Healing in Normalcy
RISE Men’s Wellness Coffee Hour
With Built Not Bought Car Club
“These pro-social moments breathe life back into men who have spent years surviving behind walls.”
The RISE Family Program hosts a Men’s Wellness Coffee Hour in Omaha on the first Saturday of every month at Sozo Coffeehouse in the Old Market. It’s a supportive space for men impacted by incarceration to find not only resources, but genuine community.
For those who haven’t met our Family Program Associate, Randall Robbins, he’s passionate about rebuilding cars. Recognizing how many men share that same love of engines and restoration, Randall partnered with Built Not Bought Car Club to host a car show during the Coffee Hour. The event created a powerful blend of fellowship, normalcy, and shared interest. Randall even brought his own truck! One he and his wife rebuilt together, to display alongside the others, a symbol of both craftsmanship and connection.
There’s something deeply meaningful about moments of “normalcy” for people returning home or supporting loved ones still incarcerated. The phrase “Your normal day is someone else’s dream” couldn’t be more true.
Watching everyone enjoy simple pleasures—ordering the infamous “Hello Kitty” latte, grabbing a Dunkin’ donut, swapping stories, playing pool, and talking cars—was pure joy. There’s a unique kind of healing that happens in those moments. Men who’ve weathered incredibly hard circumstances were laughing, connecting, and simply being. Just “dudes being bros”.
When asked what these experiences mean, Randall shared:
“When a man comes home from prison, the world can feel both wide open and painfully distant. Simple, everyday things—sharing a meal, helping a neighbor, joining a community event—become powerful acts of healing. These pro-social moments breathe life back into men who have spent years surviving behind walls. They remind them that they still belong, that their hands can build instead of break, that their voices still matter. Through connection and purpose, these men begin to rediscover their humanity—and the community begins to see it too.”
The RISE Family Program provides education, support, and connection for people directly impacted by incarceration and loved ones. Creating spaces like the Men’s Wellness Coffee Hour where healing, growth, and belonging thrive are crucial to life after prison. When families are supported, communities become stronger, and the cycles of incarceration begin to break.
Women’s Wellness Coffee Hours meet in Lincoln at The Mill on Telegraph every third Saturday, and in Omaha at The Mill on Leavenworth every fourth Saturday of the month.
If you or someone you know could benefit from the support of the RISE Family Program, please contact Geri Knight, Director of Youth & Family Programs.
