The Incarceration Relief Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for inmates upon release. Everything from stable housing, livable wages, and mental health counseling to aiding with reentry into society. Mental health counseling is at the forefront, however. It’s a must. Today, I am responsible for 116 individuals who are all very good individuals- good fathers, husbands and employees. Because of the resources we provide, they don’t have any thoughts of returning.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nadia Fischer.
Nadia Fischer has been making waves with her social justice advocacy on prison reform. Born in Flint, Michigan, Nadia witnessed the criminal justice system’s unfair attacks on her brother which spurred her into her career path. Residing in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nadia has cemented her place as a major proponent of social justice and prison reform. Nadia fights for equality through social justice activism work with organizations such as Mothers of the Movement, a group formed to campaign with former secretary of state Hillary Clinton in support of her presidential campaign and to advocate for an end to senseless acts of violence.
Her work with prison reformation involves advocating for higher-quality food and water for inmates, as well as working to decrease sentences based on severity. In 2014, she founded the Incarceration Relief Resource Center, a non-profit dedicated to faith and community-based interventions for offender re-entry. Through IRRC, Nadia played a key role in the release of 102 returning citizens with a 0% recidivism rate. Her prison reform initiatives include reducing harsh prison sentences, changing the drug sentencing policy surrounding the war on drugs — which is rooted in racism, prioritizing rehabilitation of juvenile offenders, altering policies surrounding food assistance programs and voting rights of previous offenders, and changing minimum sentencing laws.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Well, my career as a social justice publicist started at the Congressional Black Caucus. I was in attendance at Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ brain trust event and she mentioned my work. She said, “This little black girl from Flint, Michigan is responsible for the release of 88 returning individuals from the prison system and the best part is that she not only helped them get out but she’s also kept them out with a 0% recidivism rate.”
I’ve always been an activist for prison reform though since I was 8, but the journey as a publicist started there. Eric Garner’s mother was at the conference as an attendee (Gwen Carr) and she reached out to me for help. As I took a step back and looked at all acts of police brutality and racial violence, I realized that the only way we can keep our stories relevant is by telling them and use whatever platform the media gives us.
Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company or organization?
In the space of prison reform, I got introduced to the case of a person who was serving 8 years. He was in jail for a menial offense possibly drug sales. But once I got to know this person, I realized that they suffered from mental health issues. That was my first sign: This system is locking people up who are mentally unwell and incapable of making decisions for their lives. They are throwing them away and not giving them the resources to fight. The system is looking at the crime instead of the individual. Why is this person doing this? What is their background? Getting to know that person showed me incarceration is not the answer. Mental health services should be in place to help an individual versus sending them to prison which will heighten their issues. That event was an eye-opener. It was the most impactful piece and it changed my world from there. I applied a granular lens to issues.
Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
You know sometimes the questions I get from what I call “my incarcerated population” about what they call the free world is funny. They are caged in warehouses but they have their own governance. Their own president and it’s amazing. So, when I visit sometimes and they ask me these questions, I just laugh like y’all know we live in the same world right?!! It’s comical, but it snaps me into reality because they have to learn to assimilate to this world inside. But I do find humor in how they view their world as different from ours.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
The Incarceration Relief Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that provides resources for inmates upon release. Everything from stable housing, livable wages, and mental health counseling to aiding with reentry into society. Mental health counseling is at the forefront, however. It’s a must. Today, I am responsible for 116 individuals who are all very good individuals- good fathers, husbands and employees. Because of the resources we provide, they don’t have any thoughts of returning.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
There’s an individual I recently helped get released who I talk to daily. He calls me and tells me how the people in the penitentiary refer to me as their own Harriet Tubman. I tell them I’m merely a vessel. But what’s most important about what I do is that I tell people I can only help you if you agree to help someone else. It isn’t in the beginning, however. Once a person gets out of prison, they aren’t in a position to help anyone. But with the person, I am thinking of they are out and has their own landscaping business. He has his own LLC. He’s found a wife and they have a child together. His wife is running for office and running on the platform of prison reform. Every day he finds time to help others who have been affected the way he has.
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
Just get involved. There are so many resources, organizations, activism groups. If you see something wrong, say something! Activism is something you can do as soon as you open your eyes. We all can help somebody no matter what the issue is. Get involved. Google whatever your passion or mission is. For me, I saw what mass incarceration did to my family and community with my brother and I chose to get involved. I asked questions and became more inquisitive because I didn’t want anyone to feel that pain. You can’t say you want to see change if you sit back and do nothing and say nothing. That’s all it takes. A simple conversation. Get involved!
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
Leadership is not someone who has a bunch of individuals following them. It’s how many individuals you can get to corral things. If I come to Washington, D.C. by myself, I’m a force. But if it’s a bunch of us around me, we are a movement. The best example of that is when I formed Mothers of the Movement. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton was running for president and I told her, “Secretary you need us! Help us help you!” That’s the best example I can give. Getting everyone to corral around and move that movement.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. Not everyone is happy for you.
2. All that you see in the media isn’t what it seems.
3. It’s a difference between controversy and consciousness. Pick a side.
4. Self-care is the best care.
5. You can’t help anyone until you help yourself.
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?
We must start within. Change happens with us first. The start within the movement. Often, we see things from a very surface level and that’s all well and good, but if we don’t change what’s within, what is actually inside of you will come out. You gotta start within first. Let’s remove color. Change with ourselves first. We can groom ourselves, but as soon as we talk and our body language will betray us.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
I’d have to use my own quote. Jim Crow started killing us in the woods, and its grandkids took it to the streets and the courtroom. Jim Crow started it all and now its seeds are continuing its legacy. Every time I see the video of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, I see Jim Crow continuing its legacy and watching these children and individuals being murdered makes it worse.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why?
I’d say, my father. He was my soul. He helped me understand myself and realize that we are all chosen to do something. We all have an assignment and he helped me discover what that assignment was when I was very young. He passed that torch and I am continuing it. I always will.
This was very meaningful, thank you so much!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Nadia Fischer Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.