Reconnecting families through healing, growth, and community.

Why We Exist

About Us

Solid Roots was created for mothers and families navigating life after incarceration because this journey is real and no one should have to face it alone.

Coming home is not easy.
Reconnecting with your children takes time.
Starting over can feel overwhelming without the right support.

We believe families deserve the chance to heal, rebuild, and grow together.

Plant Your Potential.

What many families are facing?

Across Minnesota, thousands of women return home from incarceration each year, and many are mothers.

Too often, they come home to:

  • Separation from their children

  • Unstable or unsafe living environments

  • Financial stress

  • Limited opportunities for work

  • Little support for rebuilding family relationships

There are very few places where mothers can live with their children while receiving the support they need to truly start over.

Without that support, the cycle can continue for both mother and child.

Why do we want to solve the problem?

With an unyielding determination and a deep sense of responsibility, Lori James, the founder of Solid Roots, took a bold step toward initiating this organization. Her vision is to sow the seeds of positive change for families, with a focus on mothers and children during the pilot phase. Lori, along with her team, is dedicated to creating a future where mothers and their children can thrive after being incarcerated and reintegrated into society.

Drawing on her own experiences, Lori recognized the potential of Solid Roots to transform lives and elevate individuals, both adults and youth, by empowering them to unlock their full potential and find fulfillment. With an unwavering commitment to innovative solutions and practices rooted in faith and intention, we believe that Solid Roots will flourish into a remarkable force for good. It will serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for others to follow.

How we plan to solve the problem.

Our organization, Solid Roots, is committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for mothers and their children as they transition into the community. We offer supervised transitional housing in an agricultural setting where the family can receive wraparound support services and learn the skills necessary for a successful transition. As part of our program, we partner with community providers to ensure that the physical, mental, and emotional health needs of the mothers and their children are met. Our innovative approach to reunification focuses on the healing power of the earth, and we believe that the agricultural setting can provide unique benefits to both mother and child. With Solid Roots, families can build a solid foundation for a brighter future.

Our Plans

Sowing seeds for change.

  • "Prisoners who get programming would do better on the outside, and lower recidivism would save the state and community big bucks."

    Grant Duwe, 2023

  • Three-year recidivism rate 25% - MN ranked #5 in the US

    (2017-2021)

  • What is the annual cost per child in foster care? The Answer: range $7k - $29k

    (Statute 256 N.26)