Keyway: Center for Diversion & Reentry

Nearly a year ago, Jessica arrived in St. Louis scared, overwhelmed, and unsure of what came next.

Over the months that followed, she focused on building stability, skills, and confidence through Keyway’s programming, graduated from the Missouri Works Initiative ARM training program, rebuilt connections with her children, and continued her sobriety journey.

Today, she put that ARM certification to work—starting a new livable wage job and driving there in her newly purchased car.

The path wasn’t linear. There were roadblocks, hard moments, and detours along the way—but Jessica kept showing up, doing the work, and moving forward.

Today, in her words: “Life is really good.”

Healing, stability, and second chances are built one step at a time.

Keyway's Annual Community Appreciation Picnic starts NOW 🌳🍉

Join us for an afternoon packed with delicious food, LIVE music from the HARMONY Band, and plenty of Keyway fun as we celebrate the incredible supporters, partners, and community members who make this work possible 💜

🗓️: Thurs., May 28
⏰: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
📍: Sons of Rest Shelter at Tower Grove Park

What happens when someone is given a real second chance? Former Keyway participant, Nicole, recently reached out to us—not asking for help, but offering it.

She shared: “Keyway helped me grow and gain the skills I needed to return into society.”

Today, she’s married, reunited with family, maintaining employment, and reaching back to create employment opportunities for Keyway participants through the company where she works.

“I would love to give back by letting others who were once in the same position as me the opportunities I had.”

That’s the power of opportunity. That’s the ripple effect of second chances. 💜

In observance of Memorial Day, our offices are closed today (5/25). They will reopen tomorrow (5/26) at 9 a.m. 💜

Warm wishes for a safe and meaningful Memorial Day from our Keyway family to yours 🇺🇸

🌿 Volunteer Gardener/Landscaper Needed! 🌿

Help Keyway maintain safe, welcoming, and healing outdoor spaces at two programming sites. Volunteer duties include assisting with gardening, landscaping, lawn care, watering, pruning, and general outdoor upkeep. 🌱 ✨

Flexible scheduling available! Individuals, community groups, faith-based organizations, and corporate volunteer teams are encouraged to apply.

Have a green thumb or simply enjoy working outdoors? We’d love to chat! 💚 Learn more and apply before May 31 at the link below.

🔗: https://bit.ly/3RaJjW3

Yesterday, Missouri took an important step forward.

The Voting Rights Restoration bill has officially passed, restoring voting rights to Missourians on probation and parole who are living, working, paying taxes, and rebuilding their lives in the community.

On April 15, Keyway staff and participants joined advocates from Missouri Appleseed at the Capitol to speak in support of this legislation because civic engagement and second chances matter.

One member of our team shared this after learning the bill passed:

“Getting my voting rights back is one of the greatest gifts I could ever have hoped for… It was a seriously huge deal to me to lose that right. I cried when I found out this was going to occur. I could not imagine that I would not be able to actually vote and it was one of the things that made me feel massive shame and stripped of something that was a significant part of my identity… I feel like a full citizen again.”

That is the impact of this legislation.

Voting is more than casting a ballot. It is dignity. Belonging. Voice. Hope. It is being recognized as part of your community again.

Thank you to Representative Melanie Stinnett and Senator Kurtis Gregory for championing this effort, and to the many advocates, impacted individuals, and organizations who fought for this change.

Today is a reminder that restoration matters. 💜

We are happy to partner with Missouri Appleseed to shine a light on this important issue.

📖 Support the voices of criminalized domestic violence survivors! Read more about our Survivors' Justice Project Story Banking:

Women from the Keyway Center for Diversion & Reentry, the Soulfisher Ministries, and A Home for Her contributed to Missouri Appleseed’s story banking centered on exploring how domestic violence can lead to criminal convictions. By documenting these lived experiences, we seek to highlight patterns in the abuse-to-prison pipeline and to inform policy solutions that better recognize and respond to the realities faced by survivors of abuse.

is tomorrow! Help us support survivors and build stronger families and communities.

🐝 Your gift keeps us busy. 🔗 in bio to donate.

Last month, participants and staff from Keyway celebrated Earth Day by helping clean program sites and surrounding community spaces in the spirit of this year’s theme: “Our Power, Our Planet” 🌎♻️

Together, attendees picked up trash, beautified shared spaces, earned community service hours, and celebrated afterward with a fun BBQ 🌭

It was a meaningful day of community, connection, and giving back 💚

At Keyway, Mother’s Day is about honoring the women who nurture, uplift, guide, and love in all the ways family is formed. Today, we celebrate mothers, grandmothers, daughters, sisters, aunts, chosen family, and the steadfast women who show up for others every day 💜

Swipe through for a collection of heartfelt Mother's Day wishes from Keyway participants to their children and grandchildren — words filled with love, hope, and connection.

However this day looks for you, we’re sending love and gratitude to the women who make life brighter, stronger, and more connected. Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Keyway 💐