About AHI & OLLI at Duke
AHI
AHI’s mission is to educate about, advocate for and provide support for the individuals and organizations involved with addiction, homelessness and Incarceration. Created by Mark Hall, AHI works with diverse partners to raise awareness of these issues and to put a human face on those affected by them, in North Carolina and beyond.
What we do: Through public education, targeted advocacy, events, courses/workshops and conversation we share about the issues surrounding addiction, homelessness and incarceration.
Click here to contact us.
What we do: Through public education, targeted advocacy, events, courses/workshops and conversation we share about the issues surrounding addiction, homelessness and incarceration.
Click here to contact us.
OLLI at Duke
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Duke—popularly known as OLLI at Duke—is a learning community that seeks to engage the minds, elevate the spirit and foster the well-being of more than 2,600 members, It offers hundreds of courses annually along with other educational programs, volunteer opportunities and social activities. It is part of Duke University Continuing Studies.
Click here to contact OLLI at Duke.
Click here to contact OLLI at Duke.
Meet Mark Hall
How would you characterize the “typical” North Carolina prisoner? Have you wondered how you could help people in prison? Do you want to better understand the prison system? If you answered yes to any of these, consider taking a class from Mark Hall.
Mark Hall knows these issues first-hand. He spent ten years in prison for financial crimes, serving in a variety of N.C. correctional institutions. While there he learned from his fellow prisoners about addiction, homelessness and other issues in their lives. Mark completed his prison journey in June 2019.
While incarcerated and in a work-release program, Mark started working at the Durham Rescue Mission, a faith-based organization whose clients have diverse needs and come from all walks of life. He developed training and educational programs that complement the Mission’s core “Victory Program” for addicted men and women. Formerly imprisoned people were sometimes surprised to learn that this middle-aged white man from a comfortable background was himself a prisoner, something that gave Mark “street cred” when meeting new clients and leading classes and group discussions.
After his release, Mark continued to work at the Durham Rescue Mission as the assistant director of operations. In May 2021 he left to join Hope Center Ministries, which operates 29 drug and alcohol rehab centers across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Even before his release, Mark has been active in raising awareness among the larger population about the realities of incarceration, addiction and homelessness. He has taught several classes at OLLI and elsewhere, all of which received high ratings, and has spoken with numerous organizations. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he embraced teaching via Zoom, bringing his students together online with speakers ranging from prison reform activists in Africa to U.S. experts on prison issues, along with current and former inmates. He finds teaching a “wonderful experience” and encourages his students to recognize the humanity of others. As he points out, there is a profound difference between “a criminal” and a fellow human being who has committed criminal behavior.
Mark Hall knows these issues first-hand. He spent ten years in prison for financial crimes, serving in a variety of N.C. correctional institutions. While there he learned from his fellow prisoners about addiction, homelessness and other issues in their lives. Mark completed his prison journey in June 2019.
While incarcerated and in a work-release program, Mark started working at the Durham Rescue Mission, a faith-based organization whose clients have diverse needs and come from all walks of life. He developed training and educational programs that complement the Mission’s core “Victory Program” for addicted men and women. Formerly imprisoned people were sometimes surprised to learn that this middle-aged white man from a comfortable background was himself a prisoner, something that gave Mark “street cred” when meeting new clients and leading classes and group discussions.
After his release, Mark continued to work at the Durham Rescue Mission as the assistant director of operations. In May 2021 he left to join Hope Center Ministries, which operates 29 drug and alcohol rehab centers across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Even before his release, Mark has been active in raising awareness among the larger population about the realities of incarceration, addiction and homelessness. He has taught several classes at OLLI and elsewhere, all of which received high ratings, and has spoken with numerous organizations. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he embraced teaching via Zoom, bringing his students together online with speakers ranging from prison reform activists in Africa to U.S. experts on prison issues, along with current and former inmates. He finds teaching a “wonderful experience” and encourages his students to recognize the humanity of others. As he points out, there is a profound difference between “a criminal” and a fellow human being who has committed criminal behavior.
Connect with Mark at
markhall@facelessnomore.org
markhall@facelessnomore.org
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"I'm so impressed with your honesty,
your compassion and your willingness to share." —Class participant |