JOSEPH L. NICHOLSON
Founder/President/CEO

Faith Unlimited Institute, Inc

Joseph L. Nicholson has lived in Springfield since 1970.  He was employed by the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department for twenty-three years. While there, he served in the capacity of Assistant Superintendent/Director of the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center (WMCAC), which is a regional residential facility for treatment of substance abuse offenders.  As Assistant Superintendent of WMCAC, he was responsible for the care, custody and treatment for the residential population of third and subsequent DUI offenders and other substance related offenders.

Joseph Nicholson has a life-long commitment to work with vulnerable youth and ex-offenders in the greater Springfield area, and in 2000 founded Faith Unlimited Institute, Inc in order to engage people of faith and faith communities in assisting those who have been marginalized by criminal activity and incarceration.

Faith Unlimited is a recognized non-profit faith organization committed to assisting in rebuilding the lives of families, particularly the incarcerated and after incarcerated through Mentoring Programs, Strengthening Families & Family Reunification, and Leadership Training & Fellowship. As CEO of Faith Unlimited, Institute, Inc., Joseph Nicholson plans, trains and institutes faith based prisons ministry services for organizations such as the Sheriff’s Dept., Dept. of Youth Services, and Partners for Community.

Joe was married for 48 years and has two daughters, 31 foster children, 4 grandchildren and one great grandson. He has a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from American International College, a B.A. In Physical Education & Science from St. Augustine College and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker.

His community involvement includes: member of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Presbyterian church, where he serves as an Elder; member of CECP (citizen group for planning/organizing neighborhood and community policing); member and past president of the Springfield Urban League, member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.; facilitator for Aftercare programs with community agencies and joined in creating an Institute for Healing of Racism in Springfield (Unity ’94).