Great River Landing is a Place of New Possibilities
“I think it’s essential. I think that they need more buildings like this,” David, a resident at Great River Landing in Minneapolis tells us. “I’m enjoying freedom and independence. I’m a dreamer and I’m creative.” In his creative, problem-solving approach to life, David is always thinking of new possibilities.
David moved into Great River Landing in late 2025. Beacon owns and operates these 72 homes that are primarily focused on serving men exiting incarceration or who are otherwise impacted by the criminal justice system.
“I was in the Salvation Army program, the ARC across the street. I like to be proactive, so I was kind of looking for other places to stay and I heard about this. I didn’t know the location of it. I just knew it was close by. I needed a place, because I know I got a record and it seemed decent. So, I talked to somebody and followed up with it.”
“David is a leader,” says Layee Sanoe. Layee is the director of adult programs at Great River Landing, where the organization 180 Degrees is the supportive services partner. “We appreciate his positive attitude and his willingness to take advantage of opportunities that support his personal growth. He is dependable and committed to improving himself.”
At Great River Landing, David works with an onsite case manager, Neil Anderson from 180 Degrees. David says, “It’s helpful because you have resources. Neil is a great guy. He has a lot of energy. I guess it’s just good sometimes to be able to get that peace of mind, to know that somebody’s in your corner.”
Strengthening Community, Together
The supportive services offered onsite by 180 Degrees include case management, employment support, housing stabilization services, recovery support, life skills programming, educational opportunities, community-building activities, health and wellness initiatives, recreational outings, and referrals to community resources.
Supportive housing is one critical component to challenging systemic and social barriers of societal reentry after incarceration. These issues include steep employment discrimination, housing instability, and a lack of access to basic social safety nets. Finding an affordable home is often the foundation to success in all other aspects of everyday life.
Don’t Give Up
Layee adds, “David is respectful, gets along well with others, and is always willing to help when needed. He tends to lead by example and is someone other residents look up to. He encourages others and models responsibility and accountability.”
Recently, David ran the Mile in My Shoes (MiMS) Half Marathon. MiMS partners with substance-use recovery programs, homeless shelters, and reentry centers for people exiting incarceration, using running as a tool for both personal and collective transformation. This demonstrates the depth of his character. David discovered MiMS and was inspired to act to meet mission-aligned people and give back. MiMS, Beacon and 180 Degrees are all organizations that help build strong communities.
“I believe in talking things into existence. I like nature, meditation, and astrology, I like being able to connect to people.” David tells us that he is blessed to have strong intuition where his past experiences inform his future actions and he reminds us, “Don’t give up. If you apply yourself and you don’t win, just try again.”
