Out Of The Ashes - The Real Life Story Of A Formerly Incarcerated Father Reconnecting And Strengthening His Relationship With His Son

They were bars apart for 14 years. A mistake that tore their bond and changed two lives forever. Now, a father and son take the stage to bare their souls and rebuild what was lost.

Based on the astounding true story of Coley Harris and his son Ahmarr, Out of the Ashes is a piercing one-act intervention that cuts to the heart of our justice system’s impacts. Sent away when Ahmarr was just a toddler, Coley candidly reflects on life as an absentee father behind bars. Ahmarr vulnerably shares his emotional journey growing up with an incarcerated dad.

This powerful 32-minute production holds up a mirror to the very real trauma experienced by over 2 million children in the USA. It brings audiences face-to-face with individuals often reduced to statistics.

Beyond a performance, for Coley and Ahmarr reliving their odyssey is part of the healing process. Their courage to speak truth awakens our collective conscience. Out of the Ashes sparks the conversations, understanding and change needed to mend families and communities threatened by mass incarceration.

Redemption awaits for sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers still living in the ashes. Families torn apart can be rebuilt. When the ashes clear, there is hope.

After watching the show, you can expect:

• Strong emotions if you've experienced a family member being incarcerated. It may be healing and heartfelt.
• To learn about the personal struggles both children and parents face when a parent is absent due to incarceration.
• Motivation to rebuild broken relationships in your own family damaged by crime and punishment.
• Meaningful conversations as a family about the impacts of incarceration and the justice system.
• Inspiration for teens and parents to get involved in helping other affected families and creating positive change around these issues.

To book this live, please email info@outoftheashesllc.com

It's an engaging and captivating intervention but don't take our word for it.

Below is a list of testimonials that we've captured over the years from a variety of professionals all over the country.

"Just watched and learned a lot. I do not know if I ever fully embraced/digested what incarceration does to the children of those incarcerated. It was so important for me to hear your words… beautifully spoken and heartfelt. I have shared with our social worker and my fellow physician and hope this can help families.  Thank you for sharing with me "

Gina  Amoroso, Delaware Pediatrician

" One of the most powerful messages it sends to any incarcerated or formerly incarcerated father, for example, is that the choices and decisions a man makes early in life will impact him and his children for years to come and might, in fact, impact his children for their entire life."

- Timmy Smith, Coordinator of the Fathers Matter Program

"You can hear a pin drop when the dads watch the film. It makes dads think deeply because they can see themselves in the film. It makes them think about the broad impact of being incarcerated (e.g. on their children) and that dads should take their life seriously. It sends a message that dads must set an example for their children and grandchildren by exhibiting healthy behavior."

- Abdur-Rahim Ali, Imam of the Northeast Denver Islamic Center

"Steve says the film starts a conversation about reconciliation and, specifically, the realities around dads reconciling with their children. He and the other staff who use the film like that it doesn't look at the dynamics around reconciliation through rose-colored glasses. As he says, it's "real and raw."

- Steve Longenecker, Director of Programs for Sav-a-Life Pregnancy Resource Center

"One of the 8th-grade students was so affected by the performance that her Mom had to come pick her up. I saw Mom in the office at pick up and she said how wonderful it was that the students were able to experience the performance and although her daughter was upset, she knew it had started a much needed and difficult conversation."

- Gateway Charter school counselor

"As a daughter of an incarcerated father for 10 years during my youth, I fully understood the father's and son's emotions and circumstances. It was heartfelt and emotional and moved the children to tears who fully related to incarcerated parents. I would recommend all schools to benefit from this presentation."

- Gateway Charter school counselor

“The performance kind of affected me with a thought I don’t know how to describe. It was a good performance and I liked it, but I have a good relationship with my family.”

“I felt emotional. I could relate to them and felt comfortable to talk to them and be open. I have never met my Dad. I have felt lonely many times before. I cried and was sad the whole time. I was happy that I saw people who are just like me.”

-Various Elementary aged students from Gateway Charter

"Thank you so much to the Out of the Ashes team for visiting Gateway Charter School and presenting three separate performances of the drama. Not only was it well received by students, faculty and staff, but it stimulated conversations among our students for days afterwards. The themes of incarceration and family separation are experienced by many of our students who are living with these challenges in their own lives. The drama reinforced the permission to talk about what often are considered taboo topics. It opened a floodgate of emotions and helped students to feel empowered to bring their worries and fears to light. They were encouraged to use the resources available in our school to process their feelings with counselors, teachers, administrators, and other support folks. What a fabulous opportunity and valuable gift to our school. The impact will spread for a long time to come, helping to bring healing and hope to so many lives."

- Catherine Dolan, Head of School at Gateway Charter

"Out Of The Ashes is not a performance....it is an event....it is an event that jumpstarts a movement....one that both my son and I, AND my father and I have been fortunate enough to experience.....In some medium, I felt like every Father and Son should experience our of the ashes...go forth to be entertained....LEAVE EDUCATED"

-June Hawkins, Local Delaware Father

" At the end of the day Out Of The Ashes helps restore the humanity. It helps reconnect one to the humanity, particularly to poor black and brown neighborhoods. I strongly support the Out of the Ashes program and profound or deeply impactful two-person play that highlights what Black fathers and their children are going throughout the country.  "

-Dr. Yasser Payne