S.H.I.F.T. began inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution with three men who wanted the opportunity to show through their actions that they were genuinely committed to change.
Wanting the chance to do the work
Rudy, Mirza, and Mikey had become increasingly frustrated by the lack of meaningful opportunities available to them. They wanted to participate in constructive programming, continue their education, and demonstrate that they were willing to take responsibility for their growth. They did not want change to remain something they merely spoke about. They wanted a place where they could practice it.
They felt they were not being given enough opportunities to prove themselves. Rather than allowing that frustration to harden into hopelessness, the three men began asking a different question: if the opportunity they needed did not yet exist, what could they create together?
Creating S.H.I.F.T.
Through repeated conversations, they began shaping what would become S.H.I.F.T., Self Help Initiative For Truth. The program was built around five connected commitments: Structure, Healing, Integrity, Fitness, and Transformation.
These commitments reflected what they believed meaningful change required. Structure meant developing discipline and consistency. Healing meant understanding the experiences and patterns that shaped their lives. Integrity meant becoming honest about choices, harm, and responsibility. Fitness recognized the connection between physical and mental wellness. Transformation meant putting those lessons into practice over time.
Truth became central to the name because the men believed growth could not begin with denial or excuses. It required an honest examination of the past, an acceptance of responsibility, and an equally honest recognition that a person can be accountable for harm while still being capable of learning, contributing, and becoming more than the worst thing they have done.
Bringing the men together
Rudy, Mirza, and Mikey were eventually able to bring residents together and begin group work. The groups created a place where men could speak honestly, reflect on their decisions, challenge harmful patterns, encourage one another, and practice accountability in community.
The purpose was not to remove responsibility from anyone. It was to create a setting where responsibility could be taken seriously. Men could show up consistently, participate in difficult conversations, support one another’s progress, and help build a healthier culture within their housing unit.
What began with three men grew into a shared effort. S.H.I.F.T. showed what could happen when residents were trusted with the opportunity to contribute to their own learning and to the growth of those around them.
Beyond the first group
Their families saw the commitment behind the work and led a community fundraiser intended to support outdoor gym and wellness equipment. Although that effort was later halted, the relationships and sense of possibility it created did not disappear.
That family-led fundraiser became the foundation of something larger. The Idaho Wellness Project grew from the belief at the heart of S.H.I.F.T.: people impacted by incarceration should have meaningful opportunities to learn, take responsibility, develop their strengths, and build a path forward.
When an opportunity did not exist, they began building one.