Last week’s post described how I came to create a fellowship named after my grandmother, and the wonderful effect, after forty years gone, it’s been to have her name and spirit evoked as a regular part of my life.

Louise Eustace, my grandmother, had a profound impact on me and others, with her patience, warmth, and genuine love for humanity. Qualities that I believe best enable returning citizens—and the rest of us—to flourish.

In this post I am proud to introduce the 2025 Louise Eustace Fellows:

Justice Ainooson earned a Bachelor’s degree in Media, Literature and Culture through the Emerson Prison Initiative. He lives with extended family in the Boston area until he and his fiancé find a place of their own. Justice has a part-time gig as a product research analyst while he develops his financial services firm.

Hamza Berrios currently works as a circle keeper for Transformational Prison Project and legislative liaison for UTEC Lowell. He recently moved out of Brook House to his own place in Cambridge. Hamza graduated from Boston University and will start a graduate program at Harvard Divinity School this fall.

Aaron Morin recently moved to his own apartment in The Fenway and works as a Youth Coordinator at UTEC Lowell. Aaron is working towards a BA in Business from Boston College and is keen to capitalize on his years as a dog trainer within the prison system to open his own dog walking/grooming business. Meanwhile, he’ll be developing a parallel, non-profit business through BC’s Project Entrepreneur Program this fall that will employ returning citizens to train service dogs for victims of gun and community violence.

After several monthly dinners with these men, and other informal interactions, I am so honored to get to know them. Although I’m sure the money they receive is useful in their daily life, their connection when we come together is also important. For more than fifteen years these guys were each other’s family. They provided the mutual support necessary to successfully navigate prison, redirect their purpose, finish high school, attend college, and eventually earn parole into the community. In the name of community safety, the parole system requires parolees to remain apart. Because I got special permission for them to ‘associate’ as part of the fellowship, they have an invaluable opportunity to continue their mutual support.

When we get together, it’s my privilege to see these guys unwind, share stories of where they’ve been, where they’re at, and where they want to go. They literally build each other up. For my part, I get an unvarnished view of our carceral system from men who’ve successfully navigated it, and the immense satisfaction in having a hand in seeing these guys thrive.