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WHY ON THE WAY HOME EXISTS
THE JOURNEY HOME STARTS LONG BEFORE THE GATE OPENS.
On The Way Home began with a simple realization: coming home from incarceration is not a single event. It is a process—one that can begin months before release and continue long after someone returns to the community. Too often, individuals and families are expected to navigate that process with limited information, disconnected resources, and little preparation for what reentry will actually require. Housing, identification, employment, transportation, supervision requirements, healthcare, recovery, family relationships, and everyday responsibilities can quickly become barriers to a successful transition. OTWH was founded in 2023 to help bridge those gaps. What began as a vision for stronger reentry support has grown into work that reaches people before release, during the transition home, and throughout the process of rebuilding stability in the community.
We believe successful reentry doesn't begin on release day—and it shouldn't be carried by one person alone.
That's why OTWH works not only with individuals returning home, but also with families, correctional partners, service providers, employers, community organizations, and others who can help create stronger pathways forward.
OUR MISSION
HELPING BUILD STRONGER PATHWAYS HOME.
On The Way Home helps individuals and families navigate the journey from incarceration to reentry through preparation, individualized support, practical resources, family engagement, and community connection.
We approach reentry as a process—not a single event. That means looking beyond release day and helping address the barriers, relationships, responsibilities, and opportunities that shape what happens next.
PREPARE EARLY
Reentry planning can begin before release, giving individuals and families time to understand needs, identify barriers, and prepare for the transition ahead.
INCLUDE FAMILIES
Incarceration and reentry affect more than one person. Families and support systems need information, preparation, resources, and realistic expectations too.
SUPPORT THE WHOLE JOURNEY
Needs don't end when someone walks out of a correctional facility. Support may continue as individuals work toward stability and independence.​​​
BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
No organization can meet every need. OTWH works to connect people with organizations, professionals, employers, resources, and communities that can be part of the journey home.
PREPARE. SUPPORT. CONNECT. MOVE FORWARD.
MEET OUR FOUNDER
KELLY LANG
Founder & Executive Director
For Kelly Lang, On The Way Home began with a belief that has continued to shape the organization: people preparing to return home deserve more than a list of resources—they deserve preparation, connection, and people willing to walk alongside them. Kelly founded On The Way Home in 2023 after seeing how incarceration, addiction, trauma, and instability can affect not only an individual, but entire families. Those experiences gave her a deeply personal understanding of why successful reentry requires support that extends beyond the person coming home. Since founding OTWH, Kelly has worked to turn that belief into action—building relationships with correctional institutions, government agencies, service providers, employers, healthcare and recovery organizations, community partners, and people with lived experience across Alabama. Under her leadership, OTWH's work has grown to include pre-release and parole preparation, individualized case management, family reentry education, community resource navigation, correctional outreach, and continued support following release. Kelly remains directly involved in the work—from meeting with individuals and families and developing reentry plans to facilitating workshops, building partnerships, and advocating for stronger community-based reentry support throughout Alabama.
“For me, this work has always been about people—not numbers. Every person coming home is someone's child, parent, sibling, partner, or friend. Reentry affects all of us.”
Kelly Lang, Founder & Executive Director
OUR LEADERSHIP
GUIDED BY PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE IN THE MISSION.
On The Way Home is guided by a Board of Directors committed to responsible nonprofit leadership, community connection, and strengthening opportunities for individuals and families impacted by incarceration and reentry.
Alison Mollman
Alison Mollman is the Legal Director at the ACLU of Alabama and previously spent ten years as an attorney with the Equal Justice Initiative. With more than a decade of experience representing incarcerated people, including in parole proceedings, Alison brings extensive legal expertise and a strong commitment to elevating the voices of people directly impacted by the criminal legal system.
Richard Fox
Richard Fox brings lived experience with incarceration and a firsthand understanding of the challenges individuals and families face while preparing for reentry. His perspective helps OTWH keep the voices of people directly impacted by the criminal legal system represented in its work, while bringing valuable insight into preparation, family connection, and the realities of returning home.
Jennifer Kilburn
Jennifer Kilburn is a retired educator with more than 25 years of experience in public education, including service as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator. She brings OTWH extensive experience in education, advocacy, relationship-building, and supporting individuals and families as they navigate challenges and work toward stronger futures.
OPEN BOARD POSITION
OTWH is seeking committed individuals to help guide our continued growth and strengthen reentry support across Alabama. We welcome people who can bring professional expertise, community connections, lived experience, leadership, or other skills that can help advance our mission.
Tommie Watkins Jr.
Rev. Dr. Tommie Watkins Jr. is a pastor, educator, author, and advocate whose work centers on faith, community engagement, and supporting people affected by the criminal legal system. He brings OTWH a valuable combination of pastoral leadership, advocacy experience, and a commitment to helping individuals and families build stronger pathways forward.
OPEN BOARD POSITION
OTWH is seeking committed individuals to help guide our continued growth and strengthen reentry support across Alabama. We welcome people who can bring professional expertise, community connections, lived experience, leadership, or other skills that can help advance our mission.
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Amanda Gray
Amanda Salter Gray is a reentry advocate and community leader who brings lived experience and a deep understanding of the challenges individuals and families can face during the transition home. Her perspective helps keep OTWH's work grounded in the realities of reentry while strengthening the organization's focus on practical support, dignity, accountability, and meaningful second chances.
OPEN BOARD POSITION
OTWH is seeking committed individuals to help guide our continued growth and strengthen reentry support across Alabama. We welcome people who can bring professional expertise, community connections, lived experience, leadership, or other skills that can help advance our mission.
We especially value diverse experiences, perspectives, and connections to the communities we serve.
STRONGER TOGETHER
No single organization can address every challenge that comes with reentry. OTWH works alongside correctional institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare and recovery providers, educators, employers, professionals, and community organizations to help build stronger connections for individuals and families.
CORRECTIONAL PARTNERS
Preparing for reentry before release.
HEALTH & RECOVERY
Strengthening access to healthcare, mental health, and recovery resources.
NONPROFITS & SERVICE PROVIDERS
Working together to address needs beyond what any one organization can provide.
GOVERNMENT & SUPERVISION
Connecting people with information and systems that affect the transition home.
EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT
Connecting people with opportunities to learn, work, and build stability.
COMMUNITY & FAITH PARTNERS
Building local networks of support for individuals and families.
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OUR CORE VALUES
WHAT GUIDES OUR WORK.
Our values shape how we serve, how we build relationships, and how we approach the complex work of reentry.
DIGNITY
Every person has inherent worth.
We treat people with dignity and respect, recognizing them not only for where they have been, but for who they can become.
ACCOUNTABILITY
Lasting change begins with personal responsibility.
We believe accountability and compassion work together as individuals take ownership of their decisions and move toward meaningful change.
HOPE
Hope is the foundation of transformation.
We help individuals recognize their potential and identify practical pathways toward a stronger future.
FAMILY
Strong families build stronger communities.
We recognize that incarceration affects entire families and that healthy, informed support systems can play an important role in successful reentry.
TRUTH & ADVOCACY
Meaningful change begins with honesty.
We share accurate information, elevate impacted voices, and advocate for practical solutions that strengthen reentry, families, and public safety.
COLLABORATION
We achieve more together.
We value partnerships across families, communities, employers, correctional professionals, faith communities, volunteers, and government agencies.
PREPARATION
Success begins long before release.
We invest in planning, education, skill development, and mental wellness to help individuals prepare for the transition home.
SERVICE
We walk alongside people—not ahead of them.
We lead with humility and compassion, working to remove barriers, build trust, and empower individuals and families toward lasting independence.
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