The Restoration of life|reentry support for justice-involved individuals
Honoring Growth with Kansas Sentence Reviews
The time for Kansas reform is now. By reviewing sentences after 20 years, we can honor real growth and turn long-held paths of incarceration into powerful stories of restoration and hope.
A Future Defined by Growth and Redemption
The Restoration of Life is a nonprofit foundation dedicated to championing the sacred value of every life. We transform the trauma of incarceration into a powerful catalyst for personal rebirth, community healing, and systemic change. Join us to build a future where we choose to see the changes made while restoring one self.Â
   These Two stand for what restoration isÂ
Stories of Growth
Chris Britt
Gordon Martis
A Society where past mistakes do not define future potential. Where barriers to re-entry are replaced with opportunities, where restored individuals lead the way in building safer, more equitable communities.
Lifers Hello, My name is Gordon Martis. I was sentenced to 40 years to life. I am on my 27th year with 13 years left before I can see my first parole board. My first couple of years were all about adjusting, and it was a little scary and hard. The reason being is, you are always trying to prove yourself. You have to gain people’s respect. As a lifer you have to fight for the things that are important, because lifers get told all the time, you have enough time you can apply later. So, one of the tools I learned early was to be persistent. It took me 3 years before I was allowed into the G.E.D. program. Being persistent paid off. I took the Lifer's SAP class in 2019 and became a peer mentor for the program. I had taken other Cognitive Behavioral programs such as Core Adult and Improving Family Relationships (IFR). With the tools and support I have learned and gained, I was able to get into the welding program and completed it this spring. I know given the right tools and support anyone can make that change (s)he wants to. Everyone should be given a second chance, because with my second chance, I can be a better father, grandfather, brother, friend, son, and neighbor. Sincerely, Gordon Martis
Chris Hello I would like to take the time to introduce myself. I have been down for 19 years, and I wish I had known what I know now, that I did not know then. Primarily I wish that my younger self would have been able to see the man that I would mature to be. I do not want my journey through incarceration to sound like a pity party. Why, because I have worked diligently and consistently at becoming the man I knew that I wanted to be but didn’t know how to become. As a young man I was restless and a bit reckless, but I was always a hard worker and active in my faith (and shared my passions of cooking and music). While incarcerated I have focused on self-development, healing, self-love, acceptance, and accountability. taking advantage of educational opportunities, advocating, mentoring other inmates, and working to build a set of professional skills. Below are some of my greatest accomplishments while being incarcerated. Thank you for this opportunity to share some of my testimony, to have my voice and heart heard, and for your support for me being considered for a second chance at life outside of these walls. 2009-present Aramark Culinary 2010-present Healing the Brotherhood stopping the violence and gangs 2010-present Ordained as a pastor Vine of Life Church 2014-present TUMI- The Urban Ministry Institute (Two courses left to complete a seminary degree) 2017-present Palliative and Hospice care for sick, disabled, and elderly inmates 2021-2025 Music Cameo sponsored by UMKC School of Music Conservatory (I helped with Music theory and application, teaching reading, writing music, and providing drum/piano lessons) 2023 Victim Impact and dealing with trauma Skills that I have developed via Into Work program 2023-present Zephyrs Industrial work (assembly, quality control, task, and team management, potentially forklift driving) 2021-2024 CoreCivic (HVAC, general plumbing, electrical, and building maintenance) 2009-present Aramark Culinary (Safe food prep and handling, Staff Dining services) Sincerely, C, Britt
Choosing a path of healing and compassion by breaking the heavy cycle of trauma and pain.
- For a long time, I carried heavy bitterness about the sentence my assailants received. The weight of that anger only added to my trauma until I realized that hurt people simply hurt people. I didn’t want to stay trapped in that cycle of pain or wish more hurt on others. Instead I choose to turn my experience into better thinking, focusing on hope and healing rather than revenge. I believe in redemption because I know that a future built on compassion is stronger than one built on resentment. I stand not only as victim, but as a survivor. I refuse to let the violence committed against me define my entire life. Instead I choose compassion over bitterness, understanding over hatred, and healing over revenge.
- D. Sheppard Executive Director (Founder)
The Haven is a structured residential reentry initiative program that bridges the gap between incarceration and community reintegration providing highly supervised goal oriented housing coupled with intensive behavioral and occupational support. This type of housing is designed to support justice involved individuals through specific court programs like (The Restoration of Life)Â
  The Haven
The individuals who do this hard work are not the same people they were when they entered the system. They have educated themselves, healed  old wounds, and committed to becoming better citizens. True rehabilitation is a quiet, daily victory of the human spirit. Transformed men and women return to our communities; they deserve more than just a release date. They deserve a genuine restoration of life, dignity, and opportunity. Let us judge people by the depth of their growth, not the weight of their past.