On Thursday evening, an estimated 300 locals celebrated the 10th Anniversary between CSOSA (Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency) and Washington, D.C.'s faith-based community (over 40 participating) at paring men and women with mentors to help guide and aid them as they make the transition back into the District's communities.
Annually, it's estimated that over 2,000 people return to D.C. from being incarcerated inside America's federal prisons. Some may have been gone a couple of months, while others may have been gone a couple of decades. Whatever the length of time is, any length of time in prison changes a person, and these same people need help reconnecting with friends, family, and the overall community.
The event was held at St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church, located at 4925 East Capitol Street, S.E., and emceed by Cedric Hendricks, Associate Director of CSOSA. Issac Fulwood, Chairman of the U.S. Parole Commission, Nancy Ware, CSOSA Director, Charles Thornton, Director of D.C. Office of Returning Citizen Affairs, Vincent Whipple, Deputy Regional Director of OFCCP (a division within the Department of Labor), the Honorable Robert E.Morin, Deputy Presiding Judge of the D.C. Superior Court's Criminal Division, and Kathryn Tracy, Deputy Assistant Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons all gave remarks.
"To date, 1700 mentors have been matched with inmates who are either incarcerated or previously incarcerated," said Tracy. "We are also looking into halfway houses, and how we can make that experience even better for men and women coming home." She added that the Bureau of Prisons is very appreciative of the valuable relationship they and their partners play."
Nancy Ware said that an evening of celebrating CSOSA's partnership with the District's faith-based community is an opportunity to show that the people on supervision and D.C.'s citizens that there is hope.
"We are listening to the concerns people have, on both sides, and are working with U.S. Parole Commission and other agencies to try to ease the transition back into the community," she said.
CSOSA has established a satellite office on the grounds of St Luke's. The two have been partnering together for many years and the Catholic Church has developed a warm place in the hearts of all in it's neighborhood. In fact, St. Luke's has been servicing the community long before it's partnership with CSOSA.
"This is a real special place for me," ORCA Director Charles Thornton said as he addressed the audience. "I grew up over on 58th and East Capitol, SE, in a place called East Capitol Dwellings. If you had ever told me then that there would be a day that I would be sitting with these esteemed folks talking about faith-based re-entry and mentoring, I wouldn't have believed it, because I was unable, dysfunctional, and a three time loser, but St Luke's gave me hope.
"Re-entry is real," he continued. "It was in this building 22-years ago where I met my mentor, a white man from Bethesda, Maryland who stood over six feet tall. In this building, upstairs in a twelve-step meeting my future mentor came up to me and gave me a card with his phone number on it and asked me to give him a call."
He went on to say, "The thing my mentor did for me was to inspire me to go from being a mentee to being a mentor. And that's my message because everyone in here has the ability to do that." Thornton later added that for all practical points and purposes, on the surface it appeared that they didn't have anything in common, but being at that meeting, changed both their lives. "The first thing he said to me was I was so important," Thornton said. "My mentor had never spent a day behind bars his whole life, and I was fresh out of prison for the third time and didn't see what my mentor saw, but something inside of me gave me the strength to not give up."
Also during the event, the President's Volunteer Service Awards were issued out. It's something new for the annual event. Recipients receive a letter of recognition from President Barack Obama, and a certificate that acknowledges their service.
"This portion of the program is a direct result of our partnership with the National Alliance of Faith and Justice (NAFJ)," Hendricks said as he continued with the program. Additionally, NAFJ President Addie Richburg was also on hand to comment. "As a national volunteer coordinator that retired from the Bureau of Prisons, I've come to realize that many people in our community were very much a part of the story of those who would be returning to our various communities, neighborhoods, and families; that we could make a difference."
One of the award recipients was Louis Sawyer, Jr., a Washington, D.C. native who was selected as mentee of the year for Cluster A, through Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ. He and his mentor Reverend Anthony Owens took time to give their feelings on the event. Rev. Owens was selected as mentor of the year for Cluster A.
"I am very humbled and grateful," said Sawyer. Louis Sawyer had been back in the community since early 2010, and since then has gained full-time employment as a Peer Advocate with University Legal Services.
"I would hope and prat that this is an opportunity to see the partnership that has been brokered between the city's faith-based community and CSOSA," Rev. Owens said when asked what this night meant for the District of Columbia. Rev. Owens an Associate Minister at Paramount Baptist Church where he oversees Youth and Young Adults programs.
And when asked what is it like being a mentor, he said, "These past two years it has broadened my perspective in the area of being used by God, in such a marvelous way. I see myself as being a servant and working with my brother-in-Christ Louis Sawyer - in mentoring him and sharing with him the wisdom I have received over the years. My relationship with God has enabled me to be an even stronger servant in God since I've had the opportunity to mentor Mr Sawyer."
Sawyer also said, "God has sent a true man of God my way. Since August 2010 when I met Rev. Owen, we've had the opportunity to get to know one another, and learn from one another."
Rev. Owens added, "I see myself as an advocate to Mr Sawyer, and trying to enable him to be acclimated to his community, and other endeavors. Sometimes Mr. Sawyer gives me advise - our relationship kinda flip flops sometimes," he said with a laugh.
Washingtonian Dawnna Lyon said, "It's nice to see so many government and legal officials at this event. To see so many only goes to show how seriously D.C. is taking this, but I thought it would have been nice to see Chief Kathy Lanier here."
Louis Sawyer wanted to clearly point out, "This should not be a one-day-of-the-year event by the powers that be: the court system, the government, and supervision personnel, but should put all these great and wonderful plans they talked about to action. They need to put their money where their mouth is in reference to resources because men and women are in need of employment, they are in need of housing, and social and job training skills. Let's make it happen. Leave no returning citizen left behind."
"It feels like Washington is getting the message," said Gladys Miller, a D.C. resident who supports returning citizen concerns. "Men and women are coming home, and there should be people out there that are willing to help and aid our brothers and sisters in Christ, not only mentors and mentees, but government personnel."
Another supporter, Dr. Wendell Arnold, M.D. said, "This is a public safety concern. Getting these guys involved in a faith-based mentoring program helps to change their focus and consider taking the road less traveled. One other thing we need are more businesses attending this event, so they can see just how many of these men and women are serious about changing their lives."
CSOSA (Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency) provides probation and post-incarceration supervision for over 15,000 area returning citizens.
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The Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) became a stand-alone program in 2009 and has a close working relationships with other agencies, like the Department of Justice for example. According to the entity's website, its purpose is to enforce, for the benefit of job seekers and wage earners, the contractual promise of affirmative action and equal employment opportunity required of those who do business with the Federal government.
The President Volunteer Service Award is an honor sent through the President of the United States' Administration that honors men and women who have done what the Barack Obama Administration calls, "a drum major of service." Men and women who have given themselves, their time, their service as mentors, or their service to help put volunteer programs together.
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