Gainesville Housing Authority event held to uplift community

The power of redemption and being given a second chance turned a Gainesville woman's life around for the better.

Maria Green, 36, is that woman. She was the featured speaker Saturday at an event sponsored by the Gainesville Housing Authority at the Forest Pines Community Center at 1027 NE 25th St.

Originally from Hazlehurst, Mississippi, Green, author of "Silent Chaos of J31179, moved to Gainesville as a teenager with her mother. She said her mother, Lorraine Jones, is an example she draws from daily for strength.

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"She taught me resilience and strength and to keep pushing and praying," Green said.

Green talked about being a former drug addict and being sentenced to four years in prison due to a forged check in 2016. She said the silver lining during her time in prison was having clear communication with God.

"The purpose of this event was to give encouragement and hope to our people," Green said. "I hope this event inspires people to keep going. We have lost so much in the streets and to the streets. To be of help to someone else, I must keep going."

Green, the mother of three, published her book in October after drafting it while in prison, she said.

Green started working for GHA as an intake specialist in August 2021.

The purpose of the event was to promote the power of family and community fellowship, especially during the social climate Gainesville is experiencing with gun violence and deaths, said Freddie Jones, resident services specialist at GHA.

"We wanted to bring the community together," Jones said. "This is all about unity and showing what the power of redemption can do."

GHA hosted the the event to help carry out Green's vision, Jones said.

"We want to give an opportunity for residents and community members to come together and have a good time," Jones said.

Green thanked Jones and Pamela Davis, chief executive officer of GHA, for giving her a second chance.

"Gainesville Housing Authority really believes in giving second chances," Green said. "We believe people can change because I am a living witness. The streets will lead you to death or prison. The Department of Corrections corrected me. Sometimes we want to give up, and we get tired of hearing no, but you got to keep going to get that yes."

Tabitha Williams, founder of the Women on a Mission support group, also spoke during the event.

"If you put your heart and mind to it, anything you want to do in life God is able to sustain that," Williams said. "It doesn't matter about your beginning. What matters is what your ending is going to be."

Residents must remove the stigma of living in public housing and take advantage of the resources that are in their communities, Williams said.

"We got to come together to make things better," Williams said. "We got to come out of these four walls. We all have gifts we can use to uplift one another. It takes a village."

Her speech was followed by a dance performance by Jeannette Climpson, founder of Ministry of Movement Outreach Ministries.

Climpson, a dancer for over 20 years, danced to "Better" by Jessica Reedy.

After the performance, Green explained how the lyrics within the song touched her life.

"Be bitter today to be better tomorrow," Green said. "When I was arrested I thought it was everybody's fault but my own. There's some things in life that make you bitter, but I promise you it will make you better and bolder. If there's an opportunity to help you grow, take it."

Courtney Barr was Green's neighbor when she lived in Sarasota. When Green's dog walked over to Barr's yard, it sparked a conversation between Barr and Green.

During the conversation, Green found out Barr was writing a book and that inspired Green to publish her work.

Barr then introduced Green to Karen Salem who is a book editor.

"It is a phenomenal book," Salem said.

"Her story needs to be told over and over again," Barr said.

Green said she works alongside Prison Fellowship, a nonprofit organization that works to bring hope and restoration to prisoners, families and communities impacted by crime and incarceration.

Gianna Garcia, Prison Fellowship field director for the Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia regions, said the event and residents hearing Green's story will leave a lasting impact on the community.

"Everybody can work together to reach people who may be facing similar situations due to their parents being incarcerated or residents being on the path towards incarceration," Garcia said. "Events like this make an impact in the community."

Green's book, "Silent Chaos of J31179: A Redemption Story," can be purchased online via Amazon, eBay, Target, Walmart and Barnes and Noble for $30

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville woman speaks at GHA event about being given a 2nd chance