Local Father and Son Are Fighting for Kids with Incarcerated Parents — Here’s How You Can Help
Wilmington, DE – When a parent goes to prison, their child begins serving a sentence too.
Coley Harris knows this firsthand. He served 14 years behind bars. When he came home, he was determined that his son, Ahmarr, wouldn’t follow the same path. But what shocked Coley most wasn’t just how much time he’d lost; it was discovering that schools and other programs his son frequented offered no tailored support for children dealing with the trauma of having an incarcerated parent.
Despite decades of research on the emotional and academic toll this causes, nothing was in place. These kids were invisible.
Rather than accept it, Coley and Ahmarr created Out Of The Ashes — a program designed to break the cycle before it repeats.
The Numbers Tell the Story
You don’t need to be a genius or have a PhD to see what’s happening:
The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate in the world.
Half of all prisoners are parents to children under 18.
One in three of those children will face the criminal justice system themselves without intervention.
That’s a pipeline. And it’s swallowing thousands of Delaware’s children whole.
A Unique, Proven Solution
Out Of The Ashes uses a drama-therapy-based approach that blends raw storytelling with practical tools for healing. Coley and Ahmarr’s signature 32-minute presentation feels like a stage play — weaving in their own father-son story while guiding audiences through a framework to:
Recognize hidden trauma
Build resilience
Equip families and anyone who works with children to respond with care
This presentation has reached thousands of families and sparked measurable change in schools, community programs, and youth groups.
Who Needs This?
If you work with youth, you do.
Parents, grandparents, and foster parents raising a child with an incarcerated parent
Teachers, school counselors, and social workers
Mentors, coaches, and community leaders
Every adult who interacts with this population should have this presentation in their toolkit. Without it, too many children will continue falling through the cracks.
Two Ways to Take Action Right Now
You can bring Out Of The Ashes into your school, program, church, or community in two powerful ways:
Stream the presentation instantly — Experience the full 35-minute program from anywhere. Use it with your team, your class, or your group.
Book a live or virtual showing — Coley and Ahmarr deliver it personally, followed by a Q&A and/or an accompanying workshop for deeper impact.
Why Act Now
Every year we wait, more children carry trauma that shapes their behavior, their grades, and their future. Without intervention, the cycle continues from the classroom to the courtroom.
You, yes YOU, have the power to help break that cycle today.
Stream the presentation or complete the interest form below to explore the many ways Out Of The Ashes can partner with your organization.
Behind every prison sentence is a child’s story still being written. Let’s make sure it’s one of hope.