Our mission is to help women from prison systems discover their own strength by providing them with the support and resources that will empower them to become responsible, economically self-sufficient and contributing members of the community.
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Rev. Dr. Michelle Anne SimmonsReverend Dr. Michelle Anne Simmons, a single mother of two children, has overcome many challenges throughout her life. It is through her faith in God that she has persevered and is able to share her story. She has received a number of awards for her leadership, advocacy, heroism, and humanitarianism that have afforded her opportunities to travel the world, sharing her experience and ministering to others.
Rev. Simmons currently holds a Doctor of Ministry and a master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology as well as a bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Chestnut Hill College. She is also a Certified Allied Addictions Practitioner and a Human Services Board-Certified Practitioner. Rev. Simmons is the Founder and CEO of Why Not Prosper, Inc., an organization dedicated to helping females in prison make a smooth transition back into society after their incarceration. She founded the group believing in the importance of giving women a hand up, not a handout. |
Preserving women's rights did not spark Rev. Simmons' interest as a youth in Philadelphia, but her motivation to launch Why Not Prosper came from her own experience. After living through much adversity in her adolescent and early adult years, including abuse, legal problems, and substance use, she became incarcerated and later became inspired to turn her life around and to help others. Over time, she found hope through Christianity and attended self-help programs to overcome her addiction, achieving sobriety in 1999.
Rev. Simmons has dedicated numerous hours of volunteer service over the past 20 years to improve the quality of life for disenfranchised people through prison outreach, missionary work, and mentorship. Rev. Simmons has financed multiple trips around the world in order to provide goods and supplies such as eyeglasses, medication, food, clothing, and educational materials to people in Haiti, Gambia, Bermuda, Jamaica, Nova Scotia, Santo Domingo, Egypt and Thailand.
In 2001, Rev. Simmons founded Why Not Prosper, Inc., a grassroots 501C3 organization located in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. The organization’s mission is to help women in the prison system to discover their own strength and to empower them to become responsible, economically self-sufficient and contributing members of the community. Since that time, the organization has assisted hundreds of women make a smooth transition from prison to community. As a formerly incarcerated woman, she has a deep understanding of the needs of women in the prison system. Her organization now provides Pre-release Mentoring to incarcerated women at Muncy and Cambridge Springs Prisons.
In October 2014, Rev. Simmons helped form and implemented a pilot program – Breaking the Cycle – Re-Entry Program for Women Leaving Human Trafficking (BTC). It is a collaborative partnership with the Department of Corrections and the City of Philadelphia and utilizes the staff, residential facilities, and programs of Why Not Prosper.
Over the years Rev. Simmons has created and launched a number of other services through Why Not Prosper including a Teleservice Program in Montgomery County offering support services via phone or in person as needed. Other programs that support women include:
- A Graphic Arts Program that is a one-year program designed to encourage graphic arts for a career, employment, or continuing education.
- A Leadership/Advocacy program helps women recognize their leadership abilities and the value of collective action to create systemic changes.
- A Domestic Violence Program in the Germantown community that provides educational workshops helping women to recognize risk factors that lead to violence against women and provides continued support when needed.
- Women’s Advocacy Program implemented in January 2015, which is a one-year program that educates women on how to advocate workshops on the Adoption and Safe Families Act.
- And finally Graduates of WNP co-founded SWAG [Sisters with a Goal]
Rev Simmons is very active in the community she calls home and currently serves on the following collaboratives and committees:
- MacArthur Safety & Justice Challenge, Community Advisory Committee Co-Chair | Philadelphia, PA - Appointed by the Philadelphia mayor to ensure the city is correctly distributing resources from the MacArthur Foundation and that the city creates and supports programming that lives up to the Challenge’s core principles of reducing mass incarceration.
- Healthcare Connections for Women in Reentry Coalition, Co-founder & Advisor | Philadelphia, PA - Advocate for policies to ensure returning women receive timely healthcare upon reentry. Collect narratives and data to share with government officials.
- Reentry Coalition of Philadelphia, Member | Philadelphia, PA - Post arrest, reentering
- Pre-entry Coalition of Philadelphia, Member | Philadelphia, PA - Collecting and linking resources, programming, and providers to provide to at-risk individuals to prevent them from entering the justice system. The coalition is run through the Defenders Association of Philadelphia
- Chew & Belfield Neighbors Club, Member | Philadelphia, PA - Approve and oversee zoning projects in the area to ensure they are in the best interest of the community.
- COVID-19 & Vaccine Captain, Philadelphia Department of Health | Philadelphia, PA - Lead webinars, town halls, and more to dispel misconceptions about the pandemic and the vaccine in the community.
Rev. Simmons has authored five books, Why Not Prosper? The Decision is Yours and Keep it Movin’ - both having to do with her background and experiences, and how to overcome adversities in life. Her third book- Why Not Prosper House: How I Started a Transitional Living Facility and How You Can Too! deals with how to start a transitional living facility and create a successful nonprofit organization. She also has authored the Journey Into Self Workbook, a transformative guidebook designed to inspire and encourage readers to embark on an expedition of self-discovery by answering 108 questions, and the Spiritual Principles Crossword Puzzle book. She also founded the Inspire Magazine, which is a community connection and information resource about social and racial justice.
Remarkably, in 2015 Rev. Simmons received a full and unconditional pardon for her earlier conviction. Pardons reward people who have gone on to live honest and law-abiding lives after completing their criminal sentence. They are granted infrequently, and as a recipient, Rev. Simmons is in a very select group.
In 2023, Rev. Simmons conceived of and launched The Rolling Engagement Van (REV Van), an RV that travels around the Philadelphia community and provides food, clothing a wide range of resources and on the spot referrals, including legal and addiction assistance, to the community. The REV van is a first of its kind in bringing resources directly to vulnerable Philadelphia residents.
In 2024, she founded The Formerly Incarcerated Renaissance Museum (The F.I.R.M.), the first museum in the country dedicated to and organized by formerly incarcerated individuals. The mission of The F.I.R.M. is to illuminate the silenced narratives and empower the voices of justice impacted women while fostering empathy, advocacy, and societal change through creativity, education, awareness, and community engagement. The museum pays homage to the talents of formerly incarcerated individuals, especially women, in America and serves as an archive in the presentation of artifacts and permanent and temporary exhibitions.
Rev. Simmons has been, and continues to be, a remarkable example for others to follow. Her can-do spirit and energy are electrifying, and she is not tired yet.
Why Not Prosper is a grassroots 501 C (3) organization founded by a formerly incarcerated woman for formerly incarcerated women. We are strong advocates for women and we are committed to providing programs and services that support women in their re-entry efforts from prison to community. We provide a continuum of programs that includes Pre-Release Mentoring to incarcerated women, residential services at Why Not Prosper House and community services at our Resource Center located in Philadelphia PA.
Additionally, we have specific programs that address the needs of women that include employment mentoring, graphic arts, leadership/advocacy and intimate partner violence workshops that are provided in the community and in prisons.
Additionally, we have specific programs that address the needs of women that include employment mentoring, graphic arts, leadership/advocacy and intimate partner violence workshops that are provided in the community and in prisons.
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[email protected]
Tel: (610) 716-1113 |
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Why Not Prosper, Inc.
Germantown Office: 717 E. Chelten Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19144 |
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