Program for ex-offenders honored for its work

One Stop Ministries plans to open a transitional home for ex-offenders.

The founder of a nonprofit helping ex-offenders reintegrate into their communities has been honored with the Martin Luther King Keeping the Dream Alive award.

Gloria Smith, founder of One Stop Ministries, was honored by the American Business Women’s Association last month.

One Stop Ministries has a mission of reintegrating ex-offenders into their communities for the sake of their families and society. It offers transitional living, collaborative referrals, and helps ex-offenders find gainful employment and affordable housing.

“Our goal is to help stop the cycle of reoccurring offenses (recidivism), acknowledging they have paid their debt to society and they are valued. We need the help of our churches, businesses and our communities. We do not want these men to be a threat, feared, or turned away. We want to embrace them, so they will help in building up our communities, and help to curb crime by being examples for the generations that follow,” One Stop Ministries says.

The group is participating in the training program at Lansing Correctional Facility in cooperation with the Brothers In Blue Reentry (B.I.B.) program to help ex-offenders transition back into their communities

One Stop Ministries also has announced it will open Brother Love Home, transitional housing for ex-offenders.