About Us
Our Story of Hope & Transformation
Built by those who have walked the hardest paths, OAA turns lived experience into lasting community change.
Built by Experience. Driven by Community.
We Are The Solution
Offender Alumni Association (OAA) is a non-profit, grass-roots movement modeled after the concept of AA and NA: One offender helping another offender. The movement was founded by Former Chief Justice Drayton Nabers, Jr. and former offender Deborah Daniels. The founders became inspired after many early Friday morning rides together to Bibb Correctional facility to co-facilitate Prison Fellowship Academy with a cohort of men who had voluntarily agreed to participate in an 18-month intensive discipleship program led by Hugh Davis.
It’s almost like coming to the edge of the forest and the person wants to come to the other side because everything is so beautiful…and they just can’t make that step…and you just reach your hand in and say “I got you..”
Dena Dickerson, Executive Director
Partners
Milestones of Impact
2014
Founded
Former Alabama Chief Justice, Drayton Nabers, and former offender Deborah Daniels started the movement and launched its first weekly support forum at Impact Family Counseling.
2015
Leadership
Dena Dickerson becomes the first Executive Director. OAA hosted its first Banished No More Conference at Gardendale First Baptist Church.
2016
501(c)(3) Status
OAA receives nonprofit status and launches support forums inside Alabama prisons St. Clair & Limestone, beginning reentry before offenders left confinement.
2016-2017
Youth Initiative Summer Program
Mentoring the first group of 15 justice-involved youth with support from the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham – 13 completed, five found jobs, two enlisted in the army.
2017
Family Forums
We saw how deeply our choices and incarceration have impacted our families. As more families joined, we started family support forums twice a month.
2018-2019
Federal Recognition
OAA expanded to Georgia, earning its first government contract through Project Safe Neighborhoods. The President of the United States commended OAA’s impact at the 2018 National PSN Conference. Selected as lead organization for the US Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia for a two-year prevention/reentry strategy for high-risk adults and juvenile justice-involved youth.
2020
COVID Response
OAA members delivered groceries and essentials to vulnerable residents across the Birmingham area, serving as a critical community lifeline during the pandemic.
2021
Savannah Expansion
Support forums launching in Savannah, GA — fulfilling a promise made to Julius Campbell in a correctional facility two years prior upon his release.
2022
Hospital Partnership
Jefferson County Dept. of Health declared gun violence a public health crisis. OAA is selected as a community based provider for an inpatient violence intervention program at UAB Hospital Trauma Division.
2023
A Home of Our Own
After nine years borrowing space, the City of Birmingham gifted OAA an office building at 1200 Tuscaloosa Avenue in the West End — a permanent community home.
2025
Expanding Hospital Partnership
Recognizing the impact of community violence intervention and prevention partners, the City of Birmingham extends the hospital program to include the UAB Emergency Room, expanding reach to more victims.
2026
Public Health Champion
Named Jefferson County Department of Health’s 2026 Public Health Champion for extraordinary work reducing gun violence through the Violence Intervention & Prevention Partners Program.
Who We Are
Milestones of Impact
2014
Founded
Former Alabama Chief Justice, Drayton Nabers, and former offender Deborah Daniels started the movement and launched its first weekly support forum at Impact Family Counseling.
2015
Leadership
Dena Dickerson was appointed Executive Director. OAA hosted its first Banished No More Conference at Gardendale First Baptist Church.
2016
501(c)(3) Status
OAA receives nonprofit status and launches support forums inside Alabama prisons St. Clair & Limestone, beginning reentry before offenders left confinement.
2016-2017
Youth Initiative Summer Program
Funded by the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, OAA mentored 15 juvenile justice-involved youth — 13 completed, five found jobs, two enlisted in the armed forces.
2018-2019
Federal Recognition
OAA expanded to Georgia, earning its first government contract through Project Safe Neighborhoods. The President of the United States commended OAA’s impact at the 2018 National PSN Conference. Selected as lead organization for the US Attorney’s Office Northern District of Georgia for a two-year prevention/reentry strategy for high-risk adults and juvenile justice-involved youth.
2020
COVID Response
OAA members delivered groceries and essentials to vulnerable residents across the Birmingham area, serving as a critical community lifeline during the pandemic.
2021
Savannah Expansion
OAA launched support forums in Savannah, GA — fulfilling a promise made to Julius Campbell in a correctional facility two years prior upon his release.
2022
Hospital Partnership
Jefferson County Dept. of Health declared gun violence a public health crisis. OAA is selected as a community based provider for an inpatient violence intervention program at UAB Hospital Trauma Division.
2023
A Home of Our Own
After nine years borrowing space, the City of Birmingham gifted OAA an office building at 1200 Tuscaloosa Avenue in the West End — a permanent community home.
2025
ER Program
The City of Birmingham extended OAA’s hospital program to include the Emergency Room Department, expanding reach to violence victims at their most critical moment.
2026
Public Health Champion
Named Jefferson County Department of Health’s 2026 Public Health Champion for extraordinary work reducing gun violence through the Violence Intervention & Prevention Partners Program.
Meet the Team
Dedicated leaders driving our mission of community healing and empowerment
Board of Directors
Stacy Moak – UAB Professor Political Science – President
Dr. Mark Wilson – Physician, Princeton Hospital
Dr. Hernando Carter – Medical Director and Physician – Archwell Health
Katricia Cleveland – Measures for Justice, Assistant Director Partnership Development
Brandon Blankenship – UAB Professor Assistant, Director Pre-Law Program
Beth Spencer – Director Local Outreach & Volunteer Service, Peachtree Road United Methodist Church
Erica Hille Rinker – Credentialed Course Instructor, PhD The University of Alabama at Birmingham