A Message from the Director

We are reprinting the message below from our Annual Report for the benefit of our readers who do not have a copy of the report.  If you would like to receive a copy of our 2007 Annual Report, send an email to info@oarric.org or call 643-2746. 

The Power of Reentry

 Prisoner reentry is a powerful concept.  Think about it.

 Reentry is powerful for offenders who make this their goal.  Returning to society, adjusting to freedom, connecting to services, contributing to family and community – these steps are incredibly difficult to achieve.  But when the individual is successful, it  means there has been a powerful and significant transformation in his or her life.

 Reentry is also powerful for the larger community.  Neighbors, friends, employers and service providers – our welcoming and supportive actions are critical to successful reentry and to public safety.  We forgive the crime, acknowledge that the debt has been paid, and offer hope for a better future.  In doing so, we reinforce and sustain powerful community values.

 OAR’s mission is all about harnessing the power of community to change individual lives.  Think about it.

 Katie Campbell, President, Board of Directors

 

Volunteer News

From July through December, 2007, 69 volunteers have provided 1,135 hours of their time to OAR and our clients as mentors, facilitators of client groups and special projects, and Board members.

Welcome to the following new volunteers:

Brendel Cox, Kimberly Fischer, J.D. Harris, Susan Mason, Carole Olsen, Roberta Shellenberger, and Patricia Summers.

 Get To Know An OAR Volunteer…

Leah Baldwin joined OAR as a volunteer in January, 2007, because it was a requirement for one of her classes at VCU.  Leah enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to continue as a volunteer with OAR after her class ended.  She facilitates the Life Without   A Crutch program for females at the Richmond City Jail.  Having the opportunity to facilitate the group has solidified Leah’s interest in working with inmates.  She stated that she “recognizes the tremendous need for the development and integration of corrections-based programs to help inmates break the cycle of recidivism”.   She is extremely passionate about helping and believes she is making a difference. 

 When Leah graduates in 2009, she will be going to graduate school, but as long as she is in Richmond, she plans to continue to volunteer at OAR.  Leah believes that if she can help just one woman, then her time is justified.  We concur!

 Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteers are needed for various OAR programs at the Richmond City Jail, Pamunkey Regional Jail, Henrico County Jail, Chesterfield County Jail, Petersburg City Jail and the Central Office.  Facilitators are needed for the following programs:  Alcoholics Anonymous/Narcotics Anonymous meetings, Productive Citizenship, Anger Management, Life Without a Crutch, Parenting, Impact of Crime on Victims, and Beginning Computer Skills. 

Call Sandra Hall, Community Resources Coordinator, at 643-2746 for more information.

 

Staff News

Sherilyn Merritt, case manager for the Petersburg area, Greg Harrell, part-time case manager at the Pamunkey Regional Jail, and Jackie Anderson, Central Office receptionist, recently joined our staff.  Nathan Hamm, Henrico County jails case manager, returned to our staff.  Ms. Merritt will be providing pre-release services to inmates at the Petersburg City Jail and post-release services at the Va. Department of Corrections' Probation & Parole office and at OAR's office located at the Crater Regional Workforce Center. 

Moses Wright is our new part-time Substance Abuse counselor for post-release clients.  He is providing both individual and group counseling services as part of a substance abuse collaboration with several other local organizations funded by the Jenkins Foundation. 

New contract staff facilitating various groups for inmates in the Virginia Department of Corrections' pre-release jail programs are Christy Ellis and Robert Brandveen.   

OAR is fortunate to have two VCU Social Work interns this semester.  Peggy Blaylock and Lauren Wray will be serving as case management assistants at the Central Office location.  We look forward to their help with our increasing number of post-release clients requesting services.  Valerie Holton, a Homeward staff member, is serving as the field instructor for our interns this semester.          

 

Board News

The Board of Directors’ Annual Meeting was held November 28 at the Richmond Police Department Training Academy.  Breadwinners, a training program for low-income women, operated by New Visions, New Ventures, Inc. catered the event.  Our guests were welcomed by Katie Campbell, President, and Ray Tarasovic, Assistant Police Chief, Richmond Police Department, who introduced the RPD choir led by Major Daniel Goodall, Sr.  Their selections were a perfect beginning to the evening.    

The theme of the annual meeting was the "Power of Reentry". The theme was reinforced when one of our panelists, an OAR client, spoke about how he prepared himself for reentry during his incarceration.  His story of how he has successfully reintegrated into the community despite being incarcerated for over 20 years was an inspiration to everyone.  Other panel members were from various organizations and agencies in the community who  participate in offender reentry in different ways.  Panelists were from New Visions, New Ventures, New Jubilee Educational Center, Department of Corrections' Probation and Parole office in Richmond, Homeward, and OAR's A New Direction Program.  Our guests commented on how educational the presentations were and many took the opportunity to speak to our panelists after our meeting concluded.  During the event three winning ticket holders received inmate art work from the Prison Art Gallery in Washington, D.C.