Meet Andre, Team VOA Roseville Alumni Member

"I feel ready to make this transition back into the world because I know I have a family in MiMS to come home to." 

When Andre Anderson transitioned to the VOA Roseville community reentry facility after 11 years in prison, he already knew the connective power of the Mile in My Shoes community.

Joining Team VOA Roseville for his first run, Andre had years of MiMS relationships to draw on. He’d been pen pals with Distance Crew Run Mentor Steve, and been taught on the inside by Roseville Mentor Jen.

MiMS Program Director Beth bought him a pair through the prison, Hokas. "I put 4200 miles on those Hokas," On Tuesday, his first day out of prison in 11 years, Andre got some new running shoes. He ran his first "Roseville Mile" on Thursday with Beth returning to her home team just to join him.
"I haven't even seen my family yet. It's overwhelming, less than 100 hours since I left prison, and I already have new shoes, clothes, my team. It's incredible this community," He continues, "This community, big enough to meet people, all people, and give them a seat at the table. I want to help build more of that.”
In those 100 hours, Andre already signed up to earn his Master Degree in Public Advocacy and Leadership at Metro State University.

"After 11 years, my first day out, you were there waiting with my team, and my bib for the City of Lakes half marathon.”

The pair (pictured right, after City of Lakes) have the archives to prove it: on a recent MiMS Zoom, Andre tilted the camera to show a wall of postcards, while Steve pointed his to a magazine rack holding years of Andre's letters. "Finishing [this race] together is going to be so impactful," says Andre. "I want to get to the end and know I gave it everything I had. It's freeing." 

While we can read and listen to Andre’s own words all day, his story has also been beautifully told in photos and video by MiMS photographer extraordinaire Carly Danek and MPR.

“In the end, running is not a story to be told, but a journey to be traveled. The joy is not in the recounting of miles, but in the memory of the landscape passing by, the changing light, and the feeling of momentum carrying you forward.”