Hope on the Inside Governors Packet and Curriculum Pilot
Governors Packet
This packet provides an in-depth look at what that solution looks like in practice. Inside, you will find a slide presentation covering the core components of our programs, a breakdown of HOTI's macroeconomic baseline trajectory, and letters of support from state and national partners. HOTI's Hope on the Outside program further extends this work beyond the facility walls — partnering with Geodis, Inc. to connect graduates to warehouse positions starting at $17.25 with full benefits and no prior experience required, creating a direct bridge between the curriculum and stable employment.
Hope on the Inside was originally founded in Louisiana, home state of cofounders, Briana Calhoun and Kix Brooks. Pictured left to right are: HOTI Vice President Bill Windham, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, Calhoun, and Brooks.
Curriculum Pilot
The challenge of recidivism is often framed as an intractable issue of public safety. However, the states of Tennessee and Louisiana, alongside national partners like CoreCivic, have begun to prove that with the right curriculum, this challenge is solvable. We are proud to introduce you to Hope on the Inside's Reentry Curriculum Pilot. A comprehensive workbook dedicated to transforming reentry through our revolutionary “Three E’s” framework: Education, Exhibition, and Emotional Awareness. Unlike traditional pedagogy, our curriculum is designed for modern, tablet-based prison systems, specifically targeting the 18–25 demographic to maximize impact during their most formative years.
Hope On The Inside’s curriculum was originally piloted for residents of the Behavioral Care Center at the Nashville Metro Jail in Davidson County, TN. Pictured left to right are: Deputy Chief of Operations Kyle McMaster, Sheriff Daron Hall, Calhoun, and Brooks.
Programs
Local and national partnerships that equips individuals with real paths moving forward.
Video Curriculum Series
Hope on the Inside has developed a first-of-its-kind video curriculum currently in conversation with correctional systems in Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi, and CoreCivic — one of the nation's largest private prison networks. Built around 3 Focuses and 5 Phases, the series delivers a full reentry curriculum through a podcast-style format, weaving together teaching segments, personal stories, and unscripted artist conversations. The goal is simple: education that actually engages — and reminds participants that they are fully human. Pictured here is Briana Calhoun and Gretchen Wilson.
CoreCivic and HOTI Partnership
Hope on the Inside is in advanced negotiations with CoreCivic — one of the nation's largest correctional corporations, managing over 70 facilities nationwide — to establish a first-of-its-kind national reentry program. The partnership, initiated by CoreCivic's own Reentry Coordinator, would bring HOTI's curriculum, live programming, and advocacy directly into private facilities across the country, reaching some of the most underserved incarcerated populations. CoreCivic has committed to allocating funding for inmate welfare, creating a sustainable model that compensates artists, speakers, and advocates while delivering meaningful reentry support at scale.
Hope on the Outside
Hope on the Inside is developing a workforce pilot program in partnership with Apple's warehouse operations, designed to place Behavioral Care Center residents into meaningful employment from day one. At the center of this initiative is the Hope on the Outside Starter Kit — a comprehensive onboarding framework developed by HOTI that covers job-readiness training, professional standards, transportation logistics, and an accountability structure involving all parties. Rather than placing the training burden on the employer, HOTI serves as the operational bridge — preparing residents before they ever set foot on the job and monitoring their progress for up to six months after placement. The goal is a scalable, replicable model that can be implemented across correctional facilities nationwide.
