Who We Are

We are a faith based, non-profit organization that serves individuals confined in the state correctional facilities and families affected by incarceration. We also facilitate the RAW DAWGS Youth Corps Gang Prevention Program for boys 5 to 13, breaking the cycle from cradle to crime.

Compassion In Action has been serving this population uno

Compassion In Action has been serving this population unofficially since 1984. The program was founded by Teela A. Mickles in 1994 and became incorporated in 1999. We have extended our services beginning from behind prison walls, involving the community in the entire process of reentry. Thus transforming individuals who were former tax burdens to productive tax payers in our society.

With all the changes imposed upon society with the crisis from 2020, Compassion In Action also offers our Community Food Pantry to serve families and support those in need through partnership with Mission Church and others to serve families in Franklin Elementary School. More on our adjustments from Covid-19 to come as they develop.

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Services

Who We Are

Compassion In Action is working in partnership with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and the Self-Betterment Groups in various state correctional facilities. Self-Betterment Groups are run by long term and life sentence servicers who are not coming out anytime soon. However, they still serve a purpose that benefits their

THEY HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF INSIDE CONTACT
THEY CAN UTILIZE COMMUNITY INFORMATION TO PREPARE RESIDENTS PRIOR TO THEIR RELEASE
THEY CAN PARTNER WITH COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO ASSIST WITH REENTRY PREPARATION
THEY PROVIDE INFORMATION FROM WITHIN THE CONFINES OF PRISON WALLS THAT IS BENEFICIAL FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY CAN ASSIST THE COMMUNITY IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING FORMER CRIMINALS OF SOCIETY INTO 'CHAMPIONS' FOR THE GOOD OF THE CAUSE, WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED FROM PRISON.

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Needs

Who We Are

Needs

Goals for Compassion In Action Inc.

Compassion In Action has been recognized by the City of Omaha as an Historical Site since the former Wesley House was the location for the first Social Service Office in North Omaha. CIA relocated here in 2013 and will take ownership of the property including Mission Church in 2021. A Community Mural has been created to capture the rich history of service by the former Wesley House and now Compassion In Action and Hope on the Hill.

A Memory Brick Wall along with major property developments are planned for this property to bring all cultures in the area together through service, the arts and commercial businesses. The bricks for the Memory Brick Wall are $100 each and you may have your name and date of your memory on the brick. It will be constructed on the east side of Compassion In Action behind the flag pole that was donated by the Woodman Tower years ago. That flag pole was the first to go up in North Omaha after 911. To purchase your brick for $100, contact our office with your name, and date of memory.

As we continue to serve the population of individuals behind the wall, Your continued financial support allows us to advance our services for more successful Returning Citizens, reunite families and build stronger communities in the City of Omaha and some surrounding areas.

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Founder/CEO

Teela A. Mickles

Teela A. Mickles is the founder and CEO of Compassion In Action (CIA) Inc., a faith based, non-profit organization serving individuals confined in the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services and families affected by incarceration since 1984. When life took an unfortunate turn, she became a single parent of 5 young children, now successful adults. She has 37 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

CIA is located in the former Wesley House which was the location of the first social service office in Omaha, NE more than 60 years ago. It has been recognized by the City of Omaha as an Historic site, to be developed for visitors and tourists. A Community Mural, has been created and revealed in 2018, which captures the rich history of the former Wesley House. It also mirrors the continued service to the community through the partnership of Compassion In Action and Mission Church, located on the property where the mural is painted.

Ms. Mickles attended college late in life while developing CIA’s Pre-Release Education/Reentry Preparation Program and holds an Associate’s Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling. She is an Ordained Minister on staff at Mission Church and a member of the Mayor’s Citizen Complaint Review Board. Ms. Mickles has been acknowledged for her services and accomplishments in the community by a variety of entities, through the years: The UNO Woman of Color Award, African American Leadership Award, Heartland Family Services’ Family Advocacy Award, City of Omaha Community of Excellence, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services’ Partnership of the Year, Outstanding Non-Profit Administrator from the Nebraska Chapter of the American Society for Public Administration and the Outstanding Community Service Award from the University of Nebraska’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice. CIA, in partnership with the University of Nebraska Medical College of Public Health, provided participants for their “Listen to My Story” Research Team to explore “Perspectives of African-American Mothers and Male Offenders on Violence in Omaha, NE.”

Ms. Mickles was a candidate in the Nebraska Primary 2020 elections for State Senator of District 11. She believed then and now, that as we embrace the value of each person and unite, we can make significant progress in our community. She is the author of the book “What If” which is currently available on Amazon and the CIA office. Ms. Mickles ascribes the success and longevity of the organization to her strong faith in God and belief that every person is valuable. “If you’re not dead, God’s not done.”