By: Jawan Hayes #426663
State Board Chairman of NLA

I became who I needed to become in order to survive. Now its time to become who I need to become in order to thrive. 

My name is Jawan Hayes, and I have been a proud member of the National Lifers of America Inc. (NLA) since 2002. I was blessed to be in the presence of a group of men who had the foresight to recognize that I had the wisdom and willingness to grow within this mighty organization. They groomed me daily and taught me what it truly means to lead.

Serving as the State Board Chairman of this wonderful organization has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. The impact we have on lives of men and women-through our classes, events and everyday conversations is beyond measure. Hearing others share their transformational testimonies and acknowledging how the NLA played a role in their growth is truly heartwarming.

As a leader, I believe in empowering and motivating others to lead. I love walking alongside my brothers and sisters to make meaningful changes in social justice and prison reform. This has been my objective since the day I was sentenced to life in the Michigan Department of Corrections. I never wanted to be right – I wanted to get it right. 

Today, the NLA has 12 active chapters across the state. That itself is remarkable. Each chapter is led by powerful minds and dedicated hearts. When all of these chapters unite around the vision of the National and State Board, I believe the NLA will one day have a plaque hanging in the halls of the tate Capitol-recogizing the outstanding service and transformation we have brought to so many lives. That is my goal.

I leave you with this:

You are the greatest project you’ll ever work on. “Restart, Reset, and Refocus as many times as you need to – Just never give up on yourself.”

I live by that quote every day.

Today, I stand blessed with the opportunity to be resentenced and released in the near future. I was once serving a natural life sentence, and now, by the grace of God, I will soon be going home.

The National Lifers of America has played a huge role in my transformation and in helping me become the man I am today.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you are inspired to join, advocate or help the National Lifers of America Inc.

Jawan Hayes