ABOUT US
Redemption for people who’ve been criminalized, dehumanized, and overlooked.
Empowerment through tools for long-term success—not just survival.
Opportunity to break cycles of poverty, injustice, and invisibility.
Founded from lived experience with trauma, incarceration, motherhood, and resilience.
ABOUT US
The R.E.O. (Redemption, Empowerment, Opportunity) Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming lives by breaking systemic barriers that formerly incarcerated individuals face. Our mission is rooted in the belief that when given a second chance, individuals can rise above their past to create lasting impact in their families and communities.
Founder’s Note
When I reflect on my own journey—navigating the trauma of incarceration, rebuilding life as a mother, and confronting the invisible walls that a criminal record can create—I know firsthand that survival alone is not enough. People deserve more than second chances—they deserve real pathways to Redemption, Empowerment, and Opportunity.
I founded The R.E.O. Foundation not just as a response to my past, but as a promise to others like me: those who’ve been criminalized, dehumanized, and overlooked, yet still dare to rise. This work is deeply personal. Every program we offer—whether it’s housing, reentry planning, or employment support—has been shaped by lived experience and a relentless belief that a record should not be a life sentence to poverty or invisibility.
We are here to disrupt generational cycles, to give families a fresh start, and to remind the world that healing and ownership are not privileges—they are rights we all deserve access to.
Thank you for believing in this mission. Together, we are not just reentering society—we are rebuilding it.
In Purpose,
Dianna Shade Herron
Founder & President, The R.E.O. Foundation, Inc.