DETROIT – As the holiday season kicks off on Nov. 7 in downtown Detroit, many shoppers want unique, handmade gifts.
We all know there’s a story nestled in many of those local stores, and Bags to Butterflies has a beautiful one to tell.
The little shop goes beyond selling handbags and accessories.
The Butterfly House, located on the campus of Oakland Avenue Urban Farm, supports women released from prison and helps them find the opportunities they need to start again.
“It’s hard to get employment, especially when you’ve been locked up a long time,” said Joyce Berry, one of the program’s participants, who knows firsthand the challenges of re-entering society after incarceration.
Berry, who served time nearly 20 years ago, is now finding purpose and peace at Bags to Butterflies, where she contributes to creating handcrafted items.
Bags to Butterflies’ mission is to offer women a second chance—a “Metamorphosis”—as they transition from prison back into the community.
Its 12-month paid “Butterfly Program” aims to reduce recidivism by partnering with local companies to provide financial literacy training, health coaching, and future employment opportunities.
For Joyce Berry, this program has been transformative.
“It has helped me so much,” Berry said. “To relax. It’s a peaceful environment. It’s just something I love to do. It’s something I created. That someone is willing to buy it—it gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
Bags to Butterflies provides more than just job training; it gives these women hope and a community to lean on.
“You just gotta have someone to lean on when you get out of jail,” Berry said. “You just can’t do it by yourself.”
