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Dismantling the cycle of incarceration, unemployment and homelessness one person at a time.

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Building Promise USA

As of October 5, 2023, we have worked with 175 individuals

37.5% of participants enrolled in vocational training

150 laptops and 100 hotspots were given away

OUR 2023 IMPACT

View all

We’re becoming increasingly impactful with our resources which includes educational courses, skill-building classes and more.

RESOURCES

Point of Intervention

Assess

(Re)develop customized reentry plans

Refer

Set Goals

Reflect / Debrief

Celebrate the victories and repeat steps 2-7

Connect with organizations and programs

Warm Handoff

BUILDING PROMISE USA

We're a peer-led, peer-run and peer-driven non-profit that provides programs and initiatives to successfully address documented service gaps for transitional services in Texas correctional facilities, focused on the individuals, their families, and communities directly impacted by mass incarceration.

WHAT WE DO

Our team is the heart of our organization, bringing exceptional skills and unwavering commitment to our cause. United by a common goal, their tireless efforts make our organization truly outstanding..

As Executive Director of BPUSA, David’s vision is to eliminate barriers to reentry and create more accessible pathways to prosperity for justice-impacted people. His personal experience drives his work as an organizer, activist, and policy analyst, advocating for divestment from oppressive systems and investment in health-centered, transformative solutions. His leadership is rooted in building equitable futures full of opportunity, hope, and liberation from harm. 
 
David’s story is one of profound transformation. Born and raised on Chicago’s Southside, he encountered community and police violence from an early age before moving to Houston, Texas in his early teens. For over two decades, he navigated incarceration and behavioral health challenges - with each return to the community presenting seemingly insurmountable barriers to employment and housing that led him back into familiar, destructive patterns. However, David broke this cycle when he gained access to recovery resources, housing, and employment opportunities. These opportunities were exceptions to the rule—exceptions that David is now determined to make the norm for all justice-involved individuals. 
 
David’s journey led him to his place among other creative disruptors and change agents seeking to transform communities in the name of wellness. His extensive work with community organizing and issue advocacy began at Grassroots Leadership, and as a member of Texas Advocates for Justice. He is the co-founder of the Coalition to Abolish Slavery - Texas (CAST). He is a former Peer Policy Fellow with the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health. He sat as a member of Austin's Reimagine Public Safety Task Force, and UT Dell Medical School's Community Strategy Team. Today, he serves on the boards of the Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center and BRAVE Communities. David sat as President of the Board for BPUSA prior to his appointment as Executive Director.

David 
Johnson

Theo Hernández-Walsh is the Director of Programs at Building Promise USA (BPUSA) and joined in May 20223. 
 
Theo is a proud trans Chicanx person from the border who received their master’s degree from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin, and two bachelor’s degrees from UT El Paso. Their experience includes gender equity and inclusion, international development, disaster response, housing and homelessness, juvenile justice, reproductive justice, and re-entry program building. 
 
After serving as a BPUSA volunteer for almost 2 years, they’re thrilled to be brought on as an employee. They look forward to continue advocating for transformative justice, and expand the work Building Promise is doing. In their free time, Theo enjoys reading a good book, sailing with their husband, and exploring the world with him and their dogs.

Theo 
Hernández-Walsh

Jeremy Jones is the Peer Specialist Supervisor at Building Promise USA and Owner Operator of A.B.C. Photography & Photo Booths. A Husband, and father of 4 beautiful young ladies. A lifelong Texan, originally from Galveston, since 2000, Jeremy and his family now call Austin their home. 
 
Jeremy has been active and serving in the recovery/re-entry community since 2015. His lived experience with substance use and re-entry fuels his passion and purpose to help others. 
 
Jeremy feels our most valuable asset is time. “Time is our most valuable asset, yet we tend to waste it, kill it and spend it rather than invest it.”

Jeremy 
Jones

Daryl is an African American male, and a person of recovery. He has volunteered and worked in recovery for seven years, and offers free training on Narcan use at the Downtown Austin Public Library and Starbucks around town. Daryl is trained as a Recovery Support Specialist, RSPS, and works as a Peer Support Specialist. A prostate cancer survivor, he is also an advocate with Zero Cancer, a health equity support group for Black men who have/had prostate cancer. 
"There was a time that I was a problem in the community and now, through the grace of my higher power, I am part of the solution. Now I am part of the team at Building Promise USA which I feel proud to be a part of."

Daryl 
Rembert

Navare Carter is the IT Consultant and Web Master for Building Promise USA. He is also the designer of the Building Promise USA website. Navare is also the Owner of a multi-award winning brand consultancy, "Intuitive" based in Houston, TX. His awards consist of “DMV’s Best 2017 Graphic Designer of The Year” at the Music & Movies Awards, as well as “2017 & 2018 Graphic Designer of The Year” at the Titan Arts Awards. 
 
​Navare graduated from the University of the District of Columbia with his Associate of Arts + Science in 2012. He has over a decade of design experience with exceptional knowledge in brand strategizing. His passion for helping entrepreneurs have allowed him to host discussion panels on branding, as well as worked with public figures. ​ 
 
​His values are keeping your faith, consistency, hard work, and keeping God first are the keys to achieving greatness in life.

Navare 
Carter

Retired after spending 25 years working for the state of California as a Workman Compensation specialist, Neomie brings a wealth of experience and dedication to our organization. Born and raised in Louisiana, she raised her three children in California before moving to Texas after retirement. A proud mom of three and grandmother of nine, she has come out of retirement to assist this organization in its growth, driven by her passion for service and community development. 
 
Neomie has been apart of re-entry program since January 2024- she is excited to be a part of the team as she sees the value of the program and the benefits to the community.

Neomie 
Smith

Chris is passionate about visual arts, recovery, and criminal justice reform. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Film & Video Production from the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA in 2012. He is currently enrolled at Austin Community College, where he is pursuing an Asssociate's Degree for Addiction Counseling as well as LCDC certification. It is his goal and dream to marry his creative skillset with his desire to make a difference in the world around him by helping others fight the disease of addiction.

BUILDING PROMISE USA

Education
Housing
Work

Are you a family
member looking
for support?

Are you seeking
employment? Register
for H.I.R.E. 5 today!

WHAT WE DO

STEPS

Point of Intervention

Assess

Refer

Set Goals

Refer

Reflect / Debrief

Assess

Warm Handoff

OUR 2023 IMPACT

175

One Stop Shop

37.5%

Train to Sustain

150

H.I.R.E. 1 & 2

RESOURCES

We’re to help you!

DONATE

MEET THE TEAM

David
Johnson

Theo
Hernández-Walsh

Jeremy
Jones

Daryl
Rembert

Navare
Carter

Neomie
Smith

Christopher Cummings

BUILDING PROMISE USA

Education Housing Work

Are you a family member looking for support?

Are you seeking employment? Register for H.I.R.E. 5 today!

WHAT WE DO

STEPS

Point of Intervention

Assess

Refer

Set Goals

Refer

Reflect / Debrief

Assess

Warm Handoff

OUR 2023 IMPACT

175

One Stop Shop

37.5%

Train to Sustain

150

H.I.R.E. 1 & 2

RESOURCES

We’re to help you!

DONATE

MEET THE TEAM

David Johnson

Theo Hernández-Walsh

Jeremy Jones

Daryl Rembert

Navare Carter

Neomie Smith

Christopher Cummings

Education
Housing
Work

Are you a family
member looking
for support?

Are you seeking
employment? Register
for H.I.R.E. 5 today!

David
Johnson

Theo
Hernández-Walsh

Jeremy
Jones

Daryl
Rembert

Navare
Carter

Neomie
Smith