All women deserve the opportunity to live fulfilling lives.
Women with a history of incarceration have the potential to change their lives for the better and stay out of the criminal justice system. WIND is here to help make that happen.
The Need
WIND was started to address the profound lack of support for women who are in prison or who have been released from incarceration in Chicagoland.
WIND provides the tools to help them build a different future for themselves – a direction and focus that keep them from returning to prison.
Who is helping the 1.9 million women released from prisons and jails each year?* It’s not enough to help with only job skills. Formerly incarcerated women also need social and emotional support to ensure they are mentally equipped to show up to work every day. WIND is working to address these issues.
We are helping and so can you! Please help create a new path and positive mindset for these women by donating today. We operate with an all-volunteer staff so your donation has the most impact.
*Bureau of Justice Statistics, National Corrections Reporting Program, 2013-2016.
Whether in a prison or jail or in court-mandated substance abuse programs, the number of incarcerated women has grown 875% since 1980 without a corresponding increase in funds allocated to programs that specifically address their needs.*
* Women’s Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie, 2019
News & Events
Virtual Event! Women of Courage – Stories of Post-Incarceration Resilience
Date and Time: Wednesday, May 26th, 6-7 PM CDT Please register at link below
Join us on May 26th at 6 PM CDT for “Women of Courage – Stories of Post-Incarceration Resilience”—a reading and live Zoom conversation with formerly incarcerated women building empowerment by sharing their writing. This event is organized Women Initiating New Directions (WIND), a non-profit whose mission is to inspire women in reentry to design a thriving life journey using new tools and strategies for success. Our partners for this special evening are women currently living at Grace House, a transition home in Chicago.