Meet emunah evans | Community Advocacy Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with emunah evans and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi emunah, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Remember that perseverance doesn’t mean blindly pushing forward regardless of the circumstances. It’s about being resilient in the face of adversity while also being willing to adapt and adjust your approach when necessary.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My name is Emunah Evans, I’m the community advocacy director at Benevolence Farm in Graham North Carolina.

I grew up in Detroit Mi, to a single mother and 3 siblings. My early childhood was pretty normal until I was 5 years old, and experienced my first childhood trauma, parental separation due to incarceration– my Father went to prison for 5 years.

I never thought this was something my own children would deal with. In [2017] I moved from Detroit to North Carolina to get away from my children’s father who had become incredibly abusive and violent– I had a family in North Carolina and I felt like having my family to help with caring for my children would be best.
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That turned out to be a life-changing decision. One of my family members abused one of my children badly. When I found out I was so angry and betrayed that I lost control and took his life. I didn’t mean to take a life, I was just trying to protect myself and my child.

In 2019 I plead guilty to manslaughter and received four and a half years in a North Carolina state prison. Being away from my children almost broke me mentally. I got really depressed, I would cry myself to sleep at night.

About 2 years into my sentence I realized I still had another chance so I dedicated my time to preparing myself mentally and emotionally for leaving prison and being reunited with my kids.. I knew that I would need Housing and employment.. My partner recommended I go to a program called Benevolence Farm in Graham Nc.

What was so unique about this program was the fact that they offer employment right away, and safe housing for up to two years. I applied and went through the interview process and was accepted. I was excited for this opportunity but also very nervous and scared.

I did an interview before my release where they asked me all kinds of questions– what kinds of foods did I like? What was my favorite color? In prison, nobody cares about what matters to you. You are not treated as a person; you’re literally a number. Benevolence Farm saw me for who I am and accepted me fully.

I was picked up from Anson correctional on May 2nd 2023 by a Benevolence Farm staff member. When I got in the car I was met with a hug and a welcome home. This was the first human interaction I had outside of prison in 4 years. She had brought me a sprite and lays potato chips–things I had told them I liked in my interview– for a snack for the two hour ride back to the farm.

The ride to the farm I was quiet and still a little nervous. Once I got there, the first thing I noticed was the huge garden. I hadn’t seen a tree, let alone flowers or plants, in so long. I was welcomed into the house. I was shown my room and on my bed were some familiar items that I had told them I liked and in my favorite colors — a purple journal, clothing, and some yarn and crochet hooks. Again they listened when I told them how important journaling and making blankets was. This was a way I connected with my children while being incarcerated. I ended my night talking to my kids all night long with a cell phone Benevolence Farm provided me. For the first time in four years, I wasn’t interrupted by a robotic voice saying, “You have 60 seconds remaining.

On my second day at the Farm, I started working with the social enterprise and I immediately fell in love with making body care products and candles. My favorite product is the Lavender And chamomile candle and our healing salve. Over the next few weeks BF staff got me my birth certificate, my state id, food stamps, and we enrolled into a program called wheels 4 hope that gave me a car after i got my drivers license and completed their budgeting program. These were all the essentials I needed to pursue my goals.

I quickly got into the swing of working and enjoying life at the farm.

Now that I had safe housing and employment I had all the essentials I needed to pursue my goals. I had Traffic tickets back in Michigan I had to clear in order to get my drivers license back. Benevolence Farm staff supported me, assisted me with making court dates and budgeting to pay those tickets off.

Employment was important – I got an outside job as a caregiver and earned “Employee of the Month” in September 2022. A month later, Benevolence Farm was impressed with my work and made me a job offer to continue designing and making body care products. Finally, I was making enough money to support myself and get my own place.

Finding Housing was harder. I spent so much money on application fees, time on filling out the applications, getting references, sending in documents — just to get denied every time. After a month of persistent housing searches, I wasn’t getting anywhere. I was ready to give up. I felt like I failed my children. As a parent we are supposed to be providers and the fact I couldn’t provide my children with a home hurt me to my core.

During this time is when one of my Benevolence Farm coworkers and former resident Katie became A big support system for me– she shared her story and hearing it gave me the strength I needed. Hearing Katie’s story was important to me. The fact that Katie got her children back after prison, let me know she knew first hand what I was going through. Katie and the staff at Benevolence Farm team sent documents, talked to property managers, and it finally worked. I got my first place, signed my lease on Nov. 17 2022 and picked up my son 4 days later, just in time for the holidays.

Benevolence Farm will never truly realize the impact they had on my life. Their dedication and support I received gave me the tools and the ability to accomplish every goal. BF wasn’t just a Reentry program — they became a family to me. In December 2022, I reunited with my daughters. The joy I felt to have all three of my children in one home was overwhelming. I felt full. I knew everything I went through In my life led up to this moment — having my babies with me.

That doesn’t mean that I don’t still have struggles. My children and I have both changed from the trauma of being separated due to my incarceration, but my Benevolence Farm family supports me through it all.

Now, I want to help other women and caregivers that have had similar lived experiences as myself. I did a lot of research on family reunification, and the importance of families in our communities – I’ve started a new program called “Bonding Families” with Benevolence Farm to help people inside prison and people who have recently gotten out to access resources and build community with other people who have similar experiences– so we can encourage and support one another.

BF has not only given me a second chance at life but the foundation I needed to reach my full potential. BF gave me support and has not only allowed me the chance to strive as a justice-impacted individual but also gave me the inspiration to dedicate my life to helping others in similar situations. “I share my story not as a conclusion, but as a call to action. A reminder that no matter where you are in your journey, there is always room for growth, change, forgiveness, and connections.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my places to go to take meetings, do homework is the Blend, its located in Graham NC
If you’re looking for fine dining KAU is a great restaurant located in Greensboro NC
For some kid friendly entertainment, the science center located in Greensboro NC is an amazing place to visit.
For adult fun and good food the venue in Raleigh NC is a must see. These are a few of my favorite places.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to Give A shoutout to Benevolence Farm a Reentry housing for formerly incarcerated women located in Graham NC. Thank you for always supporting me on my journey, and making my second chance at life possible.

Website: https://www.benevolencefarm.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1362290311279389

Image Credits
stacey sprenz