Miles of Freedom

08/17/2026

"We know we can't do this by ourselves."

Fourteen years ago, MILES of Freedom opened its doors in Dallas with a simple conviction: that people returning home from prison deserve a real path to stability, not a revolving door.

This November we're celebrating 14 years of that work — and honoring the organizations walking alongside us in the reentry space. Our founder, Richard Miles, shares what makes this year's Celebration different, and why the theme is Be The Change.

📅 Saturday, November 14, 2026
📍 Renaissance Hotel Dallas at Market Center
🕕 Doors open 6:00 PM

Save the date — full details and sponsorship information at MILESofFreedom.org

Thank you to Jamie Goodspeed from Radio One Dallas, K104-FM Dallas, TX, for this great interview.

08/12/2026

Before there was MILES of Freedom, there was a friendship.

Aubrey Lewis Jones had already spent years fighting to prove his innocence, studying case law and filing writs, but getting nowhere with the courts.

One day, he met a young man working on his own case in the prison law library — our co-founder, Richard Miles. Aubrey started helping him with his legal filings, and neither man stopped fighting for the other from there. In 2012, Aubrey became co-founder of MILES of Freedom, dedicating the rest of his life to those impacted by incarceration.

Each year at our Anniversary Celebration, we present awards in his memory in two categories: Individual and Organization.

Submit your nomination: https://bit.ly/4geYOoP

08/10/2026

How can you help bridge the gap? 🤔

$100 puts eight people through food handler certification.

$250 supports case management services for the average life cycle of a client.

$550 sustains two months of weekly mowing for a senior, veteran, or first responder across Dallas.

Donate or join our monthly giving circle: https://bit.ly/4pY5fRj

08/10/2026

New data confirms what we see every day: Texas leads the nation in food insecurity for the third consecutive year, and more than half of North Texas families experiencing food insecurity earn too much to qualify for federal SNAP benefits.⁣
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That gap between 'too much for aid' and 'not enough for groceries' is exactly where we step in. Our MILES of Freedom MLK Food Pantry has no income cap, because stability, not eligibility paperwork, is what allows someone to focus on a job interview instead of an empty refrigerator.⁣
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Food security and workforce readiness are not separate issues. They are the same issue.⁣
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Our food pantry is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. at the MLK, Jr. Community Center.⁣

08/08/2026

Arts of Oppression is MILES of Freedom's annual art show and auction, spotlighting original work by artists who are currently or formerly incarcerated.

Since 2016, MILES of Freedom has partnered with universities across Dallas, including UNT Dallas, UNT Law, and SMU's Po***ck Gallery, to bring drawings, paintings, sculpture, spoken word, poetry, and music to new audiences.

Nearly 90% of every sale goes directly to the artists and their families, and every piece helps challenge the stories society tells us about mass incarceration.

08/07/2026

When Channing Walker-Ragsdale walked out of Tarrant County Jail in November 2025, he was facing the same barriers to reentry almost everyone does: no stable housing, no job, no way to get around.

What changed his story is that a nonprofit connected with him before he ever walked out of prison, and a shelter had housing ready the moment he did.

That's the exact gap our Pre-Release Program and Reentry Assistance Program work to close here in our community, providing comprehensive support to individuals transitioning back into society.

Congratulations to Channing and everyone in his village on your milestones! Read his full story via NBC DFW.

Eight months after leaving jail, he is sober, working and giving back. See what a donated car and a support network meant for his next step.

08/06/2026

Save the date for our annual Anniversary Celebration with keynote speaker and 4x best-selling author Damon West! NBC DFW's Cleo Greene will moderate the conversation.

Damon was a Division I quarterback with everything ahead of him, until addiction and a string of choices led to a life sentence for organized crime. Seven years into his incarceration, a conversation with a fellow inmate changed everything. He learned that, like a coffee bean transformed by heat and pressure, he had the power to change the very environment shaping him. Damon emerged from prison a changed man and determined to turn his story into something that could change others.

Join us Saturday, November 14, 2026 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel as we celebrate 14 years of transformational work supporting individuals and families impacted by the justice system in our community and beyond. This year's theme, "Be the Change," is one Damon knows firsthand.

Your attendance and support will help raise critical funds for our reentry, job readiness, and second-chance programs while advancing our mission to help them rebuild their lives and achieve lasting stability.

Sponsorship opportunities are available now. Learn more and secure your spot: https://bit.ly/42AHUKr

07/20/2026

We're thrilled to announce Lynn McBee, Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew, and Al Green as Co-Chairs for MILES of Freedom's 14th Anniversary Celebration, taking place on November 14, 2026 at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel!

Collectively, all three bring decades of civic leadership, community building, and a shared belief in second chances. They are stepping in to lead a night that honors those who've walked the road from prison to promise and the community that helped support them.

This year, as we mark 14 years, our theme asks something of all of us: Be the Change. Join us to be part of it.

Sponsorship and table opportunities available soon, and stay tuned for our keynote speaker announcement next week!

07/07/2026

MILES of Freedom is grateful to the Hoblitzelle Foundation for their continued investment in our mission.

Their latest grant supports equipment and capital purchases that expand our capacity to grow and sustain our Lawn Care and Land Maintenance social enterprise.

Thank you, Hoblitzelle Foundation, for over a decade of believing in this work.

07/06/2026

You don't have to know someone impacted by the justice system to care what happens to them. You just have to believe that people deserve a chance to rebuild.

When you give, your gift supports case management, food distribution, and job readiness for people starting over right here in our community.

Make a one-time gift or monthly contribution today: https://bit.ly/4dFe5j2