Our Mission and Vision

Companions Journeying Together, Inc., provides a forum to personally impact the emotional, spiritual, and social lives of the incarcerated and their families. Our vision is for a society that lives by the principles of restorative justice.

Our Work

We seek out opportunities to reach incarcerated women and men through a variety of programs designed to build healthy relationships and foster positive communication. Those programs include Aunt Mary’s Storybook Project, Fathers Read, Family Stories, and Mother Love Parenting classes. Additional services we organize and either provide or facilitate include special holiday communication projects, provision of re-entry materials and referrals, community education/training, and advocacy. Our goal is to be a link between resources and needs. We have a history of working successfully with officials from the Department of Corrections, as well as with individuals, churches and community organizations committed to serving the imprisoned and their families.

Companions Journeying Together ministers to the following correctional institutions:
Dwight Correctional Center
Sheridan Correctional Center
Stateville Correctional Center (Joliet)
Cook County Jail
DuPage County Jail
Kane County Jail
Metropolitan Federal Correctional Center

Board Commitment

"I am so grateful for all of the opportunities given us at Companions for this work. Aunt Mary is watching all we are doing in her name to connect children with their parents using wonderful books. I know she is thrilled and opening doors for us.What a humbling privilege to have the opportunity to serve our incarcerated brothers and sisters and their families!"

Ms. Jana Minor, Founder

"As a researcher on health care for persons who have been in jail or prison, I have seen how incarceration can damage not only the individuals life but that of his or her family and community. That's why I'm so pleased to be part of Companions in its efforts to strengthen and heal, in innovative ways, the ties between incarcerated people and their children."

Dr. Tom Lyons, University of Illinois at Chicago

2005 - 2006 Companions' Board and Staff