SHATTERED LIVES with Donna R. Gore, “LadyJustice”

Examining the effects of those who have survived violent crime and how it has impacted their lives.

Real people, real tragedy, real help.

Saturdays at 5pm ET Listen LIVE or podcast: CLICK HERE

When a parent, or parents, are incarcerated what happens to their children? Often meted out to other family members or foster care, the children of incarcerated parents face unique challenges within our society.

Shattered Lives guest, Marilyn Gambrell, took on the challenge to create programs to assist this segment of children to recognize their worth and better address their needs. Through her organization, No More Victims, Gambrell reaches out to the community, schools, faith based community and corrections departments to address such subjects as teen dating violence, gang involvement, self-injury, teen pregnancy, and supports children through incarceration and the re-entry process of their incarcerated parent.

Children and teens, often considered “throwaways” are offered guidance and support through a chaotic time in their lives in order to better understand themselves and the world around them.

Marilyn K. Gambrell

Founder CEO, No More Victims, Inc.

Marilyn K. Gambrell attended Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX and received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminology and Corrections. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of No More Victims, Inc. (NMVI) and is a Certified Anger Resolution Therapist. Ms. Gambrell is a former Texas Parole Officer and an administrator of two correctional facilities.

She witnessed many painful life circumstances that children were enduring who were experiencing parental incarceration. She felt compelled and it became a long-term goal to create a program to support this particular population of children. Her dream became a reality and resulted in her founding the No More Victims program. In January, 2000, she initiated the “healing the CHILD within” Program for Children of Incarcerated Parents at M. B. Smiley High School, Houston, TX. Currently, approximately over 1,700 children have enrolled since its inception. Her uniquely designed program specifically created for this population of children is school, corrections and community-based. The program has now expanded to seven schools in the Houston Independent School District, TX and the North Forest Independent School District, Houston, TX.

On August 22, 2005, the Lifetime Movie Original: “Fighting the Odds – The Marilyn Gambrell Story”, NickNews, MTV True Life and Secret Millionaire. Marilyn Gambrell is an author and a playwright with her first play production to be released in 2012. Her program is now in seven schools in Houston ISD and at North Forest High School, North Forest ISD, Houston, TX.

There have been many special feature stories regarding her work. She has been featured in U.S. News & World Report and People Magazine. Ms. Gambrell has been named an American Street Saint in the nationally acclaimed book titled “Street Saints: Renewing America’s Cities”, written by Barbara Elliott. Ms. Gambrell has received tremendous local, national and international media coverage with a CNN “NewsNight with Aaron Brown” Special Feature Story being nominated for an Emmy Award, 2004. During 2008, she was named the Alumnus of the Year, College of Criminal Justice, Sam Houston State University, named one of the Top Twenty-Five Women of Houston and received the International Ambassador of Peace Award. She was just named one of the top ten most inspiring teachers for BeliefNet Magazine, August, 2012.

Ms. Gambrell teaches the children that……because YOU exist makes YOU priceless….