Kelly, a proud native of Alabama and devoted mother of two, is the heart and driving force behind On The Way Home. With a 25-year career as a structural designer, as well as experience as a notary public and caterer, Kelly has always been a woman of resilience and determination. Yet, it wasn’t until 2020 – after connecting with someone through a prison pen pal program,that she discovered her true calling: advocating for incarcerated individuals and creating pathways for successful reentry.
Kelly’s passion for justice and second chances is rooted in both personal experience and deep empathy. She grew up witnessing the devastating impact of violence, addiction, and systemic injustice. Her uncle was kidnapped, beaten, stabbed, and left for dead – his home burned down, and his business robbed. Her mother, a survivor of domestic violence, overcame unimaginable odds. Her father’s battle with alcoholism ended at just 50, and her brother lost his life to addiction before reaching that same age. These painful experiences shaped Kelly’s understanding of the struggles many face – struggles that often mirror the stories of those behind bars. Despite these hardships, Kelly believes unwaveringly in the power of change and redemption. She is committed to helping incarcerated individuals in Alabama find hope, healing, and a second chance at life. Recognizing the critical intersections of mental health, substance abuse, and incarceration, Kelly founded On The Way Home with the vision of creating a reentry community unlike any other – a place where lives are not only transformed but also given the tools to thrive.
Richard Fox is a native of Bessemer, AL. and an incarcerated individual currently at Donaldson Correctional Facility. He went to Tarrant High School in Alabama, but didn’t graduate, he did however receive his GED. He joined the Army National Guard, where he was a heavy equipment operator. He also attended classes at Bessemer State Technical College in Bessemer, AL . Richard has been incarcerated since he was 20 years old, and is serving a LWOP sentence. He is an avid writer and has been involved in many writing classes and projects while incarcerated. He has also had multiple articles published, by Beth Shelburne, The Prison Journalism Project, and The Alabama Reflector. He is currently involved in a fellowship with The Prison Journalism Project, providing them with many articles on the ins and outs of prison life. He is also writing a self-help book for people struggling with life’s choices.
Alison Mollman is the Legal Director at the ACLU of Alabama and has called Alabama home for the last 13 years. Prior to joining the ACLU of Alabama in 2022, Alison worked as an attorney at the Equal Justice Initiative for ten years. For over a decade, Alison has represented incarcerated people on death row in Alabama and in parole proceedings across the country. Alison is committed to client-centered direct representation and to building inside-outside relationships to amplify the voices of those most acutely impacted by the criminal legal system. She earned her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and her B.A. in Women’s Studies from the University of Iowa.
Jennifer Smith Kilburn is a retired Captain for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. She has had a life-long interest in justice, having served in Law Enforcement for 31 years, then as a children’s advocate with the Children’s Policy Council of Jefferson County. She maintains a passion for evening the playing field for those affected by the justice system. She has served as adjunct faculty in the Justice Science program at UAB and she has taught rape investigation at the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Academy. Jennifer earned a Master’s Degree in Justice Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and is a resident of Concord, Alabama.
Retisha (Tish) Warr, PhD received her Bachelor in Arts in Psychology from Texas Woman’s University in 2007. Dr. Warr has worked in child welfare, juvenile court, and in various prisons in Colorado, Texas, and Alaska. In 2017, she received her Masters in Social Work (MSW) at the University of Alabama. After completion, she gained employment as a Licensed Master’s Social Worker. She has since worked in a Level V correctional facility in Alabama, reentry, and mediation assisted treatment programs. Dr. Warr began her post-graduate studies at the University of Alabama, being awarded a five-year Capstone McNair fellowship. She completed three research projects as part of her dissertation entitled “A Mixed Methods Exploration of First -Generation College Students Resisting and Healing the Chains of Mass Incarceration”, inspired by her own journey of having a formerly incarcerated parent. Dr. Warr is a current Assistant Professor of Social Work at Troy University and serves on the Advisory Board of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty. She lives in Central Alabama with her spouse, two dogs & two cats, and continues to pursue projects and research that utilize transformative trauma-informed approaches to heal the family and individuals impacted by mass incarceration.