- June 30, 2026 Social Justice, Sister Stories
On April 23, Journey to New Life (JTNL) in Kansas City, Missouri, honored Sister Marie Joan Harris with the Founder’s Award at their "Seeds of Change" Gala. A longtime board member and outgoing board president, S. Marie Joan has touched countless lives with her faith, compassion and unwavering commitment to the people JTNL serves.
Journey to New Life, co-founded by Sister Rose McLarney, is a collaborative, non-profit organization that facilitates the empowerment of people reentering society from prison or other involvement with the criminal legal system by accepting them as they are, and providing first stop services, residences, case management and employment assistance in a safe and supportive environment. JTNL has become a lifeline for women rebuilding their lives post-incarceration, offering not just services, but accompaniment, belonging and hope.
Since joining the board in 2016 and during her time as board president, S. Marie Joan has been “a steady and guiding presence through some of the most challenging moments in our organization's history,” says Julia Lloyd, JTNL executive director. “Her impact on this organization over the past decade has been profound and enduring.”
Leading with heart, wisdom and a deep belief in second chances, S. Marie Joan played a pivotal role in guiding JTNL’s growth and deepening its mission to walk alongside people returning from incarceration by always asking what they actually need, then building programs around that. She helped guide the organization through the opening of Peace House, its second transitional residence. She helped lead them through the loss of co-founder and executive director, Georgia Walker, multiple leadership transitions through four executive directors, and COVID-19.
For S. Marie Joan, Journey to New Life is more than a nonprofit organization — it’s a community she’s most grateful for, especially those who have joined JTNL on the journey to begin a new life.
“Each of us is on a journey, and if you are part of Journey to New Life, you also are on the journey with the rest of us, so it's really an honor,” shares S. Marie Joan upon receiving the award. “I can't say thank you enough to all of you for joining us on the journey as we all grow through love, care and support to become our best selves.”