Established in 1955 by Rosemary Goodenough, a Quaker and tireless advocate for social justice, incarcerated people, and their children and families, Friends Outside has nearly 70 years of experience working inside institutions and with families and children of incarcerated individuals. Our fundamental principles today are still firmly rooted in the Quaker philosophy from which they were born, dating back to the eighteenth century.
The height of the civil rights movement , an era when ideas and norms were challenged, grew awareness of large groups of society who were excluded and needed to be brought into the community. The small but passionate group, the original advocates and members of Friends Outside, drove the social justice cause over the next 50 years and produced programs and services that have made a significant impact on incarcerated people, their families, children, and communities.