We were lucky to catch up with Richard Miles recently and have shared our conversation below.

Richard , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

6 months before I walked out of prison, I received the news that my father has passed. At the time, I’d been incarcerated a total of 15 years, but those last few months seemed darker than my full time wrongfully incarcerated. The irony of my loss was the encouragement, support and genuine concern received from the men dressed in white, just like me.  They were my support during times of uncertainty and for that I’m most grateful. I saw these men beyond a conviction – I saw redemption. My experience as an innocent man in prison allowed me to view society from many perspectives. After my release, the question was – What am I going to do?

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. My dad was a disabled veteran and my mom worked in early childhood education. I grew up with my sister and two younger brothers. For the most part, I had a pretty good childhood.   

May 15, 1994, at the age of 19, my life took a dramatic turn. I was wrongfully arrested for Murder and Aggravated Assault. After 17 months in the county, I went to jury trial and was sentenced to 60 years in the Texas Department of Correction. I was blessed to have the support of my family during this time. In October of 2007, 13 years, after my wrongful incarceration, an innocence organization in Princeton, New Jersey accepted my case and began the working to proving my innocence. I spent a total of 15 years in prison for a crime I did not do nor had knowledge of even occurring. I was 34 when I walked out of prison. My mom and a host of others was there to assist in my transition post incarceration. 

February 15, 2012, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled Actual Innocence made a ruling of Actual Innocence in our case.  Ex Parte Richard Miles became a Case Law and was printed in Southwest 3rd.  I was exonerated and compensated by the State of Texas. It was with these resources that Miles of Freedom was borne. My wrongful arrest, prison life experiences and struggles post incarceration uniquely positioned me to be a voice for the unheard. I’ve met some good men in prison and some not so good – the common thread in each was Untapped Hope. Miles of Freedom exist to tap into the untapped hope and potential of individuals, families and communities impacted by incarceration. Miles of Freedom addresses the space of re-entry from a holistic perspective with programs focused on the individual, family, and community. Miles of Freedom has worked with over 1,600 men and women rebuilding their lives after incarceration. Individuals directly impacted by incarceration can receive assistance through Miles of Freedom reentry program. Reentry services include but not limited to, individualized case management, resume building, assistance retrieving state documents, cohort workshops employment assistance and more.  Securing partnerships with other agencies has also allowed Miles of Freedom to assist families in need of rental or utility assistance. In 2019, Miles of Freedom launched the MLK Fresh Produce Distribution in partnership with the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and North Texas Food Bank. To date, we’ve distributed over 1. 2 million pounds of food to families experiencing food insecurity. The distribution is operated by clients (members) of Miles of Freedom.

As it relates to incarceration, one thing I’d like people to understand is, returning home is an overwhelming experience. The social disconnects, technological advancements, geographical changes and more can be daunting. However, with assistance, reaching a better quality of life is possible. Miles of Freedom Bridges the Gap from Prison to Promise those in need of our services. Lastly, I would like people to know that there are innocent people incarcerated in our prisons and we must be vigilant to prove true Justice! 

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I recall one of our first group interviews with a hospitality brand. We had a group of 6 set for the interviews. We made sure, once again, everyone understood the meaning of promptness the day prior I think I was more excited the day of the interviews than our members. I was actually at the office 2 hours early. Time to load came and we were one person short. As we filled the bus, I get a call from the last person asking us to wait. In my frustration, I said, “Wait for what – you’re late”. The gentleman’s responded, “I’m riding my bike from Oak Cliff and just crossing the bridge into South Dallas.” I was stunned, here is was 12′ in the afternoon, mid August and he’s pushing on his bike to make the interview. We went to pick him up and not to my surprise, he was completely drenched in sweat. After bartering with a local vendor to hold his bike, the gentleman loaded the van, visibly frustrated but relieved. Long story short, out of the 6 that went on the interview that day, 1 person was selected. It was the gentleman with the bike. Resilience comes in many forms, we just have to acknowledge it when we see it.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

In 2019, Miles of Freedom launched the MLK Fresh Produce Distribution in collaboration with the Martin Luther King Jr, Center (City of Dallas) and the North Texas Food Bank. The initiative was kicked off by the Leadership Dallas Class of 2019. The distribution was unique in it’s kind because there was no income or zip code restrictions. In 2020, COVID challenged the lives of people and businesses all over the globe. Survival was dependent on our collective ability to pivot through partnerships. With the closing of multiple buildings in Dallas, it look as if the distribution would be suspended. We received a call from the Park South YMCA, one of our community partners, with the opportunity operate the distribution as a drive-through in their parking lot. We took the pivot and continued serving the citizens of Dallas during one of our cities most challenging times. With our collective partners, to date, we’ve distributed over 1.1 million pounds of food to those experiencing food insecurity.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.milesoffreedom.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richard.miles.925059/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richard.miles.925059/ https://www.facebook.com/milesoffreedomorg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-miles-a6b16158/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/miles-of-freedom/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/prisontopromise?lang=en

Image Credits
The single photo of me sitting was done by Jorge Peniche for an Annenberg project. This was a follow up from the 2019 CNN Hero’s acknowledgement.