Trance4mation Nation Testimonials
Read personal experiences about how these games impact lives.
Keep It Real
Youth Testimonials
The objective of Keep it Real is to get young people to connect interpersonally across all divides. By fostering relationships between students, we can minimize bullying, school violence, systemic isolation and depression among youth.
"At our Student Venture high school student Christian retreat, we played the Keep it Real game with 100 of our students, in place of a seminar. A lot of the students didn’t know one another, or they might go to the same school together and still didn’t know each other, or maybe didn’t like each other. Everyone had to participate and interact because it was mandatory, but then as they started they wanted to keep going – even after the session was over. They were like “Where can I get this game? It’s so cool.” They really took to it. It really gets you to the insides of peoples’ hearts and minds. It was definitely perfect for this retreat because we have a lot of tough people here, but when they saw their peers interacting and opening up, they said, alright, well maybe I can if this person did it. The students really opened up, it got deep, and when you start playing, you stop playing, almost, because you start getting into conversations so much. Also the volunteers and leaders played in our free time. The last night of the retreat, all of the volunteers and leaders stayed up from 11:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. laughing and playing the Keep It Real game, we didn’t want to stop. It really helped us to bond and to connect as a team of leaders. It brought everyone at the retreat much closer together, like family."
Oneka Kelly
Student Venture, NYC
“I am writing to endorse the Keep It Real board game. We have utilized the board game this past year in a variety of settings with teens at our Club. We have used it before or after special events/ trips as an ice breaker or group exercise for teens. We have used it in conjunction with our Smart Girls and Passport to Manhood programs, as Well as with our Keystone Club.
Even with Keystone, the game helped the teens become better connected.
The Keep it Real game is a unique communication game which has proven to be a wonderful asset to our youth programming and organization goals. l believe the Keep lt Real game will assist your staff in quickly and easily creating and facilitating positive and productive environments in their Clubs.”
David E. Anderson
Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Trenton and Mercer County
"I've had the pleasure of working with Leslie, and the Keep it Real game for several years. Playing Keep It Real with 16 - 18-year-old inmates at Rikers Island adolescent facility was an incredible experience. Watching young men express their thoughts and feelings, coupled with the laughter and even sporadic dancing, have proven to me that this game changes lives of all ages."
Kian Brown
Branding & Media Consultant, The Brand Elevator
"The Keep it Real game allowed me to search deeper within myself to find meaning in many of the things that I do. The game creatively asks the questions that most people are too intimidated to ask, boldly unmasks truths that desperately need to be revealed, and enlightens the mind. The Keep it Real game harbors a magic that changes people… and will one day change the world."
Whitney “Luvly Brown” Lawrence
"High school students are living in a culture where communication occurs via the internet and text messaging. True and genuine communication seems rare nowadays. The Keep It Real game will challenge students to think beyond their limited experience, to dream, to joke, to laugh, to create a culture of transparency and vulnerability. This is by far the greatest strength of this game, namely transparency, for when this is accomplished, youth can be who they are; not who they think they should be. They can Keep It Real!"
Moses Sanchez
Youth Minister Student Venture NYC
“It gets the conversation flowing. The students really took to it. They really opened up. It got deep, and when you start playing, you stop playing, almost, because you get into the conversations so much. Whenever you want to bring the truth out, this is the game to play. It just makes people closer together, like family.”
Archie Berwick
Student Venture
"For the two hours the youth played the Keep It Real game, they were free, their minds were free. They could forget they were in prison and could relate to one another. I believe this game could help to reduce violence among the adolescent population."
Officer Small
Riker’s Island Correctional Facility
College Testimonials
Utilized in approximately 1,000 colleges with rave reviews as one of the few Diversity & Inclusion / Orientation / Resident Assistant “tools” which students, faculty, staff and administration find to be engaging, enjoyable and extremely impactful.
"We used Keep It Real with our Resident Assistants during their diversity training as well as with one of the college's women leadership groups. The students loved every minute of playing the game. Based on their comments, what they liked most was the fact that they could talk about difficult topics without feeling self-conscious because everyone else who was playing had to do the same. This enabled them to build trust quickly and so answers were honest and meaningful. Since the training, some resident assistants have borrowed the games to use with their floors. I would strongly recommend this game to anyone interested in helping others to understand themselves and colleagues/peers in fun but meaningful ways."
Wintlett Taylor-Browne
Director of Student Services at Luther College Diversity Center, Voice, Visibility, & Leadership for Diversity
"Keep It Real was the core of our Diversity workshop for students and proved to be more engaging and impactful than any keynote speaker we have ever had. In the past, while other diversity activities have caused students to feel guilty or marginalized because of their identity, Keep It Real empowered our students to speak their truth while remaining open to the experience and the dialogue. Students repeatedly mentioned that the game provided them with the opportunity to have honest conversations with their peers in a safe environment surrounding important issues. Both the staff and students involved agreed that Keep It Real should be an aspect of new student orientation and first-year experience classes."
Patrick Lynn
Assistant Director of Residence Life The Towers at the City College of New York
"Working in Higher Education for over ten years I have experienced many different types of programs, games and theories on how to break down barriers in order to build community, trust, and a safe environment. The Keep It Real game is my secret weapon when it comes to preparing my students to be able to speak about personal feelings, experiences, and opinions with students they may not know. The Keep It Real game is a creative tool which allows students to connect an experience with a face, group laughter, and group support. It begins the true foundation of community, retention, and most importantly the building of new friendships and great memories that we as educators hope are long-lasting with college."
Mariaelena Marcano
Assistant Director of Student Affairs/Orientation Manager/Greek Life, The City College of New York
"Keep It Real isn't just a board game -- it is a FUN, COMPASSIONATE, JAW- DROPPING and INTELLECTUAL way of life. Each space on the board represents a unique opportunity to discuss serious issues such as relationships, bullying and religion, and lighthearted ones such as pop culture, superpower wishes, and dreams. The action cards are HILARIOUS, prompting seemingly shy and ordinary people to get out of their seats and DANCE, SCREAM, TWIRL, and make NOISE. Keep It Real is perfect for students striving to discover themselves in a world brimming with diverse ideas, Keep It Real never fails to deliver an adventure in a comfortable and judge free zone. I promise you that Keep It Real will LITERALLY change your life."
Brian Kateman
Jeanette K. Watson Fellow
"The Keep It Real game is an icebreaker, and is something where you learn more about someone past what you see, past whether they are a Muslim woman, or a white man, or whether they're Jewish or whatever. Personally, I think this would be good for incoming freshmen, for people that are just coming in...And think this is something that would be a great addition to this school."
Ilvin Montesino
Student, City College of New York
"From start to finish, I felt like it was a really moving experience, especially because when we started off we were really uncomfortable with each other. We were not sure it was a safe place. But we grew to be comfortable with each other. And it goes to show that when you start opening up, and when you're able to talk about things...it makes the entire environment more comfortable."
Shanika Harris
Student, The City College of New York
"The Keep It Real game has unblocked the pathways into my student’s hearts! After two rounds of riveting questions from this game, I recognized a light shining through a window, highlighting the inner thoughts of all of the people around the table. We were riveted for hours and did not want to stop playing. If you work with high school and college-aged students, like I do, I highly recommend you invest in hosting game events with the Keep It Real game."
Shawn Best
Director of Residence Life, Kings College
"Learning to lead others efficiently takes a great deal of listening. Throughout playing Keep It Real people learn to listen to others while gaining the comfort and courage to speak and know that others are listening to them. This is such a great game that breaks through race, gender and religious barriers. As a student leader on my campus I am going to use this game each semester as new members join my various organizations."
Jonathan Vascones
CUNY Queens College Representative
"We here at Idaho State University have had the pleasure of working with Ms. Leslie Robinson, the creator of the “Keep it Real” diversity board Game, two times during her campus visits. As the Coordinator of the Diversity Resource Center at Idaho State, it is vital we have support outside the University helping us improve the environment on our diverse campus. This means providing expert assistance to our campus community when we can.
The Keep It Real game has been a big success on our campus. We have used the board game with students on all levels, include graduate students and at various programs. We use the game during staff trainings for new employees and present staff who have been here for a while. We have also used it for in our staff Professional Development Program through our Human Resource Office. In 2016, we also used the game in a Mandatory Diversity Training Program for the Pocatello Police Department and Bannock County Sheriffs.
Those who have played the game have very positive responses to it, even though sometimes it brings up past experiences and asks tough critical thinking questions. Both times Leslie has been on our campus she has worked with faculty, staff, administrators, and students. Ms. Robinson brings an element of enthusiasm through her discussions on diversity and perception of her game. It is this enthusiasm for people understanding each other which is clear in her presentation. During her first meeting on campus, she was able to get people talking about the game which has helped us here at the Center to promote it even more.
We have been very lucky to have Leslie visit our campus twice, and to help us work to improve Diversity on our campus but also, our community.
We highly recommend for any and every Diversity Program looking to improve diversity on their campus, business, or any other organization to contact Ms. Robinson. We hope to bring Leslie back to our campus in the near future. She does an excellent job.”
Ram Eddings
Coordinator of the Diversity Resource Center at Idaho State University
Family Testimonials
“I fell in love with KEEP IT REAL GAME the very first time I played it. As an adult, it helped me talk about some issues in my life that I didn’t even want to think about. As a parent, it helped me discuss subjects that I would normally be embarrassed to do with my daughter, as well as my teenage nieces and nephews. This game helps you face the person in the mirror, and also makes a way to talk about difficult issues. I recommended the KEEP IT REAL GAME to all my friends and family members, including my church family. ”
Maria J. Gaston,
Exec. Producer/Hostess of Jarvelle Show
“My two teenage children and I enjoyed playing Keep It Real. The game opened up a dialogue that had been missing between us. We learned things about each other and how we think about situations that affect us everyday. The props in the game were fun because it brought out the humorous side of our personalities. It was fun to laugh at ourselves while stimulating our thoughts about the world we live in. I recommend Keep It Real to be played by families and friends. The game brought my family closer in ways which we often talk about in our travels.”
Vincent Smythe,
Environmental Artist and Health Insurance Specialist
FRIENDS TESTIMONIALS
"A safe space…at last…to finally discover things about yourself you always wanted to know, to say things you have always wanted to say, and to be who you really are! Keep It Real is a game where we discover, uncover, reveal and share. We listen, learn and grow new understandings. We open up to new places within, find answers, gain awareness, unstick ourselves and let go of old stuff. Thank you for this game."
Mary Sarah Agliotta
Therapist, Yoga Instructor
"Keep It Real is a game to be played by anyone, anywhere, any place, any time; it is a game that everyone needs."
Sherene Davis
Mother of two
"Created with love... Transformed through passion... Keep It Real is an inspirational game; evoking inner peace, positive thinking and change."
Siobhan Pierre
Publicist
“This game gives you knowledge. Some people don’t even know it is in them, the game brings it out. I could play this game for ten hours and never get bored.”
David DeLaurentis
21 years old
“Every card has questions that affect everyone who is playing the game; we have all been through and experienced all of these things.”
Matthew Armstrong-Parker
21 years old
Warrior Spirit
What People Say About Warrior Spirit Mission Homefront
Warrior Spirit Mission Homefront empowers Service Members and Veterans to share and process their military and life experiences with peers, loved ones, partners, families and friends in a healthy, enjoyable , reflective and interactive environment.
“I absolutely love playing Warrior Spirit with my significant other. I spent almost seven years as an Army Medic. Although I loved nearly every minute of it, the results after service manifested in the forms of depression, anxiety, reclusiveness, angered temperament, and other stereotypical forms of “post traumatic stress”. Very quickly, the Warrior Spirit Reintegration game has provided an intimate connection between my significant other and I that I personally have never shared or felt with anyone. Vulnerability is not easy to submit to, but with Warrior Spirit that level of personal exposure has become sought after. I have shared some of my most fond and least favored memories of deployment, not with reluctance, but with security and confidence. The conversations that we have had through this game gives both of us a more in depth understanding of who we are as individuals, and who we are together. We are able to share some of our innermost thoughts, fears, passions, and experiences in a safe environment at a fluid pace. Warrior Spirit has opened us to new levels of connection and I fall deeper and deeper into love, security, support, understanding, empathy, and trust. This is more than a game. This is a tool for healthy relationships. Thank you SO MUCH, Leslie.”
Dave Ramos
7 years Army Medic
I am a 46-year military spouse who has first-hand experience with the challenges associated with reintegration of the warrior with his/her family following deployments and extended TDYs. The level of commitment required of warriors can present very real challenges for military families. My husband is an Army Ranger who served in five war zones. He was always mission-focused and purpose-driven – totally sold-out to serving America and its people.
We recently sat down to test “Warrior Spirit” along with another young Ranger, his wife, and a Special Forces Marine. It was akin to surreal how quickly the well-designed, evidence-based questions cut through artificial, ‘macho’ answers to a deeper emotional level these warriors found difficult to explore and respond to. When they attempted to skim the surface, we called them on their ‘stuff’. The questions take the warrior and family members on an internal journey of reflection, discovery, and truth. They assessed it as: “emotionally challenging, but a worthwhile endeavor.” “Warrior Spirit” should be included n the ‘white space’ of Commander’s training calendars across all branches of service, as well as Veteran’s Administration facilities around the world.
Dorothy Guy Bonvillain, PhD
Founder & CEO, Dr. Dorothy Guy Bonvillain LLC
“Military couples struggle to connect after years of separations and misunderstandings. Often left to unproductively fight over whose experience was more significant, couples need a way to slow down their conversations and find respectful ways to connect again. Warrior Spirit- Mission Homefront is a fantastic tool for couples to have difficult conversations in a safe, playful, and fun way. It removes defensiveness, provides scripted questions, and gives couples a chance to finally experience a moment to connect in a powerful way. I recommend Warrior Spirit Mission Homefront for those who have not been able to have tough conversations about deployment and combat, for those who struggle to share or describe difficult memories, and as a way for couples to mutually understand the experiences they both had.”
Corie B. Weathers, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
2015 Armed Forces Ins. Military Spouse of the Year
Host of Lifegiver Military Spouse Podcast
"Asking ourselves how we think and how we feel are the two fundamental ways human beings approach life. Frankly, most of us are not in touch with either. Warrior Spirit is a unique game (tool) that explores self-awareness and thoughtfulness in small group settings. I cannot imagine a better way for soldiers and family members to begin to understand each other and themselves. Three cheers for Warrior Spirit!"
Chaplain (COL) David Colwell
“The idea of communication, following an extraordinary experience, trauma, or even a long separation, as in a combat deployment, is often the most difficult challenge for military personnel. What is conveyed is often purposefully superficial and often limited. An interruption in the ability to communicate thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, often results in a sense of profound isolation and exclusion. Warrior Spirit provides a unique connecting tool. It removes the challenge of subtle inquiry, by offering thoughtful, pre-designed questions, which can be used to illicit meaningful conversations with caring others. By using Warrior Spirit, service members and those who care and interact with them, are able to build trust and pathways for re-connection. Warrior Spirit is a wonderful resource and extraordinarily useful tool for those who wish to engage with servicemembers and military families!”
Simone M. Dion, MPH, M.A., LPC
Licensed Psychotherapist & Embedded Clinician
CTARNG 102nd Infantry – C Company
CT Military Support Program
“I have used Warrior Spirit with Soldiers and Family members in both the pre-deployment phase and the reintegration phase of our operations with great success. I recommend Warrior Spirit to anyone who is in the military and who seeks to learn and understand more about themselves and those they love. Many of our young Soldiers and their families have never asked these important questions of themselves, and need to. The interaction that Warrior Spirit sparks allows these great men and women to understand more about the vital role they play for our nation and the personal strength it takes to do it successfully.”
COL Eric W. Olsen
NY State Chaplain for the State Division of Military and Naval Officers
“The thing about veterans and PTSD is that veterans don’t trust anyone. This game will help veterans who are reluctant to open up, they will open up. Experiencing certain issues, you think you’re alone because there is nobody else out there who can relate. If you put this game into an environment with other veterans and people like myself that are going through the things that I’ve gone through, I think it would help a lot because those are the people that I would be open to and relate to, and they will be able to share things with me. This game will help them to walk down that path; start trusting people and opening up and also to help them to understand what is going on with themselves, and to know they are not the only ones going through these difficulties.”
Kevin Elder
U.S. Marine Corps. Corporal, Desert Storm
“As a returning Iraq combat veteran, I certainly wish the Warrior Spirit / Mission Homefront‘s interactive questions were available for my wife and I when I returned back home. Even now, we have found the questions seem to be designed to beginning the rediscovery of trust and common ground both of us hoped for. Very often, military members develop a sense that their experiences couldn’t be understand by anyone who hasn’t “been there.” But as we worked our way through the deck, we were able to extract relatable experiences and feelings from our lives. I would recommend Warrior Spirit / Mission Homefront as an essential ingredient for any couple. Working in a Navy Clinical Behavioral Health Division gave me the unique vantage point to share it with our providers. The response was overwhelming for immediate use in our PTSD and Stress Management clinics.”
Jim Enderle
Chief Hospital Corpsman (Surface Warfare/Air Warfare)
Submarine Base, New London CT
“Since purchasing them last month, have had the opportunity to utilize them with couples experiencing reintegration following a deployment. It has been moving to see the smiles, the tears and the understanding in the couples when they read the cards to each other- especially the special “heart” questions. One such question–‘What can I do to help you if you have flashbacks and bad dreams?’ –led an entire session for a couple dealing with the struggles of PTSD. Thank you for your contribution to ‘bringing them home’–this is a VALUABLE tool!”
Kathleen Saucier, MS, LMHC, LPC, NCC
Director of Psychological Health Connecticut National Guard
“A year after Miguel got back he still wasn’t the same; he was quiet and we were not talking, we were not relating. When we were playing the game we both felt more connected, like before he left for Iraq. Playing the game made us realize why we fell in love to begin with, why we stay together, and that deep down inside my husband is still the same person he was before he went to Iraq. It was like magic, I had Miguel back.”
Awilda Martinez, Wife of Iraq Veteran
“When I got back from Iraq I was absolutely shut down emotionally. We were just making every day life go by and were not connecting with each other as a couple. The game is remarkable. It helped us bond together as a couple, speaking about things we don’t normally talk about on an every day basis. The intricate questions in the game help you to get into the details of your past experience, what you are feeling, what you think about. It’s a wonderful game. This game is going to help you open up and give everyone a glimpse of who you really are, who you have become. It’s definitely something different from anything else that’s out there.”
Miguel Novoa
8 years Army Reserve, Iraq Veteran
“Thanks for following up to see whether my wife and I liked using Warrior Spirit or not. As you know, we have been married for twenty years this coming January. I have been deployed 5 times, twice overseas in two war zones. Our marriage has survived because we have been willing to do the hard work together and reach out to get help when we needed it from professional marriage counseling.
I was so blessed to be involved with the chaplain-led program called Strong Bonds. My wife and I did team teaching for 5 years in the Army Strong Bonds program in the Northeast. During that time, we had opportunities to ‘test drive’ a lot of different marriage enrichment/relationship enhancement tools out there on the market. I get excited about innovative games and gadgets and I am the one who likes to play games. My wife, not so much. Getting her to play a game with me is like pulling teeth sometimes. So as you might have guessed, it took a while to get her to play Warrior Spirit with me. Usually, after one obligatory sitting, that’s the end of it as far as playing games for couples with my spouse. Well, I was quite surprised at my wife’s reaction after we played Warrior Spirit. She loved it. We have played it several times now and every time we do, she says, ‘Can we do this again sometime?’ I don’t know why this one clicks with her. Perhaps it’s the well-thought-out questions that get to the heart of the matter. Or the simplicity. I don’t have an answer, other than: she likes this one, and we will keep using it. My wife usually takes games and puts them in a closet, out of sight, out of mind. Not this one. So far, it stays in the den within easy reach. Thanks again for coming up with a tool that actually works, even for old veterans like us. Keep up the fine work you are doing.”
John A. “Tony” Charles
US Army Chaplain (LTC) Retired
“I avoided playing the Warrior Spirit game for months because seeing it was a “game” I thought it was kind of a goofy way for war veterans to deal with some very deep issues. After finally playing Warrior Spirit I was AMAZED at how useful I think it could be for most war veterans. The Warrior Spirit game is the most useful tool I have seen in fostering communication between returning veterans and their family members. I would strongly recommend the game to all returning veterans, and I would insist that struggling veterans engage in the game. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan come to an end, our nation faces an even greater challenge, and that is the care and treatment of the thousands of veterans who suffer psychologically after their combat experiences. The Warrior Spirit game is on the front line of this very important mission.”
Eric Maddox
In July of 2003, while assigned to a Delta Force team in Tikrit, Staff Sergeant Eric Maddox worked as an interrogator to gather intelligence to track down individuals on the infamous “Deck of Cards”. Since 9/11, Eric conducted over 2,700 interrogations while deployed eight times in support of the Global War On Terrorism, to include multiple tours in Iraq, Afghanistan, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Eric collected the intelligence which directly led to the capture of Saddam Hussein in 2003, while assigned to the Joint Special Operations Task Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Eric is the Recipient of the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement and Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director’s Award.
Recharge
What People Say About the
Recharge Beyond the Bars Re-Entry and Long-Sentence Games
Recharge provides a safe, compassionate and supportive space where participants can reflect on and process their incarceration and life experiences together, as well as with friends and family. Everyone wins!
TESTIMONIALS FROM BEHIND THE BARS
"Since we began to pilot Recharge there have been newcomers and clients that have left our facility. The sessions have varied from nine to fifteen women. Throughout these sessions, the outcomes remained the same. After our fourth session, we gave clients the game evaluation. After reviewing nine evaluations, the outcome is astounding. The clients dug deep into the questions asked of them, which often resulted in emotional responses. Recharge has helped clients address issues that have been hidden with their addiction and could potentially make a mark in their recovery. The women continually ask to play Recharge within our groups. The success rate is astounding and irrefutable."
Recharge Beyond the Bars Pilot Report
Camden County Jail, Camden, New Jersey
Second Chance Staff, March, 2017
"I recommend Recharge to anyone who seeks to help their presently or formerly incarcerated loved ones–and themselves–to break free from self-imposed limitations and claim the lives they deserve. The game questions, challenges, pushes people to reflect deeply, and rethink what they always thought was true. It also takes them to tender places, and makes them laugh. In the end, Recharge helps transform lives and relationships."
Sheila Rule
Think Outside the Cell Foundation
"For the two hours the youth played the Keep It Real game, they were free, their minds were free. They could forget they were in prison and could relate to one another. I believe this game could help to reduce violence among the adolescent population."
Officer Small
Riker’s Island Correctional Facility
"Facilitating groups with my peers utilizing the Recharge Beyond the Bars game was a privilege that allowed me the opportunity to bond with my sisters of incarceration as well as find unknown common ground. The empathy, camaraderie, and intensive self-evaluation through this process was instrumental in going to the next level in the healing process."
Incarcerated Facilitator
"Recharge definitely helped the women with their task of reintegration back into the community. The game gives women self-esteem, is therapeutic, and fun at the same time. The game also guides them through many different issues they are facing. The women enjoy the dialogue the game provides as well as the bonding they experience with one another."
Celinda Burns
Ordained Chaplain
Mentor at The Women’s Prison Association
"I only wish this game had been available when I came home. Wrongfully convicted of rape and murder at age 17, I wasn't cleared and freed until 16 years later via DNA testing, which identified the actual perpetrator. Re-entering society after those long years felt like being dropped from another planet. Family members that I had limited to no contact with during my incarceration felt like strangers. Trying to rebuild these relationships with no tool to facilitate their understanding, or to make me feel comfortable sharing traumatic experiences they never lived through, made healing and meaningful communication all but impossible. ͚Small talk ͛was meaningless and only reinforced my isolation. Recharge would have been the perfect tool to bridge the gap; overcome the awkwardness, and ease the pain of separation. Presently, I continue to use Recharge often, to help my relationships flourish and help me understand my reality."
Jeffrey Deskovic, M.A.
Founder and Executive Director of The Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice
"The feedback from the staff and mentees was tremendous. It is rare to have both staff and young people rave about a game or exercise. Recharge should be considered by anyone facilitating workshops, especially with youth who have spent time being incarcerated. My experience has been that it is difficult to get young people to open up about their feelings and experiences, especially in front of other young people. Recharge makes it easy to share difficult feelings and experiences. The chip component to the game makes the participants want to share and also serves as a validation. It was done with fun and amusement, which makes it easier to happen. I have already sent one of the games to the staff at Riker's Island. They are excited about using it. I am happy to have made this professional relationship. Recharge has made our jobs easier and we are grateful for that."
Marc Washington
Project Coordinator, Friends of the Island Academy, NYC
"Recharge is amazing! This activity is interactive, thought-provoking, and exciting. Students enjoyed participating in this game while taking an introspective look at their past, current, and future behaviors. Recharge allows ex-offenders and incarcerated individuals to engage in expressive dialogue which shape their mindset transitioning back into society. I use Recharge as both an icebreaker and a comprehensive training workshop. I recommend any agency that serves the offender population invest in Recharge!"
Clorinda Sanders, MBA
Ex-offender Career Development Instructor, Operation New Hope/Ready4Work, Jacksonville, Florida
"I got together five people to play Recharge; two formerly incarcerated persons, one Community Activist and one mother of three whose husband is scheduled to be released from prison in three months... I found the game to be stimulating and a great change on the usual game setting. I believe Recharge can be an effective tool to educate the uninformed about re-entry problems and solutions, help professionals get a better handle on what re-entry is really about... and provide hours of educational fun for all. I enjoyed playing and got similar responses from all who played."
Jay Coleman
Client Advocate
New York State Defenders Association
Re-entry Mentor (R.O.O.T.S.)
"Recharge has been a highly effective tool for inmates to assess their behavior, attitude and situation while also having fun. I have enjoyed every moment. It is most pleasing to those who played the game to know that there were others out there with the same issues and problems. I've seen this game bring out the vulnerability in a ͞hardcore ͟criminal and having the inmate feel a need to share their story, help others with their struggles, makes them feel important and help start the reintegration into society with a different thought process and appreciation."
Takenya Flowers
Community Corrections Officer, Orange County Corrections Department, Florida USA
"I played the Recharge with graduates of a re-integration program, Riverside Coming Home, at one of our alumni nights. It was great to see the graduates sharing and thinking about things that they had not gotten to talk about during our 13-week program. It also allowed graduates from different semesters to get to know each other better. The graduates were all very enthusiastic about the game and were eager to the play the game at upcoming alumni nights. One lady even took notes because she wanted to journal on some of these subjects later. I think this game will be a staple of our alumni nights for years to come!"
Hope Eisdorfer
Program Director for L-STEP Xavier Mission and Riverside Coming Home Program Riverside Church
INCARCERATED GROUP MEMBERS - ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA
"I think Recharge is very helpful in learning a better way to improve the choices we make through each other. By hearing one another’s remorse, regrets and struggles helps us to understand that what we do as men can affect everybody besides ourselves"
J.M.
"I believe it can be used as a positive tool towards positive influence that could be instrumental in identifying our bad choices and remedies to change our bad behavior/lifestyles. Looking forward to next week."
W.H.
"I was able to see myself in something that each guy spoke of himself. I could relate, and it helped me to be able to open up about my personal issues."
A.M.
"The actions are a mistake that I must endure. I let myself down, my own self based on a false need, so really I needed this arrest ……"
E.L.
"My first thought after the first session was to stay out of jail."
T.S.
"I think this is a great class."
E.V.
INCARCERATED WOMEN - OHIO REFORMATORY FOR WOMEN
"These questions make you think about doing things differently."
"We really searched our hearts."
"I feel it heals without even knowing it. This game had me laughing and crying. I found peace and more understanding."
"This game has made me look at myself and realize that I have to work on my life."
"This game made me look at my life and realize there is more to live for."
"The game was on point (awesome!) As long as people are honest when they answer the questions, the game will touch their soul! I played and I did not want to stop!"
"I feel like this reentry game is a huge eye-opener for goals and go to people outside as well as inside the gate."
"We had fun and went from laughing to crying to laughing."
"We all opened up and when we answered the same question we kinda was alike. We really got to know each other. We was more alike than we realized."
"I thought the game was amazing. It was totally fun, interesting and different, in a good way."
"We always take long hard looks at ourselves and each other. LOVE IT!"
"I think we should have a Recharge committee in our dorm and when new people move in they play Recharge for at least four weeks with at least three older members of our dorm. It will definitely help them to adjust better."
"The questions make you think about yourself, which we don’t usually do until this group."
INCARCERATED GROUP MEMBERS - CAMDEN COUNTY JAIL
"I liked playing the game because it opened up how everyone is feeling and benefitted me because I no longer hold things inside anymore. I express how I am feeling."
"I love the Recharge game because it gave me the tools I need so when I leave here I have all the tools I need to better myself and help others."
"This game has helped me open up. When I got here I barely said two words."
"The questions helped bring up feelings I haven’t felt in a long time."
"I don’t have to be alone in my head. I’ve realized that they went through some of the same stuff and I just never knew it. I am not alone."
"This game has helped me to open up and communicate more with my peers, with the ability to listen and give advice and relate."
Line of Duty
What People Say About In the Line of Duty
Developed by and for Police Officers, In the Line of Duty is designed to strengthen personal and professional resilience in an engaging, enjoyable, reflective and interactive environment.