Organization
Jacob’s Ladder Ministries (JLM) uses faith-based support and comprehensive programs to empower incarcerated individuals, the formerly incarcerated, and their families by reconnecting them with their faith, family, and community. JLM delivers comprehensive programming within local jails and prisons, offering faith-based substance recovery classes, life coaching, community re-entry courses, mentoring, worship services, Bible studies, and support groups for families of incarcerated individuals. Additionally, their Sew Hope Community Sewing Room in Florissant, MO, serves as a creative community space where individuals can explore their God-given creativity through sewing, quilting, and crafting.
Partnership #1 (2024)
Jacob’s Ladder Ministries is launching the Sew Hope Entrepreneurship Program, a new initiative designed to provide valuable job training and skills development for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals. JLM noticed gaps in needs with repeat offenders: many of them struggled to find work and gain financial stability, eventually landing them back in prison. The program will offer an extensive sewing training course, teaching participants to operate both industrial and domestic sewing machines, laying a strong foundation for various sewing-related careers to help prevent recidivism, provide job training and life skills, offer mentoring, and equip participants with entrepreneurial skills for potential self-employment through sewing. The Brown Sisters Foundation issued a challenge grant to support this innovative new program, as well as help JLM convert in-kind donors to monetary givers in support of this program.