Our Mission
We implement personalized wellness plans of action with clinical oversight and peer leadership for the justice-involved within a faith-based residential recovery framework.
OUR VISION
the establishment of sustainable liberty and increased integrity in the justice-involved which fosters productive choices that restore relationships and transforms the community as a whole
Innovation
Strivus bridges gaps between corrections, education, justice reform, and workforce development in a unified, faith-based residential model. By replacing illness-focused treatment with a Behavioral Wellness approach, we shift the narrative from “fixing” people to defining, refining, forging, and arming them for purposeful living. Our integrated pathway—mandatory vocational certifications, optional specialty tracks, phased leadership development, and post-graduation follow-up—ensures lasting transformation. This holistic, scalable structure allows us to produce leaders who are both spiritually grounded and job-ready, breaking cycles of recidivism and dependency.
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Our Values
1. Faith-First Foundation
Our spirit must be stronger than our flesh to control the impulses that drive everything we do.
2. Radical Responsibility
We own our actions, choices, and growth — no excuses, no blame-shifting.
3. Brotherhood & Sisterhood
We lift each other, forging bonds that last throughout our lifetime.
4. Purpose Over Comfort
We choose the hard road that leads to lasting freedom, not the easy one that leads back to chains.
5. Continuous Refinement
Like metal in the fire, we embrace the process of being defined, refined, forged, and armed.
6. Service as Strength
Our leadership grows as we mentor, serve, and pay forward into our community.
Safety
Strivus prioritizes safety through a comprehensive harm-reduction framework that safeguards residents, staff, and the community. Our phased structure builds stability before responsibility, with peer mentorship, consistent supervision, and certified oversight ensuring a controlled environment. Residents learn de-escalation, conflict resolution, and ethical decision-making—skills that prevent relapse, violence, and self-harm.
Safety is reinforced through structured schedules, drug-free housing, secure vocational spaces, and proactive wellness checks, creating an environment where transformation can take root without unnecessary risk. Strivus residents are closely supervised, drug-free, and actively engaged in work, education, and mentorship—ensuring they reenter the community as assets, not risks
sustainability
Strivus is structured to last. Our model blends grant funding, earned income from resident-run vocational enterprises, and strong community partnerships — ensuring that the doors we open today will remain open for generations.
Strivus builds lasting change by equipping residents with practical skills, ethical decision-making habits, and spiritual grounding that carry forward long after graduation. Our two-year post-graduation follow-up ensures that transformation is not just achieved — it’s sustained
Leadership Team
The leadership of Strivus brings together a diverse range of skills and experience to guide residents toward lasting transformation. Pictured below are our governance head, educational advisor, development lead, financial officer, and faith leader — each deeply invested in shaping the program’s direction and culture
The Strivus leadership team blends governance, education, finance, program development, recovery services, and faith-based community impact into one unified force. Leona Waites, Chair, leads governance with over 44 years of executive administration in mental health experience. Gayle Waller, education expert and steering committee member, ensures curriculum excellence and measurable learning outcomes. Sonya Waites, Founder, Program Architect and Development Lead, drives innovation, strategic growth, and structural program integrity (Tennessee office). Ben Waites, Vice President and CFO, bridges operations between our Tennessee and Louisiana offices while safeguarding financial transparency and sustainability. Alex Frost, licensed and ordained faith leader, serves as our internal spiritual guide and liaison to external church networks and community partners.
Louisiana Strivus Reentry & Recovery branch is governed by a steering committee of experts, not pictured, that is led by Leona Waites, Chair, and includes a recovery and residential program director, justice system program leader, education master, vocational and agricultural expert, and nonprofit governance specialists. Together, this team ensures Strivus is led by people who not only understand reentry and recovery, but who have lived, led, and succeeded in it.
Success Stories
"Sonya was instrumental in building a premier Adult Education program in the state for incarcerated women...." -- Criminal Justice Expert/Corrections Reentry Facilitator
"The programs ran and structured by Gayle and Sonya resulted in hundreds of women reentering into society with new perspectives and diplomas in hand."
"She’s the founder of Strivus, a recovery and reentry program built to help people rebuild their lives....rooted in truth, restoration, and real second chances. I'm proud to call her Mom and even prouder to stand behind her. She's in it because she believes in people and in the God who still changes lives." -- Ben Waites Ministries
Credits:
Created with images by gustavofrazao - "Wellness sign with a sunset background" • Uuganbayar - "Time to behavior change symbol. Wooden blocks with words 'behavior change'. Copy space. Business, psychology and behavior change concept." • Andres Mejia - "Kitten admiring lion reflection in mirror: overcoming fear and building confidence" • stockpics - "Change your thoughts and you´ll change your world! - Text on street"