Our History

In 1993, after seven years of service to the homeless in shelters and on the streets of Washington, D.C., Rev. Dr. Madeline McClenney-Sadler began to conceptualize the vision for the Foundation. As she completed her Master of Divinity degree at Howard University, she envisioned African-American churches, businesses and individuals mobilizing around two key issues 1) after-prison-care for African-Americans exiting prison; and, 2) prevention programs for African-Americans at risk for incarceration. In December of 1999, Exodus Foundation.org was born, and it was recognized as a faith based charity in the state of North Carolina. With the aid of Rev. Vanessa Abernathy Enoch, the first person to join the board, and Rev. Walter E. Fauntroy the first person to join the National Advisory Board, organizational planning commenced. All energy was directed toward stopping the flow of African-Americans to prison.

 In the fall of 2004, after three years of organizational development, the foundation launched its one-on-one mentoring program and scholarship program. Exodus Foundation.org awarded its first scholarship in 2005 to an African-American woman who had been incarcerated five times and who is now drug free. She is using her award to complete a degree in business at UNC-Charlotte.

Along with its partners and allies, the foundation is currently building bridges with employers who are willing to hire people with records. It is also planning to recruit and train additional mentors and launch the soft skills workshops, a component of the mentoring program.