The Heart of Redemption: Miah Tolbert's Story and Mission
Eighteen years ago, Miah Tolbert stepped into the criminal justice system, not just as a probation officer, but as a woman on a mission. A mission born from personal pain, lived experience, and an unwavering belief that people can change when given the right support. What started as a career quickly became a calling—a relentless pursuit of justice, healing, and restoration for the people of Selma, Alabama.
Miah’s story doesn’t begin with her professional journey. It begins with a six-year-old girl who didn’t recognize her own mother when she returned home from prison. It begins with a teenager who watched her brothers get arrested and felt firsthand the weight of a system that often does more to punish than to rehabilitate. It begins with a young woman who, after experiencing the system up close, wanted nothing to do with it—until she was pulled back in, this time with a purpose.
“I only took the job if I could help people,” Miah recalls. “Like that man who sat in my mother’s living room and told her the things she needed to do to stay home. I wanted to be that person for someone else.”
For nearly two decades, Miah has poured herself into that mission, working first in treatment courts and now leading an organization that offers hope where there once was none. She started alone, but today, she has a team of seven, all working tirelessly to serve a community in desperate need of second chances.
A Space for Healing, A Need for Growth
Their building, an old doctor’s office, sits in what locals call “the belly of the beast”—a neighborhood deeply affected by poverty, addiction, and cycles of incarceration. It is exactly where Miah knew she needed to be. Against the advice of some, she leased the building, and last year, she took a leap of faith and purchased it outright. Owning the space was a victory, but it was only the beginning.
With just four small offices, staff members share cramped spaces, often standing in hallways to allow clients the privacy they need. Makeshift tables serve as desks. Yet, every day, 50 to 55 people come through their doors for help, with another 50 seeking support even if they don’t formally qualify for the program. The need is overwhelming, and the space is bursting at the seams.
“Our clients tell us in every survey—‘we need more space,’” Miah says. “And they deserve it. They deserve a place where they feel safe, valued, and supported.”
Beyond Selma: A Vision for the Future
Miah isn’t just looking at today’s needs—she’s building a movement for tomorrow. Her program has already changed lives, reuniting families, breaking cycles of incarceration, and offering hope to those who thought they had none. But she knows this work needs to reach further. She dreams of expanding beyond Dallas County, creating a model that can be replicated statewide and even nationwide.
“I don’t want to just help twenty families when I know there are 120 more that never even got the chance to walk through our doors,” she says. “This work needs to be bigger than me.”
But Miah is stretched thin. She wears every hat—financial officer, grant writer, program director, case manager, mentor. She needs help. She needs funding. She needs a community of people who believe in this work as much as she does.
Miah Tolbert – Executive Director, Rise & Recover
Miah Tolbert is a leader in criminal justice reform, dedicated to breaking cycles of incarceration through rehabilitation and holistic support. As the Executive Director of Rise & Recover, she spearheads a pioneering program that provides treatment-first alternatives for individuals facing substance use and mental health challenges.
With over 15 years of experience, Miah has transformed Dallas County’s approach to justice, integrating housing, workforce development, and mental health services to support long-term recovery. She is also a national consultant for the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, helping other communities build effective diversion programs.
Miah holds a Master’s in Leadership and Management from Amridge University and is a Certified Court Referral Officer and Drug Screen Collector. Her vision is big, bold, and urgent—expanding Rise & Recover into a statewide model that prioritizes treatment over incarceration. Her work is proof that when we invest in people, we create stronger families, safer communities, and a justice system that works for everyone.