Realness Project

Realness Project’s mission is to create safer communities for all. We break cycles of violence, addiction, and incarceration by teaching relational and emotional skills that create safer, healthier communities—inside prison walls and beyond. One person who disrupts a pattern of abuse, neglect, substance misuse, or violence can change generations to come.

Founded in 2018, Realness Project delivers intensive, trauma-informed courses grounded in neuroscience, psychology, and Authentic Relating practices. These educational and experiential leadership programs build empathy, emotional regulation, and communication—protective factors proven to reduce substance use, violence, and recidivism.

Through fun, interactive workshops, Realness Project inspires people in prison to be better parents, family members, employees, colleagues, bosses, and community members.

To date, Realness Project has more than 1,400 graduates! Men and women across nine Colorado Department of Corrections facilities and hundreds more now living in our communities. Graduates demonstrate the ability to build safe & meaningful connections with their children, parents, and colleagues, reflecting measurable gains in communication skills, sustained behavioral change, peer accountability, and leadership development. 

Participants progress through leadership levels—building inspired community as they advance. We have waitlists of people in prison who want to learn better ways to communicate and resolve conflict. We have peer-led alumni circles that extend connection and accountability into families and communities statewide. And we have a recidivism rate of just 6%, compared to the state average of 44.5%.

Over 80% of our graduates are parents, so learning these vital communication skills breaks generational cycles of abuse, neglect, abandonment, addiction and incarceration. 

We need your support today to help people emerge from prison retooled for a better future!

Learning Outcomes of Realness Project programming:

• Empathy

• Advanced listening skills

• Nervous System Regulation

• Increased Self Awareness

• Conflict management without violence

• Emotional Intelligence & Resilience 

• Nonviolent Communication

• Vulnerability, Humility, and Dignity