We’re not broken. We’re rebuilding.

I’m Mark Antony Johnson — a retired Department of Justice administrator , Disabled Veteran, Warden and creator of the Trauma-Informed Correctional Care (TICC) program. I spent decades working behind the walls of America’s correctional system, and I saw a hard truth:

Too many of our fathers, sons, mothers, daughters and veterans are incarcerated, isolated, and forgotten — not because they are violent or dangerous, but because they are traumatized and untreated. Most of the men, women, juveniles and veterans have no idea their incarceration is a result of "Unrecognized" trauma. For the veterans, they fought for this country. But when they came home, the war followed them — through PTSD, addiction, and silent suffering. And when they fell, we locked them away. I could have been one of those veterans. Men, women and juveniles suffer from unrecognized trauma which carries forward and passed to other familiy members and community when left untreated. Even my own trauma from both military and upbringing adversley affected my life both in and out of the military. Once I became aware of my own unrecognized traumas I sought VA assistance and now I'm Aware, Empowered and Purposfully helping bring awareness to others so they too can live a life of relative peace even while in the mist of personal storms and triggers.

That’s why I created the Trauma Informed Correctional Care program for Returning Citizens and Other Trauma Affected Populations (staff, educators, foster care et al).

TICC is a reentry and rehabilitation program designed specifically for trauma-impacted populations — including incarcerated veterans. It's grounded in compassion, understanding, self accountability and love of humanity.

Using Native talking circles, dramatizations, veteran-led and facilitator mentoring, and healing-centered engagement, TICC reconnects incarcerated populations behind the wire to their family, and community so they can come home with dignity. Additionally, the hope is Returning Citizens upon release and pending release will shed rhe transformational light upon others regarding unrecognized trauma and its negative affects and how to take back control of their lives.

We’ve already begun the work. I am the only one currently teaching four cohorts:

2 Sumter Correctional Institution

2 Central Florida Reception Center

Over 50 men have already graduated. Evidence Data have documented positive outcomes of learning, empowerment and understanding the importance of being purposeful. We are in the process of securing grants to fund this purpose and scale the program up placing in FLDOC facilities and other state Correctional institutions. Current funding is out of pocket (gas, printing, materials, out sourcing, etc). We will be onboarding and training other facilitators to teach in Juvenile, Female and Male (Veterans) facilities.

Your support is needed, no matter how small. Your donation goes to helping adults and juveniles understand what it mean to live a life free of being controlled by unrecognized trauma inside and outside the wire.