Welcome to Outside The Bars Serving Children with Incarcerated Parents.
Our Goal is to decrease the likelihood of generational incarceration
OTB
Leadership
Outside The Bars (OTB) was founded in 2015, where meetings were held in school settings with peers who were experiencing the impact of mass incarceration at an alarming rate. The need for the development of Outside The Bars was realized as students arrived in tears sharing that their mother, grandmother, or father had been arrested and they did not know what to do except go to the school. Students wept about the traumatic change and lack of adequate support.
Outside The Bars is led by Mone'e Williams-Patrick, who experienced paternal parental incarceration throughout her childhood and again in her teen years shortly after reuniting with her father. Mone'e has worked to mend her relationship with her father and now teaches others how to do the same. Mone'e has her Bachelors degree in Social Work and is youth trauma certified. Mone'e has counseled various groups in the mental health field and now devotes her time to her true passion, disadvantage youth.
At large, the OTB team know fully the effect parental incarceration has regarding housing instability, poverty, delayed educational gains and the embarrassment of peers knowing the status of the absent parent. The team's first hand experience is a key component of OTB community approach.
How We're Helping
Outside The Bars (OTB) works with children and young adults of Philadelphia with a specific focus on Olney, Logan, and Germantown. We work to strengthen their resilience in the aspects of social, emotional, economic, and academic challenges. We realize that young people are facing many challenges while working through the trauma of parental incarceration. OTB has moved to a mobile organization since the COVID pandemic. We work in collaboration with schools and recreation centers to service youth.
Get Involved
We are always seeking out volunteers who are eager to improve the community and strength the minds of children.
We aid in overcoming the shame, embarrassment and challenges. We aim to give children direction and assistance during our out of time time program; through, education, therapy and love.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to meet our goals and improve conditions. Your generous donation will fund our mission.
