Holli Tabren isn’t just providing justice-impacted youth with companionship; she’s disrupting the pipeline to incarceration in real time. Over the years, Holli has built a rolodex of trauma-informed tools that are integral to her work as a mentor for at-risk youth through Goodwill’s Reigniting Youth, Zero Excuses (RYZE) program, in partnership with the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP).  

Author. Speaker. Reentry Strategist. Credible Messenger. Superwoman. If you ask us, there are few things Tabren hasn’t done since the overturning of a 25-year sentence. We sat down with her to discuss the lived experiences and passion for self-actualization that inform her approach to youth mentorship at Goodwill. 

The following conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Q: For our readers who may be unfamiliar, what is the RYZE program and who does it serve?   

HT: RYZE is a Goodwill mentorship program that helps justice-impacted and at-risk youth navigate society and the complex challenges they face. In my role as a credible messenger, I focus on one-on-one mentorship trainings and workshops. 

Q: As a RYZE Mentor, which mentees do you work most closely with?  

HT: The RYZE program has a three-level system, and I work with the level 3 youth. Level 3 mentees come from more challenging backgrounds and need mentors with lived experience. That’s where I come in. 

Q: An integral part of the RYZE program is assisting youth with processing and healing from past traumas. Are there any lived experiences that inform your approach? 

HT: I am a justice-impacted woman who served nine years, eight months, and 11 days of a 25-year sentence before my case was overturned. I was at that max level 3, as well. I came from level 3 and now work with level 3 youth. You see the connection? 

While incarcerated, I decided to take advantage of every opportunity afforded to me. The very first opportunity was to get my degree in biblical studies with a concentration in ministry from Columbia International University.   

While going through that process, mentors and prison ministries came and taught me about affirmations and reframing my thinking. They taught me how to speak of things I wanted to see in my life, regardless of what I saw in front of my face. 

"Once I learned how to tap into that, I was like, I want to be one of those mentors when I get out."

 

Now, when I have an opportunity to work with mentees for a little while, I help them reframe their thinking and modify complex behaviors. That’s when we really begin to transform lives. That's the main goal: to prevent justice-impacted youth from incarceration.  I do everything that it takes to do that. 

Q: What are some of the barriers RYZE mentees face, and how do you help them navigate the challenges? 

HT: You can't go from incarceration to expectation without structured stabilization. The RYZE program helps with that missing middle. 

"See, incarceration doesn't always include bars." 

 

A lot of the youth that we work with are financially incarcerated, emotionally incarcerated, and mentally incarcerated, which is why a holistic approach is so necessary in everything that we do.  

Some individuals are illiterate. Some can't read. Some don't even know what to ask for or where to go, right? We go back and help bridge that gap by connecting them with the resources available at organizations like Goodwill. 

Q: You highlight the importance of protecting and empowering our at-risk youth so they can reach their full potential. What does life-changing support look like at RYZE?  

HT: When I was first assigned RYZE mentee, Ja’Kari, I had him do a pre-assessment survey so I could understand our starting place and the big picture. I wanted to know the God-sized goals. What is that goal so big you can’t even imagine it happening tomorrow because of your current circumstances?  

After reviewing his assessment folder, I met Ja’Kari. His shoulders were slumped; his body language was off. I’m like, what’s really going on? Forget the folder. That's when I found out about the food insecurity and housing instability.  

With the help of Greg’s Grocery, we secured food relief for Ja’Kari and his family. Soon after, I was on the phone with a good friend, Ms. Noble, who just so happened to have a fully furnished house perfect for Ja’Kari and his family. Goodwill stepped in and got them through the door with their first month’s rent covered. The house is so close that they can walk to stores, to the gas station, and to find a job. Fast forward, Ja’Kari has landed a part-time job! 

"You see, it wasn't just one thing that happened. It was a collection of things that happened once we put our care, resources, and partnership networks together."

Q: You’ve been doing this mission-driven work for some time now. What advice would you give to an adult on the fence about becoming a mentor?    

HT: Everything you need to be great is already inside of you. You just need to get into the right space to cultivate what you're already carrying. And when you find your tribe, you'll thrive.   

Ready to make a difference in the lives of Greenville County youth? 

Become a RYZE Mentor today: www.goodwillsc.org/ryze-mentoring-program/ 

Want to connect with Holli Tabren?  Click here.