Malcolm Johnson: [00:00:00] April of 2011, I was released from Folsom Prison and they sat me there in Orangeville at a bus stop, gave me $200 and said, have a nice day. I couldn't go back to my family. Nobody was around. Nobody wanted to talk to me and it was ugly. But I wound up staying at that bus stop by Dairy Queen in Orangeville for like about nine to 10 days.

And one day I was just crying. I was just like, what am I doing? And the spirit just leaked upon me and kind of. Everything you need is right in front of you.

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Our purpose and passion are simple to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our communities stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words, sharing, not just what they do. But why it matters to the people they [00:01:00] serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to impact the hearts of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. Our work is made possible through the generous support of our partners captrust, offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations.

Western Health Advantage, a local not-for-profit health plan that believes healthcare is more than coverage. It's about caring core executive leadership and comprehensive support services. They work in it so you can work on it. And Five Star Bank, a local trusted advisor to community nonprofits for over 25 years.

Our episode sponsor is Sacramento Venture Philanthropy. A community of generosity, combining people, expertise, and capital for good. This is [00:02:00] one of those conversations that stays with you. When I sat down with Malcolm Johnson and Colleen McCusker, I knew I was about to hear a powerful story, but I don't think I was fully prepared for just how real raw and transformative it would be.

Malcolm's journey doesn't start with a nonprofit. It starts with a struggle. Addiction loss, prison, and a moment of surrender that changed everything. What followed wasn't just recovery, it was clarity. A realization that the system meant to support people coming out of incarceration was missing something critical, a real path forward.

Not just programs, not just resources, but a place, a process, a community. Out of that realization, written on scraps of paper while he was still inside came the foundation for what is now good cause. Sacramento, a model built on [00:03:00] accountability structure and something you don't often hear, talked about enough belief, belief that people can change belief that second chances actually work and belief that if you give someone the right environment, they won't go back.

Today Good cause is doing exactly that, helping men and women rebuild their lives, reconnect with their families, and step into something they never thought was possible. This conversation is about more than reentry. It's about redemption, it's about responsibility, and it's about what happens when someone who's lived it decides to turn around and lead others out with full commitment to the expected outcome of productive lives for the greater good of our community.

Scott Thomas: Malcolm Johnson, 

Jeff Holden: Colleen McCusker, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. 

Malcolm Johnson: Hey, thank you very much. We really appreciate being here. 

Colleen McCusker: Pleasure being here. 

Jeff Holden: And this is a story I cannot wait to be told and shared and heard. I wanna [00:04:00] start with you, Malcolm, because it's really your history that got good cause started.

Would you give us a little bit of the background, the catalyst to founding the organization? 

Malcolm Johnson: It starts from childhood and oh, breeze past a couple of things. It is like I'm the son of a pastor and I was the preacher's kid, so my whole life was running away from church and being part of a mess. Breezing past that, I moved to California and when I was 21 and didn't look back to New York, I'm from New York and I just play music all the time, so I'm a musician.

I play the bass, guitar, stuff like that. I moved on. I wound up getting married and having children, construction superintendent for 17 years. Well, I went through a divorce and it was devastating. I was left with five kids. I always did use, but not like it was [00:05:00] recreational, you know, work, construction field.

It was a lot. It was just alive. But when I went through the divorce, I just fell apart. Substances became a major issue in my life and took me down a bad turn. So I wound up getting in trouble several times, um, until I lost my job. And then that was really the final straw when things fell apart. So as a substance user, I was out every night just doing whatever, looking for love in all the wrong places, trying to patch my head together, and it wasn't really working, getting in trouble.

That went on from 2000 to 2006, and it was one day at a stop sign. I was doing something, and I was just sitting there going, I'm so sick of this. And as soon as those words came outta my mouth, I got pulled over. You know, the lights went off, the cup pulls up to the window, he rolled down. I just hand him all my drugs [00:06:00] and just say, look, I'm, I'm done.

That was the November 12th, 2006, and my life from that moment changed. I went down to Sacramento in the courts, fought my case. This is how the universe works, fought my case, got a jury and had them find me innocent. Yeah, so as many times as I've been in trouble, you know, they were putting suspended sentences on the side.

So when I fought my case and I was found innocent, I was going to leave and the judge let the jury go and he says, no, I'm not gonna do that. I'm gonna take his suspended sentences and add him up and you're gonna do that. So he gave me nine years with half a substance abuse. Oh, of course I kicked and screamed like a little baby, but the meal was already set.

And I went to prison. Uh, in prison. I was mad for a little while, but after I started paying attention what was going on? I was realizing something is something I, I [00:07:00] needed to be there first. If I got out, I would've went right back to what I was doing. But secondly, I needed to see. I seen fathers there coming back and forth.

I seen fathers and children there together. Uh, things. Something just clicked and I was like, okay, what's really going on? Why am I really here? So I just started buckling down. I pulled the Bible close to me and I started doing like little groups. And stuff like this to keep me outta trouble. 'cause they have groups in prison where if you're in a room group, it's pretty crazy.

And even started working with guys in there, didn't know what I was doing at first. Just getting a safe place. Making a safe place. Making a safe place, and talking to these guys, going back and forth. And after I seen one guy, I think it was about three times he left. I was only there for like maybe a year, just making a year, and he is there a third time and I was like, what is going on?

Why are you back here? He just told me you had kids and this and that. I'm like, you let me outta here. I'm not coming back. And so he told the [00:08:00] story and he's like, we get out, we go on probation, we have to go to the same neighborhood. If we don't have money, we wind up in the same place and with the same friends and survival of the fittest comes in.

You know, you, you gotta survive. So we wind up in the back in the same thing. We fail probation, we get violated. We're back. We fail parole, we get violated. We're back, and I'm just like, eh, that can't be right. Anyway, just after time and time of seeing different individuals come in, I'm like, this is a problem.

I got scared for myself because that's been my, my ammo is to get out and because I had been locked up probably nine times, 10 times, and every time I got out within two weeks to a month. I didn't have a different setting. I didn't have a safe house to go to or a good set of people to, you know, plant myself in.

My old crowd was not healthy in the crowd before that, that was good. Didn't want to, didn't want to be around me, you know, because of what happened. So [00:09:00] I just started paying attention and writing stuff down and April of 2011, I was released from Folsom Prison and they sat me there in Orangeville at a bus stop, gave me $200 and said, have a nice day.

Um, panic. Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Sure. 

Malcolm Johnson: I, I sat there for a good two weeks, close to two weeks 

Jeff Holden: with no integrate reintegration programs whatsoever. Just here 

Malcolm Johnson: what I did in there with the guys. So that was, yeah, what I worked with the guys. So I did, and I just kind of skipped a little. I started like a little pre-release thing in there, pre-release program.

I was gathering information, getting with the guys, Hey, you got this, this resource, this resource. Be when you get out. Go here, go there. I didn't even know I was giving them false information because that's what they gave us. So it was really like, I thought I was doing something and when I got out and I went to use this information, it was not up to date.

It was not this or that. So no, they didn't give us anything. They literally [00:10:00] closed the previous program this second year I was in there and I gathered all that information and kept it and. It was devastating for me. I was pretty much crying. I went and got a little cell phone and I started calling these places 'cause I didn't know where to go.

I couldn't go back to my family. Nobody was around. Nobody wanted to talk to me and it was ugly. But I wound up staying at that bus stop by Dairy Queen in Orangeville for like about nine to 10 days. And one day I was just crying. I was just like, what am I doing? And the spirit just leaped upon me and kind of.

Everything you need is right in front of you. I'm like, what's that all about? And literally, I mean like a little tingle in the back of my head and a voice. I'm like, okay, now we're going crazy. And you know, and then it hit about three times. And then I went to move and my package fell off my lap and hit the ground.

And I went to pick it up and all my papers were spread out. And I started [00:11:00] looking at it. It's like everything I need is right in front of me. And I started reading it. I was like. Oh, you wrote all of this stuff in prison and you're not doing nothing with it. So I read an hour and a half or so, and I read through it.

I was like, it's a program. That's when I called it a program. I like, this is a program. I was like, oh, oh, okay. I put it back in. I got moving. I got up from the bus stop and I just started going. I had about $13 left and I started heading towards North Highlands. My familiar place. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Malcolm Johnson: Not a good idea, but I didn't know what to do with Max.

Anyway, I got to non filings and I was going to McDonald's on Elk Carn Boulevard, and it was Sunday and I was there and I have, by the time I got there, I only had about six or $7 and I wanted to eat something and I was there and I was looking at the menu and some lady. Saw me looking at it like counting money.

And she goes, are you hungry? You need to eat. And I [00:12:00] just looked at her and I was like, I just have a few dolls. I need a couple mores. She helped me out and she, whatever I ordered, she, she paid for it, the rest of it. And she goes, when you're done, there's a church right down the block. Uh, it was called New Testament about this church.

And I thought, Highlands, and I was like, 

Darrell Teat: yeah, 

Malcolm Johnson: okay. You know, brought up in a church. I was not trying to go to the church. But I'm walking around with this pile of papers. So I get there and I go there and they're just in there. I'm in there, and the story was on the Prodigal son and I was like, oh boy, here we go.

And after he finished, I was pretty much in tears, so I went up there for prayer, whatever help I can get, and passed up there. He went to anoint my head with oil and pray for me, and he just kind of backed off like his hands would burn. What did I do? Did I hurt this guy somewhere in life? You know, all kinds of things Started going through my head and he just backed up and said, no.

He says, you need to tell your story. I just looked at him and he goes, you got the story to tell. And I told my story. It took [00:13:00] me about 45 minutes to give him the short version, and I sat there and when I was done. It was just like a big light just went on everywhere around me and people started just coming up and saying, sorry, and we hope you make it.

And your story's am amazing. And then the principal of Martin Luther j King Junior High School, showed up up there and he is like, Hey, I am an old Air Force colonel, but now I run, I'm the principal of Virginia High School in El Paso Heights. We need you. We need you to tell your story. Two of those kids.

To their parents and their fathers, you know, let 'em know where they're at. And I just, I didn't think much of it then, but I said, okay, you know, and then people just giving me money and stuff. By the time I left, I had about $700. Oh my goodness. I had a place to stay for a couple of nights and it just was amazing.

And the following Monday, I went to Martin Luther King, Jr. High School, and I got there and my clothes were pretty shabby and. [00:14:00] Colonel Harris, he talked to me and told me what he wanted from me and he took me downtown to a suit place and he had the guy fit me with some suits and stuff like that, and he says, I really need you, and did that and went back and I started telling story to the kids.

I went to an assembly with them and told the story in the auditorium, and then somebody else saw me and he was the, the founder of Shoulder to Shoulder, which is a, a kids mentor program for kids in junior high school. To have like big brothers and stuff like that. And he says, I need you to tell that story over here.

And I started telling it over here and it just kept going and going. And finally, Tom Allison, he showed up and he was helping them remodel and he's talking, he goes, well, I need somebody to run the project. 'cause they were moving from the school into a trailer. So I need to remodel it. I need somebody to run a project 'cause I can't be it.

I'm doing my work. And I introduced myself. I said, I believe I can do that. That's been my job all my life, you know, and stuff [00:15:00] like that. He goes, really? And we start talking. Worked about two days with him. He is finally, he is like, what are you doing here? What are you really doing here? I said, well, I'm volunteering, I'm doing this.

He goes, no, no. What are you doing here? '

Jeff Holden: cause you know what you're doing, 

Malcolm Johnson: right? 

Jeff Holden: Construction, trade, 

Malcolm Johnson: right. And I was really afraid to just venture out on it because. The spirit said I had a different job to do. He came back about two weeks later and he's shaking. He says, you think you can do this? And I was like, uh, I believe that's what I'm supposed to do this.

I've been out here for probably exactly a month and a half now, homeless, you know, bouncing around, and he goes. I'd like to talk to you more about it. And he invited me to his house and we became very close. He had a family member that was struggling with substances as well, and he just like, what can we do?

I think you have what we need to do. And we got together and I started working and he is like, how do you wanna address it? I said, I think it needs to be a nonprofit. He goes, well, you have to do the homework because I have a [00:16:00] job. And I stayed at his house and I went online. I just nonstop. The next three months until finally came up and he's like, where you at?

And I was like, well, down to where we need 800 bucks to get the, the nonprofit thing and this and this. He goes, okay, well we, we got some jobs, I'll put up the money and you get that part done, but now you gotta work with me. It was good. Everything was really good. We worked together for a while, but I finished it up and when we first started, you know, it was called Good cause he, it pretty much came with the name.

It came good cause 

Jeff Holden: and for the benefit. Of people listening, what is it? What was in all those notes? What was it that you were putting together? 

Malcolm Johnson: In all those notes was my little walkthrough prison and everybody else's. I had put together sessions of what was needed to survive out here, how to put it together, what to look for, what kind of support that needed to be built, because it wasn't there as far as I could see [00:17:00] and what they were saying in there.

And when I got there, it wasn't there. And. Structure. I think I, I built a whole thing from the ground up and on paper and when I looked at it, even down to the budget, to everything, getting the apartment building or old hotel or you know, just going into the community and taking other community, it was pretty stabilized numbers and everything all the way around what kind of staff we would need to do it and everything else.

So it was like, you know, I think I had about $3 million project there. It didn't quite come out like that, but it's getting there. It's people helping people help themself. You know? It's like I figured if we can't get what we need, it's because we don't know how to communicate what we want for ourselves.

And the guys I was working with, it started off really rough because most 'em were mental health and homeless. And I was working kind of rubbed on the Salvation Army, but in that paperwork. [00:18:00] The hard line frame was there. So yes, we need a house. We need a place to put our heads together and set up for job.

It wasn't about drugs really. We weren't really the aa, na kind of thing. And the way I approached it, it was drugs were never the problem. We were, we were just using the drugs to cover our pain or whatever we were running from. Mm-hmm. So it turned to a trauma-informed situation. Okay. What's making us do the drugs?

So I addressed it a different way, which was I turned it into a spiritual, mental, physical kind of approach. 

Jeff Holden: And this is for recently released prisoners. Mm-hmm. Who are coming to, we'll call it reintegration, but not necessarily so, because if it's unsuccessful, it's recidivism. 

Malcolm Johnson: Right. 

Jeff Holden: And they would just show back up in prison because they didn't have.

Tools to equip them to reintegrate. 

Malcolm Johnson: That's correct. 

Jeff Holden: And so you saw this, you built this entire process on a piece [00:19:00] of many pieces of paper. Over the course of your time there I started in a little tiny house. Right. And with Allison's support, you were able to get into the first steps, which was probably just a couple of guys, right.

Coming out of 

Malcolm Johnson: prison. Yeah. With his support, I was able to put the framework together and put the package. And go out. But more importantly was the people that he was connected to, like a lady was losing her house and she was gonna go on foreclosure and she was talking to Tom and Tom said, oh, I got somebody that might be able to help you.

And he introduces me to her and she's like, well, if you could help me get outta foreclosure. Then you can start your, your program there. Okay, well, I'm sure I can help you, you know, and three months in, I raised $11,000 and helped her out of her foreclosure. And then that's when everything really just took off.

So that was January of 2013 when that, so 

Jeff Holden: really less than a year. 

Malcolm Johnson: Mm-hmm. Oh, it happened Pretty, everything happened [00:20:00] very quickly. You brought up. Not having certain things, but they had tools. They gave guys tools. But if you don't have a place to practice the tools, you don't have a place to focus a where to eat and take a shower.

Those tools don't mean anything because you don't have a toolbox to put 'em in. Mm-hmm. And that's what really took off. That's where the programming, yeah, this programming works for some things. You can take some good nuggets out of it and put it, but if you don't have a place to do it. That's what it kept lining up for me.

No place to get away from the old people, no place to lay ahead, take a shower, have a place to eat. So that became essential, which is find a place to feel safe and feeling safe for prisoners, people getting outta prison and stuff like that. It's a big transition. If you don't have a place to lay your head, those tools really don't come into effect as your survival mode stays on.

Jeff Holden: Housing's important, eating's important. 

Malcolm Johnson: So it was, to me, it was the most [00:21:00] important to start your thing. So when she gave us the place to do that and everything changed and everything just kept going after that, it wasn't just a house. And two weeks later, somebody was watching what I was doing on 12th Street at a homeless thing.

They were feeding and he is watching me and he is watching me and his name was Mo Mohan and he's walking up and he's going, I like what you're doing. I really like what you're doing. He walk off into the crowd and going around before the end of the night, it was the third time. He just like, I really love what you're doing.

'cause I had guys there doing security wearing, you know, wearing shirts and just uniform like, and he goes, I love what you're doing. It gives me a hundred bill. And he goes, tomorrow, come find me. And he gives me a card and I go down, meet him and he introduces himself and he goes, yeah, on these buildings over, I'd really like to know what you want to do.

And I say, well, I'm really looking to work with these men, but I don't have a place to work with them. [00:22:00] We need, we need a class, A classroom. Because at the house I was just working with the one little computer. I'm working with like six guys and helping 'em get jobs and looking for this and that. That was all happening in a three bedroom house that some lady let us use that.

I had anywhere from nine to 17 guys in just to raise her money. So, 

Jeff Holden: no. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yeah. Yeah, it was, it was quite the show. It was really the show. But Mo, he kind of opened it up where that. Pressure was alleviated with the spread out. He took us down and he says, I have this 13,000 square foot warehouse right here.

Nobody's in it. Can you figure out how to use it? And that Tom Allison kicked in. We will remodel that. And everything just kept going and, and I can't even put it all in words, how exciting it was. And it just took off from there. The house stabilized, the lady wind up. Her house and selling it and stuff like that.

And it wasn't proper for what we were doing anyway. It was right there on 13th [00:23:00] and Sea where the neighborhood was, and it needed to change. It wasn't enough space anyway, but the process changed. The program changed into a process. People needing more than just a place that laid their head now. Now they need to practice the tools they have.

So it sent us, sent me into a whole different thing. And I was doing the work. We set up the whole shop, the whole warehouse. We went down ne Neo low BM bmw. Mm-hmm. They were getting rid of their computer system there, and somebody told me about it. I went down and talked to them. They donated all their computers, so we set up a whole classroom with like 15 computers and.

Everything just kept coming. I mean, the warehouse was full before I knew. Before I knew it, there was a place in the Air Force. They closed down. They donated all the dividers and office stuff, and it was just took off and we started working. What then on, on a whole different level. 

Jeff Holden: Tell me about that.

Because [00:24:00] it's more than a program now. Now it's a process. It's something that I understand from prior conversations. This is a discipline and. It's not everybody that gets into your program. You vet them today before they can get in. And what are some of the criteria that you hold them accountable to?

Malcolm Johnson: Accountability is a big deal, but what we hold to is what we don't want. You can't come in using, you have to have a great attitude. You can't be on substances of any kind. So like, so we vet everybody, um. I call it my BS sniffer. Uh, since I've been through it, you've been there, you understand? I mean, I've been through it.

I've heard all kinds of stories and you know, when I was out there doing what I was doing, it was, I would say whatever you wanted to hear, to get where I needed to go. So there needed to be somebody to, to really screen that. So, looking at it, we put up a little list of things. Definitely attitude was number one.

All [00:25:00] right, we don't attitude substances, we don't steal. We don't have violence and we definitely don't bring anything in the house. Those are major things. After that, I, I kind of push everything else to the side because of what we're dealing with. Everybody has issues. Everybody doesn't come from the same background.

There's nothing common except for the fact that we were out there. So I have guys from all walks of life, so that criteria has to sit at the front. And it all does start with the attitude, how people address you, because the, the system wasn't there for me, so I wasn't gonna make it usable by anybody else.

So we kept it tight. So when we first started working, I with the county, they wanted to give us everything and anybody, and I was like, no, we don't need your money. That bad yet. We needed the money. Right? But I'm not gonna take anybody that doesn't want. To change, change the course of their life. And we, we stuck with it and it makes us [00:26:00] successful.

Um, our percentage rate is at 79 as far as people making it and having their own house and home and being back with their families. So it's a bit, I think that's, 

Jeff Holden: which is a hugely successful rate. Grounded to 80%. 80% of the people that come through your program do not return to jail? 

Malcolm Johnson: Yes. And, and that's only because.

It's easier for me to tell them than somebody that hasn't been through what they've been through. This guy is not some doctor telling me something that's never been through anything that I've been through. This is somebody who just came outta the cuts in prison and he's making it happen. That shows them that it's possible to happen.

So that's inspiring for them, and they come with an open mind. Okay, they're not all locked up, gone. Oh, this guy doesn't know what it's like because I do know what it's like. 

Jeff Holden: And, and you vetted them so you can see. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: You know, the attitude is right. They're gonna be the people, the type of people who want to [00:27:00] succeed, 

Malcolm Johnson: who want to succeed.

Jeff Holden: And then you have this history of alumni who have come through the program who I'm sure are incredibly helpful for the people who are in the process. 

Malcolm Johnson: The alumni is one of the most important. You'll see my, I pull up on Facebook, so-and-so is a counselor. So-and-so's doing this, so and so just bought a house.

You know, they're like, Hey, I knew that guy from prison, or this or that. No way he got it together. No, we, it's possible. So the alumni coming back and telling their story, um, is, is gold and it makes things a whole lot easier as far as it can be done. 

Jeff Holden: We'll be back with more from Malcolm Johnson and Colleen McCusker of Good Cause, Sacramento, right after we hear from those who make this program possible.

James Beckwith: I'm James Beckwith, president and CEO of Five Star Bank. We're dedicated to supporting nonprofit organizations who advocate for the strength, resilience, and vitality [00:28:00] of those they serve. When nonprofit organizations thrive, our community does too. By supporting the nonprofit podcast network, five Star Bank is amplifying the voices and meaningful impact of our nonprofit community.

We're five Star Bank, a trusted nonprofit partner. How can we help you? 

Darrell Teat: We are really excited to be part of the family and contribute to the work that you all are doing. Core provides fractional and interim executive services along with comprehensive back office solutions that go into our client sites and do the work to give them the capacity they need in order to move through transitions, whether that's planned or unplanned, or companies also work with our accounting and finance.

Back Office solutions, human resources, technology and administration. The reason why our back office solutions add value is because we save them time and money anywhere from 20 to 30% of what they would spend on that back office solution. We [00:29:00] work in it so they can actually work on it. CXOR e.com and contact me directly at DTE a t@cxoe.com.

Jeff Holden: If you're interested in learning more about how CORE may help your organization, visit CXO r.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations annually. We survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we hear concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. 

Jeff Holden: At Western Health Advantage, healthcare isn't just a service, it's a shared value.[00:30:00] 

As a nonprofit leader, you need a health plan that understands the important of mission-driven work. Western Health Advantage is a local not-for-profit health plan that supports organizations like yours with affordable, flexible coverage options for your team. But what truly sets them apart is their commitment to community supporting nonprofits like the American Heart Association, Sacramento Ballet, and the Crocker Art Museums.

Pay what you wish Sundays with access to top tier providers and dedicated local support. Western Health advantages more than a health plan. It's a partner in your purpose. Explore your options today@westernhealth.com. Western Health Advantage, healthcare with heart. It's designed for those who give back.

Brad Squires: Hi, I'm Brad Squires, CEO of Sacramento Venture Philanthropy for more than a decade, SVP has brought together local donors, business leaders, and nonprofit change makers to do philanthropy [00:31:00] differently. Through pooled funding, hands-on mentorship and programs like Fast Pitch and a hundred XSVP helps nonprofits build real long-term capacity, not just short-term solutions.

If you're looking to go beyond writing the check and wanna use your experience, your voice, your leadership, to create a lasting impact and have a lot of fun doing it, now is the time to join SVP. Learn more about becoming a partner@svpsacramento.org. 

Jeff Holden: Today you are in a house that houses how many men? 18.

Okay. Yes. And what's interesting is. As you're going through this, you know, you, you have your, your funding partners. Before we get there, let me ask you, who are the people that you work with on a collaborative basis who helps identify the prison release inmates who are gonna be able to come to the program to begin with, and who do you work with in the [00:32:00] community to support you?

Malcolm Johnson: So let's go with the. From Prison first, and that would be the County of Sacramento. The Sheriff's Department reentry program that they have in Rio Consumers Correctional Center out in Oak Grove are some sheriffs that really have a heartfelt place to help people. I've been working with them since 20 16, 17, and it started off with their whole program.

They're like our cheerleading squad. As far as if you wanna get your life changed, this guy is doing it. The sheriff's department is really big. We're very tight with the, with the Sheriff's department. I'm pretty close with the Citrus Heights Police Department. It's really good. Outside collaborative, we have people, one of the main ones is Jake's journey, which is.

Like a hub for homeless people to go. They're one of the people that we work with as far as helping them out. [00:33:00] They see certain people coming through and they're like, oh, you need to go over there. So we stay close. St. Vincent's de Paul has helped people coming through that needed funding several different places.

Uh, loaves and Fishes, sister Libby and, and the Sisters of Mercy are riding around. If I need funding for somebody, if I could Uber a call, she'll say, oh, what's the situation? And they'll fund somebody for a month or two. Midtown Church of Sacramento, they're one of our major supporters, so they, they put up a large amount and they have guys working there.

We set up church firm in Elk Grove, a mobile church from every weekend. I have a team of guys go out, so that kind of supports stuff. So we have a pretty tight collaborative group out there. There's a lot of groups I'm not even mentioning 'cause they're just in and out. But everybody's looking for funding, you know?

So we're doing our best to just meet everybody is, we don't have a large staff. You know, I'm the only one on payroll as a matter of fact, and that just [00:34:00] happened this year. Everybody's a volunteer. They volunteer at time, their love, their care. 

Jeff Holden: That's, that's the next question. That's a, a perfect segue to it.

How are you funded? Where does the funding come from? 

Malcolm Johnson: Most of the funding comes in through the county and through midtown of Sacramento. A lot of the guys support themselves. This is really not a giveaway. This is a hand up, not a handout kind of situation. 

Jeff Holden: So they actually have a contribution, a, a monetary contribution to 

Malcolm Johnson: Yes.

Jeff Holden: Stay in the house. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yes, they do. A lot of 'em come in with their families and we're pretty much letting the families know. These people, if they're we're doing our job within three months, these people are supporting themself. And if they really love what they're doing there, they don't leave. They pay their way to be there.

So we have, you know, a fee for being there, which includes their food for the men's site anyway and everything. They need ongoing counseling, fellowship classes. As long as they're working and moving forward, it's a [00:35:00] grow or go kind of situation. Mm-hmm. But if they don't have skin in the game, you don't tend to get.

You don't get the sincerity, and I'm not all about the entitlement and stuff like that. So we don't wanna put out that we're giving them anything except for hope and a place to put the pieces together. So when they get to the point of the three months, four months, they mostly have a job within what, three to four months?

And they're paying their own way and they're excited about it. 

Jeff Holden: Sure. 

Malcolm Johnson: And that's when you know what you're doing is working. 

Jeff Holden: I'm sure there's an accountability to the house. 

Malcolm Johnson: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: And I mean the house, the people in the house, not the house itself. 

Malcolm Johnson: Right. 

Jeff Holden: There's an accountability there when you're going back and forth.

Now you've got a job. Sure you could fall back into the same old ways easily, but you've got everybody around you to support you in a similar situation. And you recognize that I'm gonna stay here for a while because I know if I don't, what's the average stay? 

Malcolm Johnson: So, and I'm glad you brought that up. Excuse [00:36:00] me.

I have to look back a little. So the process started off three months. Okay. After a year, I moved it to, oh, it's a six month process. After another three months I moved, this is a nine month process. So the last process on paper, I said 18 months to two years. Okay. Because that's how long after evaluating over and over how many people started to fall off.

No extended help. The fellowship, the, the alumni coming back to be part of, that's a big deal. It keeps everybody tethered to it. So the house is like, the sunrise houses is the hub of starting at the house. All the stuff comes together. There's no process without being in the house. Okay? You just, you get to practice the tools, live the tools.

You have communal living, you have learning how to. Solve issues, learning how to live with other people, getting your budget together, keeping your money in order, [00:37:00] being respectful. We work with the the four agreements a lot, 

Jeff Holden: and those four agreements 

Malcolm Johnson: be impeccable with your word. Tell 'em take anything personally.

Don't make assumptions and always do your best. So those are four anchoring agreements that you don't make with somebody else you make with yourself. And it makes a difference. 'cause you put, we put little signs, a load, a place, you know? Right when you walk in a door, the four agreements are there. 

Jeff Holden: So you've mentioned a couple of times the woman's house, and we don't know what that woman's house is yet, but Colleen, that's, that's your turf.

Colleen McCusker: Right. 

Jeff Holden: And Malcolm lives at the men's house, works with the men all the time. You live at the women's house. When did the women's house come into play? 

Colleen McCusker: Well, I was working at a recovery facility and. That was actually one of the homes of the recovery facility, and they decided to cancel that lease. And so I've always loved the house.

It's a beautiful home. It's like a sanctuary. [00:38:00] And so I always thought that I would never open a women's house. I wanted to, women are different. It's, it's a little bit different and, and I can see what goes on in the homes because I, you know, oversaw several homes. And so when this house became available, I was always very attached to that house.

And there were also other things happening. You know, the, the clinicians at work, they were, people were always asking me, what about the women? What about the women? We need a women's house. You know, why don't you take women? And you know, just all of that was happening at once and the house became available and.

I slept on it that night and the next morning I woke up and it was just like I told Malcolm I wanna open a women's house. And he was like, okay. And so I said, I have the house. I know the house I, I'm gonna call the homeowner and make it happen. He was like, okay. I called the homeowner [00:39:00] and we met with him like two days later and he loved what we did, and within two to three weeks we opened a women's house.

And 

Jeff Holden: so it's an an amazingly quick turn. Although you did have a platform, you had a process. Yes. You knew what you could implement and just bridge it over. And you were familiar because it's what you were doing already 

Colleen McCusker: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: Before they were closing down the program. Yes, 

Colleen McCusker: yes. 

Jeff Holden: What a, a serendipitous opportunity for fortunate, uh, and timing all the way around.

Colleen McCusker: Absolutely. Absolutely. And it's been wonderful. I'm blessed every day. It's wonderful to work with the women and I learn as much as they do throughout the whole process. Like he said, the homes are the practice ground and it is for me too. 

Scott Thomas: Mm-hmm. 

Colleen McCusker: And, you know, keeping those four agreements top of mind is, is excellent tool to use and to throw out there, you don't have to say much.

It's like, wow, were you taking that personally? And we we're always, we need [00:40:00] to look inside. We need to look at what's my part in this, what's my lesson? That's kind of what we teach in our classes. No judgment, no blame towards yourself or others. And that's, that's the glue. That's really what makes it work.

And I saw it, it happening with the men and it was wonderful. And yeah, it's needed for women. Mm-hmm. We've worked with the Family Justice Center and St. John's, and it's, it's a safe place. 

Jeff Holden: Malcolm, gimme a, uh, gimme a success story. Tell me, and obviously no names, but of somebody who's come through the program and where they've ended up.

Malcolm Johnson: Well, I could start with 

Jeff Holden: besides yourself, of course. Yeah. 

Malcolm Johnson: We have an individual who is now the head of one of the heads of counseling at WellSpace, and Wow. He came in after 25 years being in the system and we worked, he didn't even know to turn on a computer. Okay. [00:41:00] So we worked together. He came in. We got him set up on a diet 'cause he was a diabetic, which was a problem for him.

But everything, we just changed everything. We got him enrolled in school, he started working with me. We do a little side jobs. We worked with a couple of real estate companies and we had set up a little lawn service service, getting him to work and he 

Jeff Holden: completion had some fee for service too. 

Malcolm Johnson: Mm-hmm. And he just kept going to school and did his thing.

And he started taking counseling classes and you know, he. Was with us, what, 18 months and then 

Jeff Holden: in the window? 

Malcolm Johnson: Yep. And he met someone and he was still doing his classes and graduated college. He got his AA and. He started doing counseling. He is working with Will Space. He is one of the lead guys there. He is married.

He bought a house. Wonder now this is a guy, he, every time we talk he goes, hi. Never in a million years, you know, we're talking about, oh a bike. A guy at that, you know, he [00:42:00] is like, I never, he is all tatted out and this and that and you see him now he is clean, cut and goes to work and people listen. It's kind of like my story.

It makes things change 'cause he is using his story. He's doing the same thing, so that's just amazing. You know, he, 

Jeff Holden: those have to make you feel 

Malcolm Johnson: Oh, 

Jeff Holden: just amazing. 

Malcolm Johnson: It's part of how I was getting paid when I, I'm saying I'm just taking on a salary. Well, I got paid spiritual coin. For the last 15 years, you know, 14 years, it's, it's always been a spiritual coin thing.

It's like when somebody makes it, or I run into a store where some kid runs up and says, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson, thank you so much. And he's hugging my leg and I'm looking now going, who is this? And 

Jeff Holden: somebody's child, 

Malcolm Johnson: eh, somebody's child that their dad went through some stuff and here they come walking around the corner as a couple and you know, it's like.

Fancy seeing you here. And he is like, oh, now I'm, you know, I'm working for this big construction company. I'm doing [00:43:00] this, and we and my wife are together and thank you so much. And that means everything. Mm-hmm. That's, that's the advertisement in itself. They will tell somebody or people ask them, how'd you get your life together?

But those are the stories that carry me. I mean, we have so many really good stories. It's, it's quite a few. 

Jeff Holden: So on the heels of this, I'm gonna ask you, what is the fun question for everybody? Somebody comes through and says, I love what you're doing. The program's fabulous. I'm gonna give you a blank check.

I want you to do something with it. If the story is good enough, they say, here, do it. 

Malcolm Johnson: Right? 

Jeff Holden: What would you do? 

Malcolm Johnson: It would be about stability. Then, you know, it would be like, okay, we can own the house. Become a stable process for many other people. Um, put it towards, have something to build so we could actually build paid jobs for the people who are actually volunteering there.

Expand their process. Even maybe do a training [00:44:00] for other counselors or other places who want to do something that's different that's making it work. It's 'cause I don't think there's enough of us out there really. There's people following a program and a process. This, this, this is like a each one, teach one help it grow kind of thing.

So I think the stability of our main house right now would be probably my top priority, where people have the setting and we can actually put on a paid staff where they don't have to go other places to make their day work. They love doing what they're doing and it's amazing. So that's where I would put the money.

To grow it 

Jeff Holden: grow. And it almost sounds like that might be the greatest need as well. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: The vision and the greatest need are, are almost one and the same because it 

Malcolm Johnson: gives you, they're married 

Jeff Holden: that, that, that stability and that sustainability. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yes. 

Jeff Holden: And at some point maybe take the process, even if it's a licensing or a, an affiliation to say, here [00:45:00] you can use this process elsewhere.

In other organizations, whether it be for men or for women or people who are really working hard to, you know, prevent the recidivism, who understand the value of these individuals coming out of prison, if they are given the right opportunities and properly brought through a process to help them with all the things they didn't have before they got 'em in the problems that they ended up in.

You know, you, it's almost a big catch up. But once they're there, they are contributing. 

Malcolm Johnson: They're, they're amazing. Once they're there, once they realize that they have a second chance, and people really care, you'll be amazed that the attitude changes, the, the energy change. Um, some of 'em have done so much damage to family that they don't think they're recoverable.

They won't forgive themselves. One of my key things is forgiveness. You know, it's, you gotta forgive yourself. Most people move on after you do damage. So they're not trying to hold onto it. You don't have to go back [00:46:00] and try to fix anything, do better now. It's an action thing. Stop saying sorry and get going.

Right? Get going and do what? Do what? Sorry. Really is supposed to produce, 

Jeff Holden: right? 

Malcolm Johnson: So, yeah, it's, I can't even put it all in words. It's just amazing. It's touching. 

Jeff Holden: Running a nonprofit, any nonprofit is difficult. Very, you are immersed in your organization. You live in the house and while you're a couple, you live in the houses separately to give the most you can to the people in and going through the process, which in itself is amazing.

So how, how does that look? What do you do to step away from it sometimes to, you know, to reenergize, to either relax, refresh, and in your case, reorient because you're separated a lot of the time. 

Malcolm Johnson: Yeah. You know Jesus'. Little runaway story, how he went to the mountain all the time. That's us. [00:47:00] Okay. We gotta get away.

There's one thing I can say about what we do is the people we're working with, they know that we trust them. Not to totally take over anything, but to do what they came to do. So when it's time for us to step away, we'll grab a key person or ask a volunteer to keep their air to the wall or whatever. For the most part, it's a trust thing.

We get to step away, Hey, we're leaving for five days. We take our little mini vacations and we disappear. We go, go fishing, go to the mountain, go to the ocean. 

Colleen McCusker: So we do, we, we, we are able to get away and we do get away. And sometimes it's a day, sometimes it's like, and we do it on the spot and it's like, because you can tell, you know, sometimes you get really drained and I'm like, you know what?

We need to go. Sometimes the residents are like, well, who's in charge? Like, can you go away that long? And I'm like, you're in charge of yourself. You know, you got this. It's, it's doable. I'm, 

Jeff Holden: [00:48:00] I'm sure that's a beautiful thing when you're able to do that and you come back and how is this still there? It's not burnt down and everybody's still getting along.

Malcolm Johnson: When you come back. When you come back, they're actually proud to say, what do you think? What does it look like? It helps them grow to a whole different level because it's like, oh, they trusted us and this is about count accountability and safety and growth. Mm-hmm. So it works. When we get a chance to take a break, we, uh.

We relax, we really do. 

Jeff Holden: So how can the community support you? Where should they go? Where can they find more information? 

Malcolm Johnson: You can find more information. Well, you can go to our website at, you know, good cause sac.org. 

Jeff Holden: Good. Good. Cause sec.org. Okay. And we'll put that in the show notes so that they can see it.

Colleen McCusker: I think another huge thing is support with, if you could sponsor someone you know for. Six months or, you know, something like that because that's where, that's where your heart [00:49:00] really aches when you do get that phone call and someone's homeless and you can tell that they really need the support and you know, so that kind of stuff.

And then 

Malcolm Johnson: the community coming in, um, making jobs available, 

Colleen McCusker: jobs, 

Malcolm Johnson: businesses, you know, the workforce. Is really important. Some of these guys get discouraged. They have records. They, they really do need a second chance if they can just, people could find it in their hearts to even just come to the house and do a tour.

You know, get in touch with us and do a tour and see, and meet some of these gentlemen and women. Own businesses who wouldn't mind giving them a chance. And there's actually, you know, a help with bound, you know, there's a workforce credit tax that actually helps pay their salaries for them. They, they bond them for a hundred thousand dollars and it's a help to businesses.

It would be amazing for the businesses to step forward in the neighborhood. 

Jeff Holden: I like that too, because many times we understand monetary is. [00:50:00] I mean, that's what funds the organizations, but yours is a little bit different. So sponsoring an individual or creating a job for an individual above and beyond, we're not asking you for money.

We're asking you for the opportunity, 

James Beckwith: right? 

Jeff Holden: And as many small businesses or businesses in general hear this, that may flag something to say, Hey, you know what? Maybe that's worth the outreach to help that one individual. We need the help. What better opportunity than somebody who really wants it badly?

Because we know that's a challenge. You know, lot people should go back to your entitlement. Well, gimme a job. 

Colleen McCusker: Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: but 

Scott Thomas: you have 

Jeff Holden: to work, right? 

Colleen McCusker: Yes. We have several, we have probably have six people in our home right now that need a vehicle. So vehicle donation is huge. Just to, you know, so they can go visit their children so that they can, you know, they're working steady jobs and they're working full-time and they're outstanding employees, but there's more opportunity [00:51:00] out here.

You know, I have connections where they can go to work, but they need a car. Mm-hmm. And it just, you know, so a vehicle donation or even matching somebody on. With funds to bless them with a vehicle. That would be great. 

Jeff Holden: Oh, Malcolm, Colleen. The sacrifices you're making for the betterment of the people that you serve is really amazing.

I've never seen a couple do what you're doing. Nothing is like this. There's, there's nothing. And we know the value of stopping the recidivism if we can do that, what a tremendous benefit to the community overall in so many different ways. Which I think are obvious, I don't have to explain those, because now that person's integrated and is contributing and has the confidence is reengaged with their family and that family unit is so, so important as well.

Thank you for what you're doing. Your team of volunteers, you know, back to your line of people [00:52:00] helping people help themselves is, is everything. They're not stuck to the tether of an organization. They've actually gone out because of the organization and gone on their own. So thank you. 

Scott Thomas: Thank you for listening to the Nonprofit Podcast Network.

Jeff Holden: We hope today's episode inspired you and gave you a deeper look into the work of our local nonprofits. If you believe in our mission to amplify their voices, please take a moment to leave us a positive review and share this episode with a friend. It helps more people discover the incredible work happening in our community.

Don't miss future episodes. Subscribe to our weekly updates and monthly newsletter@nonprofitpod.com. And if you're a part of a nonprofit that would like to be featured, we'd love to hear from you. Just visit the guest tab on our website. The Nonprofit podcast network is recorded and produced at Hear Me Now Studio with generous support from our partners, CAPTRUST fiduciary advice for [00:53:00] endowments and foundations online@captrust.com.

Western Health Advantage Local Care with Community Impact, find the plan that fits@westernhealth.com. Core Executive leadership and comprehensive support services. Visit CX OR e.com and five Star Bank, a local trusted advisor to community nonprofits for over 25 years. Five star bank.com. And finally, our episode sponsor.

Sacramento Venture Philanthropy, a community of generosity, combining people, expertise, and capital For good. SVP [00:54:00] sacramento.org.