Donald Spann earned a degree in Physical Education and Health from the College of Charleston with an emphasis in Sports Medicine....

Born and raised in Greenville, SC, Mike Kirakides graduated from Clemson University in 1988 before going into his family’s business to...

Sharon McDowell grew up in Spartanburg and majored in both accounting and music. Working in accounting for twenty years, she currently...

Raised in Tennessee, Jon Jamison attended New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a Master of Divinity in Christian...

Hailing from Aiken, SC, Dr. Gwendolyn Johnson spent forty-five years in education, teaching everyone from public school kindergarteners...

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Bright started her career of public service in the 1970s with South Carolina’s Department of Disabilities and Special...

What kind of people do you celebrate? Kindness, helpfulness, and humility are qualities that attract people to one another. Those who...

When approaching this story on second chance employment, I imagined I would speak with employers and see their point of view. But, what I...

Open this Blog to Access our 15 Year Impact Report. Click the four arrows in the bottom right corner for the best reading experience.

JUMPSTART's mission hits home for me because I've walked a similar path. Growing up in what looked like a successful family, I took a...

We all have stories, some messier and more intriguing than others. Over the past ten years, my wild roller-coaster from being a prisoner...

Meet Blake Sanders: A Husband, Father, and Community Champion In the bustling town of West Pelzer, there's a man who wears many hats –...

My most Cherished Day The sound of heavy metal doors clanging behind me is a testament to God's goodness and grace every Monday. A...

I'm Jon Ozmint, and during my time as the Director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) from 2003 to 2011, I had the...

JUMPSTART stands as a beacon in rehabilitative and transformative programming, demonstrating the power of harmonizing faith-based...

Introduction As the prison doors swing open, the challenges awaiting released prisoners often appear insurmountable, none more pressing...

Over the past two days, I’ve fielded dozens of emails, texts, and phone calls about the new partnership between Concordance and the South...

JUMPSTART's model transcends basic prison ministry. While many prison ministries offer bible correspondence courses, or help facilitate...

Greetings, I am Tim Murray, blessed to serve as the Inside Program Director for JUMPSTART. I was born in 1970 to a single mother and was...

A perpetual challenge our society grapples with is the issue of crime, addiction, and recidivism. Traditional approaches often prioritize...