This inspiring reverend offers hope to children whose parents are behind bars

When Alexis White was 9 years old, she wrote a letter that would change her life. She penned a letter of "forgiveness" to her father in prison.

"I didn't know they were actually going to send it. I just thought, you know, it’s a way to express ourselves, you know. Writing it, shred it up, rip it up later," says White. "But they actually mailed it off and I actually got a phone call from him and he apologized for everything."

To hear more inspiring stories about amazing Georgians changing our community for the better, including Rev. Parrish, watch "Georgia GameChangers" Wednesday at 8p on Channel 2.

The "assignment" was a part of Camp Hope, a week-long summer camp where kids like White all have one very profound thing in common -- a parent in prison.

White, and hundreds of other kids, have Reverend Dr. Dianne Parrish to thank for giving them an invaluable opportunity to avoid the same path as their parents and providing a safe space to share their unfortunate connection. Rev. Parrish founded Camp Hope in 1999 as part of her kidz2leaders program, which aims to support and help guide these at-risk children.

READ: Georgia GameChangers: A new series of Family 2 Family specials

After spending years ministering to inmates alongside her husband, Rev. Parrish realized their kids were slipping through the cracks.

"The national average is that 60 to 61 percent of all inmates' children will one day end up in some state of incarceration," says Rev. Parrish. "In the state of Georgia there are 42 state prisons, 51, 52, 53-thousand men and women incarcerated... How many children do you think that represents?"

Rev. Parrish says it's important to catch them early. At Camp Hope, kids in fourth, fifth and sixth grade start out by participating in Cornerstone, a yearly, 1-week summer camp-style program -- as well as various retreats throughout the year. Older students are invited to the Leadership Training Academy (LTA) and eventually are eligible to become counselors to Cornerstone Campers. kidz2leaders also offers the interns4tomorrow program, which pairs students with mentors and teaches them how to write a resume and go on a job interview. In all, the programs have served over 500 children, including White.

These days, she's preparing for law school, but still volunteers with Camp Hope.

"It is the only camp I can honestly say changed my life and actually had a big effect on my life and the decisions that I've made," says White.

One key to the program's success? A concept Rev. Parrish calls the "B-HAG": A "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal," stressing the importance of plans and outsized goals for the future. Funny name, but for some of these kids, a tough concept.

"The one key I believe is helping the kids find within them the ability to tap into their desire to become more than what they are, more than their circumstances right now," Parrish says. "In (LTA) we help them formulate their vision of what they want for their life, not where they are right now, but what they want, what is the hope that we can help -- and then we track it out."

Rev. Parrish says the second major key to the program's success is faith.

"We teach them that, even though their earthly mother or father has left them and gone to prison,their heavenly father will always be there for them," says Parrish.

So what is Rev. Parrish's own big, hairy, audacious goal?

"My B-HAG is that these kids break out from the hideous rut of generational incarceration and want to be me, not me for me, but what I represent for kidz2leaders and Camp Hope," she says. "Because they will be gamechangers."

Channel 2 WSB-TV is excited to start an all new series of Family 2 Family specials called “Georgia GameChangers,” featuring local people who are re-writing history, challenging the rules and going after big dreams. Watch the first episode, Wednesday at 8p on Channel 2.

Cox Media Group