In The News

OAA’s work has been recognized by journalists, broadcasters, and community leaders across Alabama and beyond.

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Uche A. Bean

July 26, 2026

Violence Doesn’t End When the Bleeding Stops

One of the biggest misconceptions about Hospital Violence Intervention Programs is that they are designed to stop every shooting. They are not. They intervene after someone has already been injured.

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Uche A. Bean

Violence Doesn’t End When the Bleeding Stops

One of the biggest misconceptions about Hospital Violence Intervention Programs is that they are designed to stop every shooting. They are not. They intervene after someone has already been injured.

July 26, 2026

Uche A. Bean

The Future of Public Safety Is Being Written in the Deep South

The future of public safety is not choosing between prevention and enforcement. It is understanding that both are necessary.

July 9th 2026

Lynne Keenum

Birmingham leaders call gun violence a public health crisis, highlight prevention efforts

“As we know, gun violence is not merely a law enforcement issue. It is a public health crisis. It impacts multiple people, families, across our society. But there is hope,” Hicks said.

June 2, 2026

Beth Shelburne

Alabama’s ‘Vending Machine Justice’ Victims Are Living ‘Like Livestock’

COVID-19 has led many Americans to rethink prison. But a habitual offender law has condemned hundreds of people…

September 6, 2020

Roy S. Johnson

Johnson: Dena Dickerson has some thoughts on Alabama prisons, Gov. Kay Ivey should listen

OAA Executive Director Dena Dickerson, who served 10 years of a 114-year sentence for a non-violent crime, brings lived experience to the…

July 26th, 2019

WBRC

Out of Prison and giving back

OAA Co-Founder Deborah Daniels — Southeast area director for Prison Fellowship Ministries — shares how her own re-entry struggles…

April 13, 2019

Clayton Daily News

Offender Alumni Association offers mutual support after prison

A portrait of OAA’s Thursday evening peer support meetings — a collaborative forum helping people transitioning from prison back into the commun…

October 23, 2018

AL.com

Stephanie Hicks added to Mayor Woodfin’s Re-Entry Task Force

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin announced the formation of a task force to help the formerly incarcerated re-acclimate into their communities…

April 30, 2018

Iron City Ink

Hope Instead of Hurt

A profile of OAA’s Youth Career Readiness Initiative in Titusville, where OAA leaders provided career training and positive decision-making techniques…

August 16, 2017

ADOC

Letter of Support from Alabama Department of Corrections

Commissioner Jeffery Dunn wrote a formal letter of support to OAA, recognizing the organization for teaching inmates life skills that lead to positive…

February 8, 2017