Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Dr. Thomas Snow, CEO of Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry (TPOM), and Mary McCrary, Development and Recruitment Specialist, who both highlight the organization’s work supporting individuals re-entering society after incarceration. Dr. Snow explains how TPOM began in 1963 as a church-based ministry and transitioned to an independent nonprofit organization in 2013, now operating transitional housing facilities for men and women in Nashville and partnering with HopeWorks in Memphis. The discussion covers TPOM’s comprehensive reentry services including mental health counseling, case management, workforce development, and mentorship programs, with Mary sharing her personal experience as someone transformed by the organization’s support.
Thomas explains that incarceration rates in Tennessee have increased due to longer sentencing and the elimination of parole, leading to prison overcrowding and the use of local jails for state inmates. He describes how volunteers from TPOM visit prisons and county jails to teach Bible classes, life skills, and provide mentoring to build relationships with inmates before their release. Thomas and Mary discuss the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals, particularly their lack of trust due to past trauma and broken promises. They emphasize the importance of consistent volunteer engagement to build trust and Thomas mentions a personal experience of mentoring someone for 5 months before they opened up.
Thomas discusses their organization’s housing facilities for people reentering society after prison, including a 20-bed facility for women, a 16-bed facility for men, and a 9-bed step-down unit. He explains that housing is crucial for successful reentry, as many people cannot return home and are given one-way bus tickets with unreliable transportation. Thomas also outlines their holistic approach to reentry support, which includes licensed mental health services, case management, workforce development, and educational opportunities through laptop provision for returning to college.
Mary shares her personal experience going through the program and then highlights the Morgan House, a women’s step-down housing program designed to provide affordable, long-term residential support for women who have graduated from the program but face significant housing challenges due to criminal records, poor credit, and lack of rental history. Mary explains that the house aims to help women build community, establish stability, and save money toward independent housing while preventing them from returning to problematic environments.
Thomas discusses the various ways the community can support their ministry efforts, highlighting the need for volunteers and mentioning that they have around 500 volunteers. He explains that volunteer training is conducted bi-monthly, lasting 4 hours and covering topics such as understanding the challenges faced by incarcerated individuals, recognizing manipulation, and learning how to be effective mentors and encouragers. Thomas emphasizes that while volunteers are not there to tell mentees how to live, they play a crucial role in supporting and listening to them.
Thomas discusses TPOM’s therapeutic camp program for children with parents in prison, which provides full scholarships for a week-long outdoor experience at Old Hickory Lake. He explains that the camp connects children who are going through similar situations and includes therapeutic support from counselors. Thomas also shares the website www.tpom.org as a resource for people interested in getting involved with Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry, which is also active on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
Visit https://www.tpom.org/ to learn more and connect with Tennessee Prison Outreach Ministry.
