We recently connected with Ramona Holmes and have shared our conversation below.

Ramona, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?

“Is this live?” Was the question I asked as channel 4 News was recording my story. I couldn’t believe it. I just told live tv that I had been to prison. I just exposed a secret that I had held onto for almost 10 years. I was scared. But what could I do now. He was not about to stop rolling and I couldn’t stop sharing my truth. Funny right?
On that day I took a risk. I took a chance of freedom. I took a chance by sharing my truth!
The funny thing about it that was the most freeing I have ever felt in my entire life.
The weight and the burden of carrying a secret that o only held on to because of the image I spent years protecting.
I knew what my heart desired and that was. To change the way society looked at returning citizens. I wanted them to put some respect on reentry.
I had been sharing for quite some time behind the scenes with only those who knew I had been incarcerated.
Funding various needs for men and women coming home. However, I refused to be open with the people who only knew this edited version of Ramona.
Men and women who are incarcerated have a story. A story so impactful and inspiring even to those who have never experienced life behind bars.
The history of abuse and trauma was much like mine. The tears in our childhood memories were almost identical. The emptiness and the need for accepts stories I heard often reminded me of the little girl that was trapped inside of me that too had a story. A little girl that longed for a story of redemption.
After opening up and embracing this new freedom. I grew stronger in my stance with empowering and inspiring women to show up and manifest the life they want by speaking up and speaking their truth.
I understood the importance of providing a safe place for each woman who attended an Unchained ReEntry Success Session. Experience became an excellent teacher once I started speaking and sharing my story on various platforms.
I started to believe in me and then I became unstoppable.

Ramona, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Unchained is a reentry success organization that empowers and inspires woman as they navigate through the journey of incarceration to reentry success.

I give hope to a population of women who desire a fresh start at life after experiencing time behind bars.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

After many failed employment efforts and struggles with stability. I never gave up!! I kept going even when it all felt like it was in vain.
When every door felt as though it would never open for me. I found the strength and the courage to keep on going.
I was determined to be the success story that I dreamt of.
It’s now Go time and there’s no stopping me now. I’ve pressed the gas to go and I’m not letting up.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started Unchained with my blood, sweet and tears! I am a successful construction manager that allots me the privilege to fund my organization until we become a 501c3.

Contact Info:

• Facebook: unchainedreentrysc

Image Credits
Jason Cordes