NEWSLETTER ARCHIVE

 

 

Fall 2003

Volunteer News

Since July 2003, 35 volunteers have assisted staff in providing services to 61 clients at OAR’s jail service locations and the Central Office.  Their  assistance with OAR programs is very much appreciated and allows us to give our clients that “extra” support and attention many of them need.

We welcome the following new volunteers:    

LaShaun Evans, Ed Gilchrist, Sharon Mickle, Deborah Morton, Becky Smith, and Margaret Weiser.

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Get to Know an OAR Volunteer…

DeMonta Landers has been volunteering with OAR since June.  He recently completed teaching his first Anger Management class for men at the Pamunkey Regional Jail.  DeMonta attends the School of Theology at Virginia Union University.  He aspires to become a full-time pastor and enjoys spending time with his 8-year-old daughter.  DeMonta has a passion for people and is interested in making a difference in the inmates’ lives.  What DeMonta finds most interesting about his volunteer work is the chance to learn more about the culture of incarceration.  We appreciate DeMonta taking time from his busy schedule to assist our clients.

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Volunteer Opportunities

• Beginners Computer Skills Instructor - OAR Central Office, weekdays

• Facilitator for Impact of Crime on Victims classes at various locations and times

• Individuals to assist clients with their restoration of rights applications - Central Office, weekdays

• Henrico County Regional Jail in New Kent County - this is our most difficult jail services location to recruit volunteers for our client programs.  If you are interested in volunteering at this location or any of OAR’s other locations, please call Jessica Hacker at 643-2746.

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**113 volunteers assisted OAR last fiscal year as client service providers, Board members, and special projects consultants.  Thank you.  We could not have made it through the year without you. 

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Board News

The Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors is Thursday, November 6, at Club 533 on the corner of Third and Jackson Streets in Jackson Ward.  A social hour beginning at 5:30 p.m. will precede the program.  We will be recognizing our volunteers, their commitment to our mission, and our clients who have made a commitment to living crime-free, productive lives.  Mark your calendars now and look for your invitation in the mail in October.   

 

 

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STAFF NEWS

Morgan Wilson is the newest member of our staff.  She is the Pre-release Services case manager at the two Henrico County Jail locations. 

Jessica Forsythe, Associate Director, will be leaving OAR September 26.  Jessica has been a tremendous asset to OAR, our clients, and the community; she will be missed greatly and we will hold her to her promise to become an OAR volunteer.  We look forward to getting to know our new Associate Director, Dennis Brown, who starts in that position September 10.  Mr. Brown has a wealth of administrative and client services experience from his years working at a settlement house in New York City. 

Angie Griffin, Receptionist, has also left OAR.  We hope to have a new person in this “key” position by early October.      

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Client News

New Groups for OAR Post-Release Clients

GED classes—thanks to a partnership with the Adult Career Development Center, one of their instructors, Ed Gilchrist, is teaching a class at OAR two days each week. 

Each week during August, OAR hosted a Minority Health Consortium, Inc. HIV/AIDS and STD awareness seminar for our female clients.  The seminar facilitator, LaShaun Evans, is employed by the Consortium and is a former OAR client who has earned a Masters of Human Services degree and is “giving back” to her community.  All of the clients who signed up to attend the series of seminars had perfect attendance and lots of compliments for the facilitator.   OAR hopes to offer this seminar again.

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Did you know….?

In FY 2002-03 OAR served 3,687 clients.  The following statistics based on information received by the case managers during intake interviews reveal some startling, and sometimes sad, facts about our clients.  When reviewing these facts, we should all ask ourselves two questions:  “Why am I shocked that so many offenders continue to commit crimes when they are released from jails and prisons?” and “What can I do to make a difference in their lives and the safety of my community?”

• Males - 74%

• Females - 26%
• Clients with minor children - 50%
• No high school diploma or GED - 40%
• Age 35 and over - 70%
• African American - 82%
• Homeless - 31%
• History of substance abuse - 73%
• Receiving some type of government benefits - 8%
• Unemployed before incarceration or after release - 73%
• Annual income below $10,000 - 78%

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A Success Story

Ms. C.  is a 53 year old former cocaine addict who has been a client since 1996 when she was released from Chesterfield County Jail and came to OAR requesting job assistance.  She quickly got a job and has maintained employment while moving to jobs with more responsibilities.  Even though she has had health problems, her spirit has not been dampened.   She is employed at a state agency and has just received her 3-year incentive from OAR for consistent employment. Ms. C. doesn’t really “need” OAR any more, but as many of our clients do, she continues to come to our office for support and guidance.  It has been a pleasure to watch Ms. C.’s confidence and skills increase.

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You’re Invited…….

…to walk with the OAR team at the Wachovia Securities canalWALK Saturday, September 20.  You can register to walk with us, form your own team to benefit OAR, or make a credit card donation in support of OAR by going to www.canalwalk.org.  It is hoped that this event will bring in much needed funds; our goal is to raise $5,000.  Your support is needed.  We also need volunteers for our organization’s exhibit at the “Solutions Expo”, an educational awareness part of the event.  If you have problems accessing the canalWALK web site and would prefer to register by mail, or if you can volunteer for our booth, please contact Jessica Forsythe at 643-2746.  As always, your support is very much appreciated.

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2003 Campaigns Begin

OAR would not exist without the funding support of our local United Way Services, Local Government & Schools Campaign (LGS), Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign (CVC), and Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).  When you are deciding how much to donate, keep in mind the thousands of adults and children in our community who receive services from supported organizations like OAR.  Please give as generously as you can and consider designating OAR in the local, state, and federal governmental campaigns.

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One City, Our City

OAR is participating in the development of the Crime Control Plan for Richmond. Implementation Teams were formed for each goal in the Plan.  Barbara Slayden and Joyce Davis, Richmond’s Criminal Justice Planner, are co-chairs of the Implementation Team which will be developing strategies to meet Goal #3, Effective Transition of Offenders from Correctional Facilities back into the Community. If you are interested in joining our Team and participating in this process, call Barbara at 643-2746.

OAR Web Site:  www.oarric.org

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Thanks to Randy and Stephen Armbrecht of Global Web Solutions, Inc., web site developers, and Ken Sikora of Access Technology, Inc., who hosts our site, OAR is finally online.  We couldn’t have done it without you guys!

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Thank You To…

Bob Barker Co., Catholic Diocese of Richmond, Richard Massey, Lewis Parker, John Rice, St. Peter Baptist Church, Securitas, Inc., Ukrop's Golden Gift Program, Frank Wood, Tommy Wrenn, and Gray Wyatt who contributed gift certificates, money, or other items during this last quarter.

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"You must give something to your fellow men - even if it's a little thing, do something for others - something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it."

                                --Albert Schweitzer