Moms and kids unite at Get on the Bus event
Children and their mothers reunited inside the visiting rooms at Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) for a special Mother’s Day event on May 9, 2026. The celebration was filled with laughter, tears, and unforgettable memories.
The Center for Restorative Justice Works, a nonprofit organization dedicated to family reunification, sponsored Get On The Bus (GOTB), which allowed 24 incarcerated mothers from CCWF to spend meaningful time with their children and loved ones during a day designed to bring families together.
Anyssa Lizarraga, program assistant for GOTB, along with 15 volunteers and workers, began traveling in the middle of the night from both Northern and Southern California to ensure families arrived at the prison by 9 a.m.
“As a mom, it warms my heart to do this work,” Lizarraga shared. “Mothers make decisions and they suffer the consequences, but their children should not have to pay the price. Our goal at GOTB is to keep mothers and children together. It might be one day a year, but it is one day more than they had with their children.”
The event created an atmosphere that felt more like a family picnic than a prison visit. Children ran across the outside playground, slid down the slides, laughed with one another, and tugged on their mothers’ shirts, while whole families played games and shared snacks together. Tables were covered with cards, popcorn, sodas, and crafts, while incarcerated volunteers helped with face painting and activities for the children.
Natalie Ayass, a GOTB student volunteer from California State University, Long Beach, described the experience as emotional and inspiring. “I am passionate about all sides of the criminal justice system, but today, as a human being, this experience exceeded all my expectations. I want to volunteer again next year,” Ayass said.
For many mothers, the day carried deep emotional meaning. Emily Gonzalez reunited with her son Logan for the first time in five years.
“I left him when he was a baby, so seeing him was amazing,” Gonzalez said. “I feel like a normal mom and can just be with my family.”
La’Kia Poles, another incarcerated mother, said the annual visit gives her strength to continue her positive programming. “This day, this event, is my motivation. It restarts me and motivates me for the rest of the year. It is even more special because it is Mother’s Day,” she said with a smile.
As the afternoon continued, puppies and their trainers surprised families by walking into the visiting area, bringing excitement and joy to both children and adults. Laughter filled the room as children gathered around dogs while families soaked in every remaining moment together.
“Today has been amazing,” shared incarcerated mother Constance Addison. “I get regular visits, but today, my children are allowed to be children. It’s like being at the park out there and not being behind cinder blocks.”
As the event came to an end around 3 p.m., emotional good byes filled every corner of the visiting room. Mothers hugged their children tightly while teddy bears carrying handwritten messages from moms were handed out as keepsakes.
Resident Katreeva Woolf, who was reunited with her daughter and four grandchildren, summed up the day best: “Last year we came, this year we are here, and next year, we will be coming back.”
