For 1,900 days, Tiwangi Rochelle lived behind prison walls — 1,900 sunrises and sunsets confined within a system that sought to label and limit her. But while her freedom was taken, her faith, resilience, and sense of purpose remained unshaken. It was in those days, stripped of everything familiar, that Tiwangi discovered the depth of her connection to the women around her — women often forgotten by society, but never by God.
Through her own struggles, Tiwangi found a kindred regard for the incarcerated population. She listened to their stories, shared in their pain, and saw firsthand the desperate need for hope, resources, and restoration. She clung to the scripture that became her life’s anchor: “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them” (Hebrews 13:3). Tiwangi vowed that when her 1,900 days were up, she would never forget the women left behind.
On January 31, 2011, she walked out of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice with nothing but a heart full of vision and a promise to God. She came home determined to give back, to be a voice for the voiceless, and to break the cycles that kept so many women bound.
That passion gave birth to T.A.M.A.R. (Transformative Aid for Mental Health and Rehabilitation) — a grassroots organization dedicated to supporting justice-impacted women and underserved communities. Through reentry programs, transitional housing, mental health services, and advocacy work, T.A.M.A.R. quickly became a beacon of hope in the community.
Since her release, Tiwangi has remained committed, discovering 1,900 ways to serve in exchange for the 1,900 days she spent behind bars. Whether it’s mentoring women in prison, hosting reentry conferences, developing workforce initiatives, providing housing for returning citizens, or advocating for systemic change, Tiwangi Rochelle has become known not just as a survivor — but as a philanthropist, leader, and community trailblazer.
Her story isn’t just about redemption — it’s about purpose. It’s a testimony that from struggle comes strength, and from captivity can rise a calling to serve. Tiwangi Rochelle continues to lead with heart, using every opportunity to remind the world to remember the prisoners and to never underestimate the power of a woman on a mission.
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