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OUR MISSION
UVO was incorporated in 2017 with a purpose to assist incarcerated Tennesseans to successfully transition back into the civic, economic, and technological community. Shortly thereafter, UVO acquired 501(c)3 status and concentrated more attention on organizing, educating, and policy construction to release more Tennesseans from prison.
UVO has been a leading disruptive voice in challenging the arbitrary practices of the Tennessee Board of Parole by advocating and grassroots organizing for the release of individuals held within the Tennessee Department of Corrections beyond what the law and justice requires. Partnerships with Free Hearts, No Exceptions, and the Choosing Justice Initiative have been fruitful in moving legislation on parole matters, life sentence reform, and litigation resulting in freeing individuals from TDOC.
Our work builds community power by preparing and organizing insiders (prisoners) and their families for parole hearings, post-conviction hearings, and more. We also utilize resources to create healing spaces for formerly incarcerated folks to participate in community.
HUMANIZING THE INCARCERATED
We are more than the worst thing we've ever done.
For 26 years, I was incarcerated in seven different prisons throughout the state of Tennessee. In fact, I’ve spent the majority of my life in prison. While I was confined I took advantage of every opportunity available to me from a rehabilitative perspective. I went before the board of parole three times and was finally paroled in 2015. Although I will be on parole for the rest of my life, I am more than a number and parolee. I am a person — a person who has the same emotions as anyone else.
I cry tears of joy.
I cry tears of sadness.
I cry tears of helplessness
But most of all, I cry tears of hope.
While incarcerated, my sister was murdered, so when I say I understand the pain of violent loss, I sincerely do. I get it. Yet I also know that there are millions of people locked up in cages who shouldn’t be there and deserve a second chance.
I encourage you to believe in second chances, too. While visiting our U.V.O. website, I hope you will see that I am not unique — perhaps lucky — but no more deserving than many others who live in prison today, most especially the innocent and those who are serving life sentences given to them while they were still just a child.
Please consider making a difference in someone’s life today. Learn about our organization and find out how you can help.
Thank you in advance for your support.
Rahim Buford, U.V.O. Founder
A FEW OF OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Changing the Dehumanizing Narrative, Building Community and Saving Lives
January 22, 2020- Organized a court a diverse UVO Court Watch for Elvin Pearson
Facilitated the release of Michael Fuller in 2019 Hardiman County Correctional Facility, provided a smart phone. Donated a car in 2020
Facilitated the release of Maurice Burrus with help of Senator Harold Love who arranged for Maurice to be transferred to complete a program
Advocated for Robert Buford’s (2019 Parole Hearing) release in and got a parole grant. UVO also provided a smart phone and donated a car to Robert
Ending Mass Incarceration – Covid awareness concert conducted by Calling All Crows
Created bill to change dehumanizing language for incarcerated persons and to give them a year in advance to meet BOP requirements
April 7, 2021 Presentation to Senate Judiciary Committee to change 51-year life to 25-SB0561
April 12, 2021 Organized successful Rally to Free Donald Ray Clemons and advocated at his parole hearing. He is home after 25 years caged
MORE CURRENT projects
- Voting Campaigns: No Vote No Citizen No Freedom/30 Thousand Unheard Voices
- Free Shawnda James (caged at age 14, she is 40 now, 26 years later
- Parole: 100 Free (removing 100 parolees from direct parole supervision)
- Changing Dehumanizing Narratives
- Public Speaking (request here)
MEET OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
RAHIM BUFORD
Rahim was paroled in 2015 after being caged for 26 consecutive calendar years. A native Nashvillian, Rahim has seen and felt how poverty negatively impacts people in the criminal legal system. Arrested at age 18, he spent 26 years of his life caged within seven different prisons across Tennessee. During that time, he completed course work for Lipscomb University, Ohio University, and Vanderbilt Divinity School. Rahim was a co-founder of Salt (Schools for Alternative Learning and Transformation), an inclusive undergraduate program that provides a safe learning space for non-traditional students at Riverbend Prison. While incarcerated, he also self-published his own book, Save Your Own Life. Upon his release from prison, Rahim received a Presidential Scholarship to American Baptist College, and worked part time as an organizer for Children’s Defense Fund Nashville.
In 2017, he founded Unheard Voices Outreach to empower formerly incarcerated persons to be leaders in reentry, community building, and to raise awareness about “felonism.” Rahim graduated summa cum laude from HBCU American Baptist College with a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Leadership in 2019. He managed the Nashville Community Bail Fund from 2018-2021, where he posted bond for more than 1200 low-income Nashvillians. Rahim uses his voice to advocate for decarceration and his desire to see transformative justice to assist currently and formerly incarcerated people in their plights to be free.
DAWN HARRINGTON
Dawn Harrington is the Executive Director of Free Hearts and the Director of Special Projects for the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Recording Industry Management and Public Relations from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Business Administration degree in Information Technology from Bethel University. During her incarceration, Dawn was disturbed by the impact of incarceration on families, especially moms and kids, and inspired to make a difference upon her release. Today, Harrington is Director of Special Projects of National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls, Just Leadership USA fellow, advisory board chair for Nashville Defenders and Unheard Voices Outreach, and Executive Director of Free Hearts that was created to reunite families and strengthen communities by providing support, education, advocacy, and organizing families impacted by incarceration.
TERRENCE WILLIAMS-BEY
Terrence is the President of MOOR Enterprise LLC , a building management and maintenance company he founded. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 2014 through a franchise purchase at Stratus Building Solutions. Terrence knows how one wrong choice can decide one’s fate in the worse way. He was sentenced to prison with a twenty five year sentence for twelve years and six months. After he was granted parole, he worked hard to change his life. He joined the Unheard Voices Outreach Board in 2016. He is currently focused on success as an entrepreneur while aiding and assisting those individuals who still awaiting release from cages.
JOIN OUR MISSION
Volunteer or Donate
"Your donations will help us bring hope and community to formerly incarcerated adults and at-risk youth."
Checks may be mailed to:
Unheard Voices Outreach
P.O. 1704
Madison TN 37116
We also accept direct donations through CashApp at $UVO2017 or you can donate through paypal below.
