Protecting My Peace Foundation Launches to Support Returning Citizens Through Financial Literacy, Mental Wellness, and Economic Empowerment

Richmond, Virginia — Protecting My Peace Foundation (PMP Foundation), a community-based nonprofit organization founded by returning citizens, officially launches with a bold mission: to help justice-impacted individuals rebuild stability, reclaim peace, and create sustainable futures after incarceration.

Founded by Neona “Neechie” James and Jody James, Protecting My Peace Foundation is rooted in lived experience and designed to close the gap between release and real-life success. The organization focuses on financial literacy, emotional wellness, entrepreneurship education, and community support for returning citizens and their families.

“Reentry isn’t just about getting out — it’s about staying out, staying stable, and staying whole,” said Neona James, Founder of Protecting My Peace Foundation. “We created this foundation to address the real barriers people face after incarceration — money, mindset, trauma, and access — and to offer practical tools that lead to long-term freedom.”

Addressing a Critical Need in Reentry Support

Each year, hundreds of thousands of individuals return to their communities from incarceration, often facing limited access to employment, housing, financial services, and mental health resources. These barriers contribute to high recidivism rates and long-term economic instability.

Protecting My Peace Foundation takes a holistic, prevention-focused approach by offering programs that combine:

Financial literacy & credit education

Identity protection & fraud prevention

Entrepreneurship and business readiness

Mindset development & emotional healing

Community resources and advocacy

Storytelling and reentry visibility initiatives

The Foundation’s programming is informed by national research, best-practice reentry models, and community-driven insights, ensuring services are practical, culturally relevant, and accessible.

Programs & Initiatives

Protecting My Peace Foundation’s core initiatives include:

Financial Literacy for Real-Life Reentry
Budgeting, banking, credit rebuilding, tax education, and financial decision-making for returning citizens.

Mind Your Peace Workshops
Mental wellness, trauma awareness, emotional regulation, and self-advocacy for individuals navigating reentry.

Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment Pathways
Business education, income-generation strategies, and support for self-employment and workforce reentry.

Beyond the Gates Media Initiative
A storytelling platform amplifying the voices, experiences, and successes of returning citizens to shift narratives and reduce stigma.

Community-Centered and Lived-Experience Led

What sets Protecting My Peace Foundation apart is its leadership. Both founders are returning citizens with a combined 12 years of incarceration experience, offering firsthand understanding of the challenges faced during reentry.

“Our work is personal,” said Jody James, Co-Founder. “We know what it feels like to come home and not know where to start. This foundation exists to make sure no one has to figure it out alone.”

Partnerships, Support & Media Inquiries

Protecting My Peace Foundation is actively seeking partnerships with community organizations, correctional institutions, local governments, funders, and media outlets committed to second chances and community restoration.

Media Contact:

Protecting My Peace Foundation
📍 Richmond / Henrico, Virginia
📧 [email protected]
📞 804-404-7985
🌐 www.protectingmypeacefoundation.org

About Protecting My Peace Foundation

Protecting My Peace Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering returning citizens through financial education, emotional wellness, entrepreneurship support, and community advocacy. The Foundation exists to reduce recidivism, promote stability, and help individuals rebuild their lives with dignity, confidence, and peace.