About Us
Until he relocated to Tucson, AZ at the end of 2019 to focus on prison and reentry ministry, Fred was the lead pastor of Redeemer Lutheran Church, a multisite congregation located in Park Ridge and Chicago, Illinois. He is also the founder and Executive Director of the Lutheran Church Planters Network, created to help train and network church planters across the country. A former missionary in Bangladesh and an expert in Christian-Muslim relations, Fred has been involved in prison ministry since 2005 as a volunteer chaplain at Stateville Prison in Joliet, Illinois, including founding the Under the Door Prison Ministry, writing the Spiritual Survival Guide for Prison and Beyond, and crafting RED Chicago, a reentry directory for the Chicago area.
He is the founder and executive director of the Inside Out Network, dedicated to crafting innovative solutions to connect returning citizens with service providers, churches, and ministries, as well as to connect those serving on the inside in prison ministry with those outside who are working on reentry challenges. Because of Christ’s call and claim on his life, Fred sees himself fundamentally as a change-agent – an agent of Christ’s life-changing hope and joy – to everyone he meets, but especially to those who are feeling hopeless or disconnected. He has a passion for networking, coaching, hiking in the desert, and Indian food. Fred and his wife Carol have four grown sons between them.
Maddi was born and raised in Fountain Hills, Arizona and she attended Arizona State University where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and her Master of Arts degree in Criminal Justice. Maddi has been with the Inside Out Network since 2020- she loves working to improve the re-entry process in various states. In addition to her role at ION, she is a Faculty Associate for Arizona State University where she teaches a course on crime control policies. Maddi is also a volunteer for Journey.do which is a platform that works to support youth in juvenile detention in Arizona. Overall, she is passionate about creating positive change in the criminal justice system and hopes to use her education and experiences to do so.
In January of 2020 I lost someone very close to my heart. Growing up in Tucson, AZ, as rambunctious youngsters, we shared numerous adrenaline run-ins with local pd and he accumulated his share of experiences in corrections. I remember each time he came out, he was so optimistic and genuinely had the desire “to do better this time”. Prison promises he later called them, and I quickly learned why when I'd get that recorded phone call asking if I would "accept the call from..." Such a bittersweet call to get from someone you love, that you can't be near or see for some span of time, that feels like forever no matter the reality. You feel utterly helpless in that moment and it is heartbreaking and frustrating. I know he earnestly tried so incredibly hard each time he got out to start new; get a job, rent a home, live the dream! But how? Where do we go for help? Back then- yellow pages or local printed directories. That was it. No money, no car, no job, but the expectation that you will succeed. It was hard then and it still is, but there's so much more hope and sincere help now. My wish is for returning citizens to know there is an amazing network of reentry communities that are waiting for them when they get home.
I have a record,I have trauma, I have a past… I also have (as of this writing) almost 1 year in recovery from a lifelong addiction of super-high functioning alcoholism. (See Below) I know what it's like to need help. And I know how healthy support can change a person's life.
I have a BA in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University and an MA in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University.
My work with ION is a tribute to Josh. Love & Miss You Blue.
Through much of her childhood, Sara lived in northern Alabama with her parents and three siblings. When she was 16 years old, her family moved to San Francisco, CA. She graduated from high school in the CA bay area and went on to the University of California, Davis to earn her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics. At UC Davis, she met her now-husband Aneel Trivedi. In 2001, after graduating from college and getting married (both events separated by only one week—this was intentional so as to allow her family to travel once to be a part of both events), Sara and Aneel moved to Los Angeles. Until their oldest child Noah was born in 2004, Sara worked as an office administrator in the UCLA Math Department, and later, as an accountant at the same university. Their family then traveled to Alabama so Aneel could attend graduate school at Auburn University. During their short time in Alabama, their second child Kai was born. A job opportunity for Aneel brought the family to Chicago in 2008. Sara spent much of her children's early lives volunteering in various roles in their elementary and middle schools (a personal favorite: the school library). For the past four years, she has worked part-time as the office manager at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Park Ridge, IL, where she currently lives with her husband and two children. She looks forward to being a part of ION and helping returning citizens obtain the resources they need to lead successful lives.
I have lived in Arizona for the majority of my life and I attended Arizona State University where I received my Bachelors Degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice and my Masters Degree in Criminal Justice. Working alongside the community and positively making an impact has always been my passion. As the inmate registration coordinator, I work alongside the correctional facilities daily to ensure that returning citizens have a smooth transition.
Hi there! My name is Kristina Beretta and I’m currently helping ION part-time with whatever they need. Raised in the "Egg Basket of the World," a small town turned city in Northern California, I started working customer service jobs at the bright age of fourteen. My first look into the world of Criminal Justice came while puttering my way through an English degree. After that taste I was hooked! Now here at Inside Out Network, I enjoy working with a program dedicated to helping fill a void our justice system desperately needs and provide the tools for those second chances everyone deserves. Outside of working two jobs, I still make time for writing stories and doodling in the margins of my paperwork while enjoying a wide range of music.
Madison was born in a small town in Northern California, but relocated to Arizona with her family, where she attended Arizona State University, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Madison first started with the Inside Out Network as an Intern in 2023 and developed a passion for reentry. The Inside Out Network is a brilliant resource that all returning citizens can benefit from and utilize as a stepping stone to create a successful life outside of prison. Madison hopes to take the education she has learned and the tools she has gained to make positive changes in the criminal justice system.
Hello! My name is Catrin Shmaeil, and I'm a student at Arizona State University, majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice, accompanied by a minor in Political Science and a certificate in Socio-Legal Studies. While I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, I have been raised in Peoria, Arizona, for most of my life. Post-graduation, my aspiration extends to the realm of law school, with the hope of pursuing a career in post-conviction litigation. I have a strong desire and passion to enhance my knowledge in areas such as prison and justice reform, as well as reintegration after incarceration. ION is a great resource for returning citizens to benefit from, enabling them to create a successful life outside of prison. I am looking forward to being a part of the team and contributing to the solution.
My name is Ava Phillips, and I am a student at Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in criminology and criminal justice. I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, but have lived in Arizona for about three years. I am incredibly passionate about utilizing reformation and rehabilitation to reduce recidivism and uphold the integrity of America's Criminal Justice System. I am extremely excited to have the opportunity to work towards providing returning citizens with better access to rehabilitative resources with the Inside-Out Network!
Hi, my name is Charles Collins and I just graduated from Arizona State University in the Spring of 2024 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Criminology and a minor in Political Science. I chose to work with the Inside Out Network (ION) because the reentry process is a personal interest of mine In the criminal justice field. In fact, I wrote my senior honors thesis on the effectiveness of reentry systems in Arizona and Michigan, the former of which the ION currently operates in. I firmly believe that providing reentering citizens with the support and resources they need to make a stable transition back into their communities is one of the best ways to ensure they live a stable lifestyle on the outside. The ION appears to be doing an amazing job with bridging the connections between reentering citizens and organizations that can provide aid and I hope that through my work here, I can help spread that reach to more people who are in need of support. Additionally, I hope that my work with the ION gives me additional insight into the realities of the criminal justice system that I can use as I prepare for a legal career in the criminal justice system where I can hopefully continue to help others. I look forward to beginning my work and educational experience with ION soon!
Hello! My name is Symantha, and I am a student at Arizona State University studying Criminology and Criminal Justice. I was born in Madison Wisconsin, but I am currently located in Cumberland, Wisconsin. My goal after graduation is to work in the field of advocacy whether that be with victims of crime or with youth within the criminal justice system. Throughout my academic journey, I have developed a strong passion for advocacy so I am anticipating the opportunity to deepen my knowledge of re-entry and justice reform. ION is an invaluable resource for returning citizens and I am looking forward to being a part of the team!
Aglaee was born in Tucson, Arizona and is currently a junior at Arizona State University. Aglaee is a first-generation college student and anticipates graduating with a bachelor's in Public policy and Public service with the focus on Law and Criminology. She is hoping to take her career path to maybe pursuing and practicing law. Aglaee has always had a passion for human rights and advocacy for others who may need resources or are in disadvantaged situations. As she has pursued her college career she has taken a great liking to the criminal justice system and has become drawn to learning about the different ways one can impact the community and help prevention and recidivism in the small ways you can.
Evan Freund is a retired health care executive with 25 years’ experience managing inner-city health care services and ambulatory care systems in New York and Chicago. He has held leadership positions in trade organizations, has served as a board member and Chair of Ancona School, and is Treasurer of Citizens for Global Solutions Education Fund. He is currently Board Chair of Community Counseling Centers of Chicago, a behavioral care agency serving children and adults. He took an M.B.A. in hospital administration from the University of Chicago, and an M.A. in Political Science from the University of Minnesota, focusing on public administration. Evan is a Life Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Evan has resided with his wife, Nan, in Chicago for 48 years. He and Nan intentionally chose to live in diverse communities for their entire married life. Their two sons, Max and Alex, both live in Los Angeles with their families. Nan is an educational therapist; whose office is in their home on the south side of Chicago. She is a past President of the Association of Educational Therapists, and a national leader in her profession.
Evan has a strong interest in international politics and world federation as well as reentry of rejoined citizens. He has become a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform in Illinois, working with major coalitions of advocates for legislative and system reform. He founded the Interfaith Criminal Justice Task Force to advocate for legislative reforms in criminal justice and is member of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, the founding Rotary Club of Rotary International.
John McLees is a retired partner of law firm of Baker & McKenzie LLP and an activist in connecting citizens with organizations and initiatives dedicated to reforming the criminal justice system and to improving the lives of those who are incarcerated or who have been released from jail or from prison.
He maintains a website, at http://incarcerationreform.com/, with information about resources for learning about the criminal justice system and opportunities for citizens to get involved in confronting the moral crisis of mass incarceration. John is also active in several organizations that work to pressure the United States and Israel to honor the human rights of the Palestinian people.
Justin has had an unconventional education when it comes to the corrections industry. His experience began as a youth as a justice-involved individual at the age of 17. He successfully paid his debt to society over a period of 10 years. He then formed alliances with his community supervision office and began working to help those incarcerated. He started his work in the behavioral health sector in 2007 in northern Arizona. He has worked in private substance abuse clinics, Regional Behavioral Health public clinics, and hospitals helping those with substance use disorders and forensic backgrounds. Today Justin strives to be a role model and demonstrates that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to those who are previously justice-involved. His uncanny ability to build connections with anyone he meets is the native Texan shining through. When he is not making connections in the world of re-entry he is making them on the football field where he has played and coached or on the mats in some of the top MMA gyms across Arizona. Saying Justin has a large family is an understatement. He is father to four daughters, one son and has a new granddaughter. Justin knows what it takes to grow strong communities and does just that here in Arizona, sharing with those who will listen to what he believes. He works hard to live his motto: “Know it, Do it, and Believe it.”
Tory has been working with the Arizona Department of Corrections Rehabilitation and Reentry Team since 2020 to align with the department's transition to support inmates through rehabilitation and reentry. She has a passion to serve God and to inspire, support, and bring positive change to all of those around her. Tory has worked with underserved populations for over 15 years including persons diagnosed with Serious Mental Illness, Substance Dependence, and Reentry Programming. Tory completed her Graduate Degree in Counseling through University of Phoenix in 2016, with a desire to better understand people first, to then create change. Tory is a Navy Veteran and it is her life's work to serve God and others "always believing in the good of humanity!"
Larry joined the Air Force during the Vietnam Conflict and, while serving, completed a degree in Criminal Justice from Park University, trained and served as an auditor in the Air Force accounting and finance office, and got a real estate license.
After the Air Force, Larry went to law school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and opened Pace & Wilson, a private law practice. He practiced law in the private sector for 13 years and was a contract public defender for both Missouri and Kansas as well as handling conflict cases in the U.S. Courts. He was recruited to work for the Federal Government in 1996, working as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for 19 years. He was subsequently hired to handle the defense in Death Penalty Litigation and also worked on Organized Crime and Multi- State Litigation.
Throughout these years, Larry engaged in numerous charitable activities. He and his wife created ECAP Enterprises, which worked with various golf organizations and tournaments to aid veterans and children's charities. He worked with Gideons International, making presentations and distributing Bibles. He also obtained Federal Firearms License and sold guns and helped to train "conceal carry" individuals.
Upon his first wife's death, he endowed a scholarship at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. He continued to pursue other charitable work, including board memberships, and, met his wife, Bonnie, through work with the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona. Together, they continue extensive charitable and church work.