At Nation Outside, we believe that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution. As a movement led by individuals directly impacted by the criminal legal system, we’ve seen firsthand how returning to your community after incarceration can be overwhelming—especially in rural counties, where resources are often scattered across vast distances and peer support is nearly nonexistent.
That’s why we launched our Trauma-Informed Peer-Led Reentry (TIPLR) program in partnership with the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) in May 2024. TIPLR is the first program of its kind in the state, built by and for justice-impacted people, offering both hands-on support for individuals returning home and a workforce development pipeline for peer navigators. In under a year, we’ve already served more than 800 individuals across 55 counties, and we're just getting started.
So far, 97% of those we’ve worked with have successfully avoided reincarceration. That success is rooted in something we know well: the power of peer connection. Our peer navigators—many of whom have walked this journey themselves—meet returning citizens at the gates, transport them to their parole agents and housing placements, and help them access food, clothing, identification, and more. This pro-social support is the missing link in our reentry ecosystem, especially in rural Michigan, where isolation and limited services make returning home even harder.
Each navigator is trained through our state-certified Trauma-Informed Peer-Led Reentry Curriculum, equipping them to deliver culturally competent, healing-centered support. We don’t just offer jobs—we offer purpose. Our navigators earn a living wage, full health benefits, life insurance, and a 401(k), because we believe in honoring lived experience as expertise.
Last month, we presented to the Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee, seeking expanded funding to bring TIPLR to more rural counties and into the Upper Peninsula, where we’ve received strong interest from local officers and service providers. The message we’ve heard is clear: rural communities need us. They need peers who understand the trauma of incarceration, who know what it’s like to come home with no support, and who can walk alongside someone on their journey—not just for a day, but for the long haul.
What makes this work even more remarkable is our unlikely but powerful partnership with MDOC. By centering those most impacted and inviting government systems to share the table, we’ve shown what’s possible when you let directly impacted leaders take the lead. Together, we’ve built something that is transforming lives and communities across the state.
Expanding TIPLR into rural Michigan means more than scaling a program—it means building a movement of people who believe in second chances, in redemption, and in each other. We’re ready to answer the call.
By Cecilia Zavala, Executive Director, Nation Outside