Walking Back Through the Gates

After returning to Morgan County Correctional Complex as a mentor and speaker, Robbie Overton reflects on the people who helped change his life—and why he's committed to doing the same for others.

"Every time it still feels very surreal to be going in that way and not coming off of a van in handcuffs."

Last week, Seeds of Change Maintenance Division Manager Robbie Phillips returned to Morgan County Correctional Complex—not as an inmate, but as a speaker and advocate for Tennessee's new Volunteer Mentor Initiative.

Even though it was his third visit back to the facility since his release, walking through the prison gates still brought back memories.

The process hasn't changed. Visitors empty their pockets, remove their shoes, pass through a full-body scanner, and walk down a long hallway that seems to stretch forever. For Robbie, each step is a reminder of how far he's come.

"It still feels surreal," he said.

Robbie joined representatives from the Governor's Office and True Purpose Ministries to introduce the Volunteer Mentor Initiative, a program designed to connect incarcerated men nearing release with community mentors who will walk alongside them during their transition back into society.

Before the presentations began, more than 50 men gathered in a visitation room for a meal and an opportunity to learn about the program. As Robbie mingled with the attendees, he was reminded of his own journey.

"I know where you're at," he told them. "I've been in this spot."

When it was his turn to speak, Robbie shared part of his story—from paroling out of Morgan County to joining Seeds of Change and eventually leading the company's maintenance division. He spoke honestly about the challenges of reentry and the role mentors played in helping him build a different future.

"The two best things you can give yourself when you first get out is time and community," Robbie told the group.

He explained that success doesn't happen overnight. The pressure to immediately rebuild life, relationships, finances, and employment can feel overwhelming. Having people in your corner can make all the difference.

That message resonated.

By the end of the event, nearly 90 percent of the men in attendance had signed up to participate in the mentorship program.

For Robbie, one of the most meaningful parts of the evening wasn't standing in front of the room—it was remembering the people who invested in him when he needed it most.

He recalled a difficult season after his release when the director of a recovery program simply picked him up and took him fishing.

"It just melted all my worries away in that moment," Robbie said.

Now he hopes to offer that same encouragement to someone else.

Following the event, Robbie decided he plans to become a mentor through the Volunteer Mentor Initiative himself.

"It brought a lot of remembrance to me of how much having somebody in your corner means," he reflected.

As Robbie walked back through the gates that evening, he couldn't help but think about the men he had just met—men standing where he once stood, wondering what life might look like on the other side.

Years ago, someone chose to invest in Robbie when he was preparing for his own new beginning. They offered encouragement, accountability, and the belief that his future could be different from his past.

Today, Robbie leads our maintenance division, serves our clients, mentors his team, and is preparing to walk alongside others as they begin their own journey home.

That's the heart of our mission at Seeds of Change.

We believe people are more than the worst mistake they've ever made. We believe meaningful work, strong relationships, and supportive communities can transform lives. Every opportunity we create is built on the simple idea that when someone is given a genuine second chance—and people willing to walk beside them—remarkable things can happen.

For Robbie, that second chance changed everything.

Now he's helping pass it on.

The truth is, most people don't need someone to have all the answers. They need someone willing to show up, listen, encourage them, and remind them they're not alone.

Years ago, someone did that for Robbie. A mentor helped him see a future he couldn't yet see for himself. Today, he's preparing to offer that same support to men who are standing where he once stood.

If Robbie's story resonates with you, consider becoming a mentor. A conversation, a shared meal, a fishing trip, or simply showing up consistently can make a lasting difference in someone's life.

You may never fully know the impact of your investment. But for someone working toward a new beginning, having somebody in their corner can change everything.

For more information and to get involved visit: https://www.tn.gov/governor/priorities/mentors.html