Candice Baughman

Salamasina Tanoai  

One Parish One Prisoner: A Resurrection Story of Reentry

Synopsis:

Candice Baughman will share about One Parish One Prisoner (OPOP), a grassroots reentry model that pairs faith communities with individuals still inside prison, beginning their relationship before release and continuing through the critical first years back in the community. She’ll highlight how accompaniment transforms not only the lives of returning citizens, but also the congregations that walk with them. OPOP demonstrates that reentry is not just a program, but a resurrection story of hope, healing, and lasting belonging.

Our Speakers: 

Candice Baughman came home through Underground Ministries’ One Parish One Prisoner (OPOP) after a seven-year sentence. A mother of two teenage boys, she was supported by a small church team that met her pre-release and stood with her at the gate—an experience that now fuels her work as an OPOP Program Specialist. In this role, she equips congregations to form one committed team for one incarcerated neighbor, providing practical help (IDs, transportation, appointments) and steady relational support across reentry. A justice-impacted educator and founder of Ed 4 Empowerment, Candice has supported 300+ people in reentry and is completing her MBA at Adams State University (4.0 GPA), speaking widely about how peer-led, faith-community partnerships reduce recidivism and build belonging.  

Salamasina Tanoai's journey has taken her from incarceration to empowerment. After facing challenges with addiction and prison, she chose a new path when she was released in March 2024. Today, she is over two years clean and sober, a proud mother of four boys, and the founder of Dream Rising, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking cycles of oppression and incarceration through education, advocacy, and entrepreneurship. She brings lived experience, professional skills in web development, and a deep commitment to supporting justice-impacted and underserved communities. Her story is one of second chances, and she believes transformation is possible for anyone willing to dream and rise.