Pat Bryant, a rookie wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, recently visited the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility (AVCF) in southeast Colorado to observe an alternative approach to incarceration. Bryant, who has personal experience with friends and family members incarcerated in Florida, contrasted his previous knowledge with what he saw at AVCF.
The visit focused on the Vera Institute of Justice’s Restoring Promise initiative and its ChangeMaker Village young-adult housing unit. The program aims to transform prison culture by emphasizing human dignity and pairing mentors serving long sentences with young adults aged 18 to 25. These mentors lead classes and workshops on life skills and reentry preparation.
Bryant was joined by Broncos Owner Carrie Walton Penner, tackle Garett Bolles, and former defender Jurrell Casey during the visit. The group spent several hours touring the facility, sharing lunch with mentors and mentees, and learning about daily routines within ChangeMaker Village. They noted differences between this unit and traditional prison settings, including physical changes like furniture and signage.
“Being behind that door and seeing what goes on was a huge eye-opener, especially the way they ran things here,” Bryant said.
The Denver Broncos Foundation has provided grant funding to support staff training and research for Restoring Promise as part of a partnership between the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) and the Vera Institute of Justice. The initiative operates in five states.
Statistics from the Vera Institute indicate positive outcomes for participants: 98 percent of young adults in Restoring Promise units felt prepared for reentry compared to lower percentages in the general population; 90 percent said punishments seemed fair; nearly all reported feeling safe. Staff also reported improved quality of life and reduced stress levels.
A national study found similar results across sites, showing significant reductions in violent disciplinary infractions among young adults participating in Restoring Promise units.
“It was incredible to sit down and to have lunch with these young men,” Walton Penner said. “They got here through all different pathways, and through this program, they have hope in their future. It’s great to see that and to really experience a program like this that’s focused on helping them develop skills, continue to learn — regardless of how long they will be here. To be in a program like this, where they’re really focused on themselves and growing themselves and having a positive impact on those around them, is amazing to see. It was a special day.”
Chloe Aquart, director of Restoring Promise, commented on the significance of such visits: “For the young men and mentors on our unit, it means so much to see that people on the outside care about what’s happening inside of prison and that they find value in the work that they are doing every day to better themselves and better the community around them. It really meant everything to have [the Broncos] here.”
Joshua, one of ChangeMaker Village’s mentors serving a lengthy sentence, explained his motivation: “It’s not too often that people of their caliber come in here and really peek into our world… Guys seeing that people outside of prison care — and not just people outside of prison care, but the celebrities that they watch every day — seeing that they care, it’s just going to be very motivational for people to put forth the effort to make the necessary changes in their life.”
He added: “… I see ChangeMaker Village as the vehicle to help people get out of prison — not only get out of prison but stay out of prison and help these young men get back to active citizenship.”
Kevin, a mentee at ChangeMaker Village said: “It’s very uplifting, and it’s confirmation of what we’re doing. For me personally, it’s a new horizon. New great things are coming. More doors are opening for us. I just hope more people are able to buy in and support the things that we’re doing here. Ultimately, it’s not just about us; it’s about the community.”
During their visit, Broncos representatives presented a team jersey for display at ChangeMaker Village as residents cheered for their team from afar.
Bryant reflected on encouragement he received from inmates: “A lot of those guys want me to score my first touchdown so I’m going to see what I can do for them.” Less than two weeks later he achieved his first career score.
