Juanita Edrington-Grant
Juanita Edrington-Grant
Juanita Edrington-Grant is a community advocate who is committed to being a positive agent of change and reformation. She is the founder and chief executive officer of CRAM, Christian Recovery Aftercare Ministry, a ministry that offers services to ex-offenders. Juanita lives a powerful and exemplary life of one who was able to turn turbulence into triumph.
In 1986, after making regrettable choices, Juanita was incarcerated in a state correctional facility for numerous criminal offenses. Even though she found herself in that position, Juanita was determined that her life would not end there. During her confinement, she took responsibility for her actions and made the choice to take control of her future. While incarcerated from 1986 to 1992, Juanita courageously pursued a college education from Penn State University. She completed the Paralegal program and earned 51 credits towards an associate's degree.
The beauty of Juanita’s story is that her journey to greatness began in the middle of a life altering season. In November 1992, she gave her life to God and immediately entered into prison ministry with her spiritual mother, Thelma O. Wright. Inspired by her mentor, Juanita realized that she had a passion to help ex-offenders transition successfully into society. Juanita founded the ministry, CRAM, which would later become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In 2002, CRAM began offering its first program services of mentoring and providing substance abuse support. Under her guidance and leadership, the services have expanded to pre-GED learning, computer and financial literacy classes, family unification and workforce development. Her most recent accomplishment was the development of a one-stop service center dedicated to meeting the needs of ex-offenders and their families, veterans, and other underserved populations in the capital region. The HUB Campus (The Harrisburg Uptown Building) represents this new vision.
Juanita is incredibly passionate about providing assistance to those in her community and takes every opportunity to advocate for them. Her story is a living testimony that God will use the unfortunate parts of our lives to bring forth greatness in us. She allowed God to turn her mistakes into her message. She is a Woman of Purpose!
For more information on CRAM, please visit https://www.craminc.org/