About Us

 What we do

Michael’s Story

Going Home II founder Michael Fesser aims to restore the concept of manhood for his community. Fesser came of age playing basketball at parks and school gymnasiums in and around Northeast Portland, Oregon. By the time he was a highschool junior in his mind, being a man meant having money, and having money meant selling drugs.

Fesser turned his life around after a two-year stint in federal prison. He had gone to church with his mother as a child, and credits God with his redemption. Taking the teachings of Jesus to heart, he was not content to simply better himself. Fesser started mentoring men in prison, focussing on the difficult transition back into regular life. Going Home II grew out of that mentoring, and has expanded to encompass a post-prison support group, transitional housing, and restorative justice work between community and police.

Fesser’s wife and organizational partner Tanisha Wells observes that it is his willingness to be open about his own failures and mistakes that sets the tone for the effective mentorship that is at the heart of what Going Home II provides. “I do this work because I love it and because I know there’s a need for it,” he says. “Because, I was that guy.”

“There is a need for someone to walk hand in hand with people just getting out of prison.”

Michael Fesser

Leadership Staff

MICHAEL FESSER

Executive Director
Fesser came of age playing basketball at parks and school gymnasiums in and around Northeast Portland, Oregon. By the time he was a highschool junior in his mind, being a man meant having money, and having money meant selling drugs. Fesser turned his life around after a two-year stint in federal prison and credits God with his redemption. Fesser started mentoring men in prison, focussing on the difficult transition back into regular life. Going Home II grew out of that mentoring.

TANISHA WELLS

Director of Finance and Operations
Tanisha Wells is a self-employed Native of Portland and has nearly 20 years of experience working with recently released adults in custody transition back into the community. As Financial & Program Manager, her ultimate goal is to not only support the transformative mission and vision of Going Home II, but to also help continue to expand the reach and services of Going Home II.“I am just happy to be able to provide a service to the Portland Community and its surrounding cities.”

Robert Richardson

Senior Advisor
Robert grew up in the west side of Phoenix, Arizona but has resided in the Portland, Oregon area since 1984. In 1988 he began working for the American Red Cross. Soon after his arrival in Portland Robert became a member of Emmanuel Temple Church, and became involved with outreach work in the community. He received an Ordination as a minister of the gospel in 1999 and became Co-founder of night court (Mid-Night Basketball). Robert is a former chair of African American Advisory Counsel, and has over 25yrs of working experience with OYA, DOC, J.D.H., and various Oregon Correctional Institutions.

Our Board

Jim Eney

Board President
Jim and his wife Janet have lived in Portland since 1990. Jim spent 30 years serving Young Life in the Northwest before leaving in 2004. Currently he serves as an Associate with Fellowship Foundation and assists in the development and maintenance of an association of individuals bound together in the spirit of Jesus. Jim met Michael through a racial reconciliation fellowship group called Friday Morning, where they became friends. The friendship then led to Jim visiting Going Home II’s work at Columbia River Correctional Institution where he developed a passion for the cause. Jim came on the board in 2019 and serves as the Board President. 

Dwight Myrick

Secretary & Mentor
Dwight Myrick grew up in Portland and has witnessed and been a part of gentrification in many North and North East communities. For nearly 10 years, Mr. Myrick has served these same communities as a Program Specialist for Multnomah County, where he supports already established community-based organizations and creates programs for underserved communities. As a person formerly incarcerated, Dwight appreciates the opportunity to help individuals navigate the criminal justice system, and to serve as an example of how an individual can change. 

Matt Tuttle

Matt and his wife, Emily, have three young children: Micah, Madelyn, and Josiah.  When not spending time with family and chasing around his kids, he works as a financial advisor with Edward Jones.  He served Young Life in the past and currently serves on the board of Safe Families for Children in Portland, OR.  Matt and Emily both consider it an honor to call Michael and Tanisha friends and have seen how impactful and important their work is.

Tom WIlson

Tom first met Mike Fesser at a men’s group that meets in NE Portland on Friday mornings  and together they  learned to love one another as neighbors. Tom began to see Going Home II in action employing resources wisely, efficiently, and effectively to assist men in getting a fresh start. As a result he agreed to serve on the Board of Going Home II. Tom is the President at SIMPLIS Technologies. He and his wife, Jane, live in N.E. Portland. 

Michael Denton

Michael Denton and Michael Fesser met at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC in 2017, and became friends. Denton accepted an invitation to speak at Columbia River Correctional Facility about business startups and financial matters, and found himself excited by the opportunities that Going Home II was creating for incarcerated men.  He was glad to become more involved by joining the Going Home II board. Michael is a business owner and works nationwide with banks, credit unions and broker-dealers in the financial services industry. He and his wife have lived in the Portland area for over 38 years.

Where We Serve

Columbia River Correctional Institution

The relationship with Columbia River Correctional Institution (CRCI) was established years before by Robert Richardson, a long-time community advocate and Pillar in the community for over 30 years. Going Home II was founded in 2014 by Michael Fesser in an effort to continue the legacy Robert Richardson started at CRCI back in 2003; to focus on the transition of individuals who have served time in an institution, back into the community.

 Currently, we partner with CRCI on several community-based events held at their facility in hopes to create a bridge between adults in custody and the community they will return to. We go into the facility twice a week; once to host group mentoring sessions and once to host Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT®) classes.