both leaders return to the same theme: culture.

"My hope is an overall cultural shift,” says Armstrong. “That men aren’t defined by their worst moments and that they leave here just a little bit better.”

Fuson’s hope is similar: “I hope they can look within themselves and identify the things that they need to work on and learn to lean on their strengths. I hope they realize their full potential.”

It’s a vision that aligns with the heart of the Summit — and with the gospel itself, that every person bears God’s image and no life is beyond His redemptive work.

As James reflected after attending: “You reached through all this razor wire with love.”

Because of supporters like you, that love will continue reminding men like Isaac, James and Joshua that their lives still have value, their influence still matters and God is not finished with them yet.

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