ABOUT TURN90

Filling a gap in a broken system

Turn90 (originally Turning Leaf Project) was founded by Amy Barch, who never planned to start a nonprofit. In 2011, she was volunteering in the Charleston County jail when judges began sentencing people to her class on thinking to make good decisions. A lightbulb went off. She realized her volunteer class could be much more. Amy quit her job in 2012 to work full time on the project.

The first few years were really rough. We knocked on a lot of doors and heard a lot of no’s. There were times we almost ran out of money and times we weren’t sure if the program was working. For a year we didn’t win a grant over $1,500. The road to a having a salary and staff and a sustainable organizable seemed very, very far away.

Amy4

But we persevered. And here we are today.

When we reflect, the reason we made it through was our willingness to be honest with ourselves and commitment to learning and getting better. Our first eight years were dedicated to researching, creating, testing, and adjusting, and what we ended up with is the best designed reentry program in the world.

Now our plan is to bring Turn 90 centers to other cities across South Carolina and then the country.

Acknowledging Achievements

Our Recognition in Rehabilitation

Neighborhood Champions Award by Bank of America

2023

David Robinson Catalyst Award by Central Carolina Community Foundation

2023

Partners in Progress Award

To Be Announced Spring 2024

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