Mark, right, on a Bluestem construction site, went from an Avenue J Brother to a full-time Habitat Omaha employee.

Almost every Saturday for the last 20 years, a unique Habitat for Humanity of Omaha volunteer group walks through security doors into the early morning light, boards a van, and heads out to renovate or build affordable homes in Omaha.

While many volunteer groups do projects for Habitat Omaha, this particular one has a name, unlike the others. This group’s name is rooted in The Bible, “The Avenue J Brothers.”

The name is derived from the “brothers” reference in Mark 3:35 — “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother,” said longtime Habitat Omaha volunteer John Fuller. He is a member of The Ecumenical Labor Force (ELF) Coalition, a group of 11 churches that come together to complete a Habitat Omaha home renovation or build, and pay a portion of the costs of materials.

Fuller said the fact that they have a name is important. “These are men who have only been treated like a number in prison rather than the people they are and can be.” The men are part of the Community Corrections Center’s work release program, located not so surprisingly on “Avenue J” in East Omaha.

“It is a fitting program for us,” said Habitat Omaha CEO Amanda Brewer. “We are a place of second chances, whether overcoming the odds to earn homeownership or making amends for past bad decisions. Offering those second chances to people who are willing to work hard to overcome obstacles is what we do as a faith-driven, human rights organization.”

Fuller added that the Avenue J group’s work with Habitat Omaha is optional. “They are volunteers in the same way we are.”

And now, “The Brothers” solid work is fostering change. Last year, Habitat Omaha hired Mark, its first paid program intern from the Avenue J group.

“Mark is super,” said Habitat Omaha Construction Supervisor Mark Butler, formerly a long-time volunteer working with “The Brothers” on Saturdays.

And the Avenue J’s work is reflective of more than Bible verse,” Butler added. “They work hard, and they are big, strong guys. We respect each other, and they get things done. It (volunteering) is an empowering thing.”

Even though Avenue J Mark is small in stature, his Habitat construction helmet says “Big Mark” on it. “That’s for production,” he says proudly of his new nickname.

“As an incarcerated individual on work release, it (volunteering) brings me great joy,” he said. “Working with Habitat for Humanity allows me to learn a trade skill and feel needed and wanted. We realize we can do good in the world.”

“I think his (Mark’s) words are much stronger than anything we could provide here at the center,” said Assistant Warden David Erickson of the Community Corrections Center. “Habitat has been, and will continue to be, a vital partner with the Community Corrections Center Omaha and the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.”

The work with Avenue J has changed hearts, too, said longtime Habitat Omaha volunteer Anne Carroll. For Anne, it’s an experience. Her heart is one of those that changed.

“I’ve been involved with Avenue J group for about 15 of my 30 years of working with Habitat Omaha,” she said. Initially, her involvement with prison ministry was feeding the work-release women and men at their worksites.

She did this in spite of her feelings about incarcerated people. “. . . I grew up with a theory that you lock ‘em up and throw away the key. There was no redeeming quality for them.”

Through her continued work with incarcerated people through faith groups and some encouragement from her husband, those feelings changed. “There are some bums in prison, and there are bums outside of prison,” she said.

What changed? “I got to know them,” Anne said. “These guys work their way through prison, get jobs, make money, pay rent, and handle their responsibilities. What they need are more work release opportunities, not more prisons.”

For Fuller, the success of the Avenue J Brothers is not surprising. “They’ve done their time, and it’s important for people on the outside to invite and support them in this other life,” he added. “To have people treating you normal and being a part of something is redemptive in nature.”

And so far, it is paying dividends, not debt. Mark is now a citizen, not a parolee. Habitat Omaha has promoted him three times in a little more than a year. He is now a Plumber Apprentice with a strong career path.

For more information on how to become a Habitat Omaha Faith Partner, visit https://habitatomaha.org/volunteer/faith-partners/