“The ideal (wo)man bears the accidents of life with dignity and grace making the best of circumstances. “-Aristotle
If you are reading this, then I am finally on my way home. Not just home in the physical sense, but back to the life I have been building with full intention, fierce love and radical responsibility. My name is Celeste Monette Blair, and this is my release plan not just a checklist or a bureaucratic form, but a living, breathing testimony of what it means to return with purpose.
PHASE ONE: THE FIRST 100 DAYS
Reclaiming Myself
In the first 100 days of freedom, I am focusing on wholeness. This is my time to reclaim my body, mind, and space. I have already received my birth certificate and social security card, so my first order of business is to get my driver’s license. I
have no outstanding tickets or warrants. I’m simply going to study, show up and get my freedom of movement restored!
One thing I have really missed is the ability to drive, feeling the wind and watching the scenery roll by.
Health and Healing
Every day will begin with movement. My 80/20 wellness philosophy in action: demonstrating the results of 80% nutrition, 20% exercise. I have two fitness books I ‘ve written while incarcerated, specifically crafted for women like me: the huntress, survivor, hard-bodied, hard-headed types. I’ll be documenting my transformation and my healing process, sharing the real, raw , sweaty truth of my journey with the public.
Visibility and Voice
I’ll be working with Mike Tweedy and Prison Audio to launch a video series called ” 90 Days to Clean and Free “. This will be a public-facing, transparent journey that walks through the real work of reentry getting IDs, going to the dentist, learning how to navigate this 2025 world, highlighting the power of setting intentions, budgeting, all of it. I will bear witness to my own life in the hopes that it creates a roadmap for others. Wellness wheel in motion!
Artistic Rebirth
I’m dying to get my hands on a brush again, to be wearing overalls smeared in paint. In the absence of paint, I wrote. But now, paint and visual art will be my method of expression. In these first few months, I will begin mural projects, painting tutorials, and begin reestablishing myself as an artist in the free world. I will fill my studio space and begin cataloging my sketches and concepts, bringing to life all that I have designed in the past decade.
PHASE TWO : SIX MONTHS
Publishing & Authorship
By the end of six months, I will have published:
” In the Absence of Paint ” ( self- help book )
My first poetry collection
A comedic anthology based on my blog
Two fitness books geared for those who have struggled with addiction and body image issues
My Peer Success workbook series: Healthy Boundaries, Coping Skills, Healthy Relationships, and Breaking Victim Cycles.
There publications will serve dual purposes: income and impact. They are intellectual property assets and they are also lifesaving tools for others.
Employment & Real Estate
I will be working for Breck at H&H Real Estate. Breck and I have a clear vision of how I will bring a fresh infusion into his business. I love the satisfaction of seeking out just the right space for clients. I am a network dynamo with a passion for identifying properties with hidden potential. I’ll be getting my footing, but with an eye on the future.
Volunteering
I’ve already begun correspondence with domestic violence shelters and reentry orgs in San Diego. I will begin volunteering
immediately serving in at least three centers regularly. For many years I have been mentoring women here teaching them that the best way to integrate into a community in a positive manner is to serve as a volunteer. This is also part of my plan to build long-term partnerships for something bigger: The Green Bridge.
PHASE THREE : YEAR ONE
Mentorship & Construction
I’ve complete a two-year college correspondence course in Construction Management, along with hands-on experience through NCCER vocational training in site safety and electrical systems. My plan is to identify and work under a sustainable construction firm. Ideally, this is a contractor who focuses on green energy, permaculture, and adaptive reuse.
My goal in Year One is to :
Gain real-world experience on green job sites
Build out my design portfolio
Prepare for site development work in Year Two
Expansion of Art & Studio Work
I’ll be scaling. Studio space becomes gallery space become workshop space. I will begin hiring other formerly incarcerated women as interns or assistants where possible. My dream is a wellness-focused, arts-centered, holistic hub.
Public Speaking & Advocacy
I plan to speak publicly about:
Cult recovery ( my time in the House of Yahweh )
Long-term trauma and it’s links to recidivism
Peer coaching inside prisons
Health and fitness post-prison ( esp.. the benefits for overcoming addiction and body dysmorphia )
PHASE FOUR : YEAR TWO
The Green Bridge Program
This is my heart’s desire. The Green Bridge is a two-year program for formerly incarcerated women to live, learn, and lead. Based in the desert, our women will:
Install solar panels & spray foam insulation
Build gardens using permaculture
Create tiny homes and green roofs
Learn self-sustainability and community organizing
Each participant will :
Receive trauma-informed coaching
Eat meals grown on site
Work on real construction projects
Get certified in trade skills
This is not a halfway house. It’s a healing space. A place to bounce back.
Real Estate + Reclamation
By now, I’ll have worked with Breck for two years and should be ready to branch off in new directions, launching a new diverse type of real estate reconversions.
Warehouses into artistic collectives. Abandoned schools into wellness center. Building ecosystems, not just structures. Applying everything from my journals and coursework.
LONG-TERM : YEARS TWO TO FIVE
National Scaling
We’ll begin licensing the Green Bridge model in other states. Hopefully partnering with :
Prison Professors
Inside Out
Formerly incarcerated thought leaders
Final Probation & International Service
Once I’m off paper, I want to travel. First stop: Mediterranean. Goal? Marine observation. I believe in giving back to the planet that held me.
Closing Reflection
I am not coming home to start over, I am coming home to take over my life, my future, my legacy. I’ve been preparing in the fire and now I am ready to build something that can’t be burned down.
This is not just a release plan. This is a resurrection.
With grace, grit and gratitude,
Celeste Monette Blair
