Volunteer Opportunity!

Bridges To Life needs volunteers to help make a difference in the lives of both prison inmates and victims of crime. You can help! Find out more about how you can join the Bridges To Life volunteer team.

Recent News

Bridges To Life was featured on Houston’s KTRK Channel 13. The video segment is titled, “Program developed by local man makes statewide impact.” View this video.

News Articles

Numerous articles have been published about the unique work of Bridges To Life in both local and national publications.

Awards

John Sage was honored as the first recipient of the Bert Thompson Pioneer Award for Community and Restorative Justice at the National Conference on Restorative Justice in May 2009.

Jim Buffington and Brandon Willard received 2008 Governor’s Criminal Justice Volunteer Service Awards

John Sage received the HYLA Liberty Bell Award and was inducted into the St. Thomas Hall of Honor in 2008.

John and Frances Sage received the Samaritan Spirit Award on October 23.

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Bridges to Life Highlights

Awards

Bridges To Life has been recognized for its many contributions and has been the subject of numerous articles and television reports including:

In 2010, a Bridges To Life volunteer again received the Governor’s Criminal Justice Award (a BTL volunteer has received this award every year since 2001!).

John Sage was one of three finalists representing our Houston Astros for the 2009 People All Stars Among Us award. People and Major League Baseball looked all over the country for “everyday All-Stars” who have gone above and beyond to serve their community, and John was one of them.

John Sage is the first recipient of the Bert Thompson Pioneer Award for Community and Restorative Justice, presented at the 2009 National Conference on Restorative Justice. The award is given to a person that embodies “the characteristics that Bert Thompson brought to his work to broaden the application of community and restorative justice principles and practices.” For more information on this award, visit www.restorativejusticenow.org.

San Antonio area volunteer Terrie Reagan received the Restorative Justice Volunteer of the Year award, recognizing the contributions of a volunteer or organization that “promotes the repair, restoration, and reintegration of offenders, victims and the community.” In 2008, BTL volunteers Jim Buffington of Dallas and Brandon Willard of Burnet received the Governor’s Award for outstanding service in prison work. There are over 15,000 approved prison volunteers in Texas, and the Governor’s Award is only given to a very select few, so it is a very big honor for them and for Bridges To Life.

Articles

  • Texas Mediator
  • Crime Victims Report
  • Psychology Today
  • Baton Rouge Advocate
  • Houston Weekly
  • Daily Texan
  • Chautauquan Daily
  • Prison ministry
  • Restorative justice publications

Books

The Bridges To Life program and volunteers have been given significant recognition in three books published in 2004:

Restoring Peace: Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships
by Kirk Blackard, a Bridges To Life volunteer

Bone To Pick: Of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Reparation, and Revenge
by Ellis Cose, a Newsweek writer and author of several best sellers

Equipping the Street Saints: Renewing America's Cities
by Barbara Elliott.

TV News Features

Bridges to Life Book

Restoring Peace – Using Lessons From Prison to Mend Broken Relationships details the principles used in the Bridges To Life program, combined with actual stories from victim and inmate participants. The book is intended for repairing or improving relationships with others.

Victim Comments

“The first thing that victims must do is learn to live again. This program helps them to accept that change and learn to live and trust again.”

Inmate Comments

“The best part about this program is the small group setting which allows both victim and inmate to be open and honest with one another and the trust, confidence that is built through these groups.”