Listening to Prisoner’s Voices:
A Community Forum and Art auction
MCC Alberta’s Community Justice Ministries program is kicking off Restorative Justice Week with a Community Forum and Silent Art Auction including prisoner’s artwork and crafts on November 14, 2009.
The Community Forum will consist of a panel of ex-prisoners discussing issues related to reintegration into the community after release. A representative from Correctional Services Canada will be present to respond. A question and answer period will follow along with an opportunity for further discussion.
Items for the Silent Auction have been donated by prisoners and community members alike. Much of the art and craft work was made by prisoners while serving time. Art auction items will be featured at www.mcc.org/alberta
The event will take place at Deer Park United Church, 77 Deer Point Road SE, beginning at 9:30 am and ending at 1pm, November 14th. Lunch will be provided.
To register for the event please call Peter Worsley at 403-275-6935.
What's new with the CJM programs?
Circles of Support and Accountability
A Mentoring Program for Former Offenders
At a recent gathering of our volunteers and core members, a discussion developed about people’s firsthand experiences in the group. The following comments say it all!
“Can I imagine what my life would be like without CoSA? Just let me say, I never imagined I could have a good place to live, a place I can really call home. In CoSA I see Jesus.”
We have a chance to make a difference. Let’s not talk justice, let’s do justice! Volunteers are wanted, needed, and loved! Be part of a rewarding success story!
Moira Brownlee, Melanie Weaver- CoSA Coordinators
Go to CoSA Page
Community Chaplaincy (Bridge Ministries), April 2008 – January 2009
It’s been busy! Since April ’08 I’ve had 700 contacts with offenders and 40 contacts with family members. I’ve connected with 56 new offenders, 28 in the community and 28 inside prison. There were 1000 contacts with Correctional Service Canada staff and 1300 contacts with agencies.
The time spent with offenders was used to provide support in areas related to spirituality, socialization, housing, emotions, practical needs (clothing, bus tickets, etc), addictions, and physical and mental health.
Thank you to the volunteers who contributed 400 hours of direct service and prayer time towards reintegrating offenders!
Peter Worsley- Community Chaplain
Go to Community Chaplaincy Page
M2W2 – Edmonton Maximum Security Institution and Bowden Institution
M2W2 at the Max in Edmonton has evolved into primarily a social visit once a month. These visits rotate among five of the Max's eight units. Participation varies from 12 to 22 prisoners and from 8 to 15 volunteers. Since last summer's major incident, the Max has become, in effect, 12 separate prisons. Several one-on-one match-ups are in place for meetings outside the regular M2W2 visit time, and I am working with volunteers, prisoners, and staff to develop more of these relationships. The February 13 visit was cancelled due to yet another lockdown, and a number of volunteers got together with me at that time to discuss ways to adapt the program to the ever-changing situation at the Max.
On February 1, I took on the coordination of the Bowden M2W2 program. I have spoken with all of the volunteers and plan to meet individually with all participating inmates in the near future. Don Stoesz, Moira Brownlee, the staff, and inmates at Bowden have been welcoming and helpful during the transition period.
Gary Garrison- M2 Edmonton Max Coordinator
Go To M2/W2 Page
Edmonton Institution for Women M2W2
Friendship comes in all shapes. At the Edmonton Institute for Women (EIFW), we offer a program called ReCreating Community. Twice a month, volunteers from Edmonton churches come to EIFW to socialize with inmates. During these socials, singing, group games, crafts, visiting and snacks are enjoyed. I hear genuine laughter and witness their genuine excitement at these socials. For some of the inmates, we are their only contact with the outside community for the month. One volunteer says she loves going, it’s a time to relax, enjoy each other’s company and care for one another. Isn’t that what friendship is about?
Janet Anderson- M2 Edmonton Institute for Women Coordinator
Go to M2/W2 page
Drumheller M2W2
M2W2 is about commitment. Volunteers and inmates promise to meet once a month for a two hour visit. But that is often just the tip of the iceberg, for as relationship grows so does the real sense of being part of each others life journey.
Chris is a volunteer who in the past connected in the outside with the man he visited. Last week, he again set aside a word day to attend a parole hearing. He sat beside the inmate he is visiting , and added his voice to the proceedings. He was the only representative of the outside community present. He was the only representative of the outside community to be present. He was the only person saying directly that he would act as a support for ‘J’ should the board decide to grant parole.
Commitment like this never fails to humble me. It is about putting someone’s interests ahead of the thousand personal items that could fill that day. It is not knowing what energy and time ‘support’ could mean in the months and years ahead, yet promising it anyway. And doing that for these, - in the words of our Lord – “the least of my brothers.”
Gord Hutchinson-M2 Drumheller Coordinator
Go to M2/W2 page
Man-to Man, Woman-to Woman
Prisoner Visitation
WHAT IS M2/W2?
M2/W2 is a program of Community Justice Ministries, which is supported by the Mennonite Central Committee, Alberta. M2/W2 stands for Man-to-Man, Woman-to-Woman. This is a visitation program involving volunteers from the “outside” and their matches on the “inside.” M2/W2 believes that one-to-one relationships are vital for personal growth and change for everyone. By becoming involved, we invite people to better understand the issues of incarceration from both within and without the prison walls.
THE VOLUNTEERS...
Most of our M2/W2 volunteers commit to visit a prisoner once a month on a one-to-one basis, within a group setting. Our volunteers come from the Christian faith community and are motivated by their commitment and call to follow Christ's example of love and reconciliation toward one another. They care about people on the inside and their families on the outside. Volunteers submit applications to the M2/W2 Coordinator and are interviewed to determine whether or not they are compatible with the program.
WHAT WE OFFER...
Friendship is the basis of M2/W2. As a faith-based program, we do not work for the government. Our volunteers don’t intend to be counselors, pastors, employers, or landlords with their respective matches. We do hope that our volunteers will provide encouragement, respect, and acceptance in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Having a sponsor will not necessarily increase chances for parole, passes or institutional privileges. It is our hope, however, that relationships established during incarceration will continue to be supportive when the prisoner is released. We also train our volunteers based on the principles of restorative/transformative justice – a healing response to crime.
WHAT WE EXPECT...
We expect this relationship to lead to a friendship that includes mutual honesty. We hope that a meaningful two-way friendship can result in greater understanding of, and support in dealing with, the struggles of incarceration – both for offenders and for their families. The degree to which a person wants to disclose personal information is completely up to her/him. We hope that the lives of both the prisoner and the volunteer/visitor will be transformed by this experience.
WHO IS IT FOR...
We serve men and women in federal prisons in Alberta who have at least six months left to serve at the point of being matched with a volunteer. We currently have M2/W2 Coordinators at Bowden, Drumheller, Edmonton Institution for Women, and the Edmonton Max. Our priority is with those who do not receive regular visits and/or have long sentences. Prisoners may request to be part of the program by completing an application and being interviewed by the M2/W2 Coordinator.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED...
For application questions, or further information about the program, contact:
Edmonton Max Coordinator
Gary Garrison
Drumheller Coordinator
Gord Hutchinson
Edmonton Institute for Women Coordinator
Janet Anderson
Or write to:
M2/W2 Alberta (Provincial office)
#210-2946 – 32nd Street NE
Calgary, Alberta T1Y 6J7
403-275-6935
888-622-6337 (toll-free)
What is Community Chaplaincy?
Community Chaplaincy supports offenders (and their families) as they re-enter society. It involves a chaplain and numerous volunteers from the faith community. They serve out of a deep sense of vocation and conviction and offer a wide variety of assistance. This service is provided under contract with Correctional Service of Canada although it operates independently of it.
Core Values and Objectives
Community Chaplaincy:
Respects the dignity of individuals, and the rights of all members of society.
Believes in the potential for human growth and development.
Respects the social, cultural and religious differences of individual offenders.
Recognizes that offenders have the potential to live as law-abiding citizens.
Purpose
Community Chaplaincy contributes to the protection of society by actively encouraging and assisting offenders to safely and successfully re-enter society by providing them with practical, spiritual, emotional and social support.
Key Roles
Journeying is central to the work of Community Chaplaincy. Key areas of involvement include:
Spiritual support
Emotional support
Support with medical concerns
Mental health support
Practical assistance
Finding appropriate housing
Finding employment
Addictions
Self-help programs
Community access
Various mentorship groups
Others, as needed
Volunteers
Community Chaplaincy needs volunteers who are interested in serving their community and able to commit to journeying with individuals as they re-enter the community from prison. Volunteers receive training and support for the opportunities that exist.
Volunteers are motivated to give of themselves and their time for a variety of reasons which include:
Wish to promote restorative justice
Desire to give back to their community
Care about the safety of their community
Feel drawn towards working with marginalized people
Need a valuable place to offer their free time
Wish to promote healing in their community.
For more information on Community Chaplaincy, or on how to get involved, contact:
Peter Worsley
Community Chaplain
Mennonite Central Committe Alberta
(403)275-6935
MISSION STATEMENT
To substantially reduce the risk of future victimization of community members by assisting and supporting high risk released individuals in their task of integrating with the community and leading responsible, productive and accountable lives.
What is a CoSA?
Circles of Support and Accountability are groups of 4 - 7 volunteers who are primarily from the faith community. They are committed to enhancing public safety by supporting community re-entry for former high risk offenders through covenanting, meeting and walking daily with them. The full Circle meets on a regular basis. It serves both as a caring community offering support, and as a responsible community,concerned that public safety not be compromised. CoSA acknowledges the ongoing pain and need for healing of survivors of abuse.
Volunteers
Community-based volunteers possess a broad range of skills and experience. Many also have previous experience working with marginalized people. It is vital to the goal of achieving greater community safety that a caring, supportive Circle be created for the former offender. The Circle members need to be committed to the principles of responsibility, accountability and healing.
What makes a Circle work?
Circles are not like a program which has an ending date. They are about relationships that are ongoing. On a continuum, Circles are more about being family than they are about therapeutic interventions. Modeling is a major focus of what occurs in a Circle and, in that sense, what is caught is more important than what is taught. It has been observed that the most powerful aspect of a Circle is the sense of belonging that occurs both for the offender and for the Circle members. It is because of this belonging, because of the degree of attachment that is formed, that CoSA has such a profound impact.
Community Based, Professionally Supported
A successful CoSA is a group of well-trained and dedicated volunteers who are supported by the professional community in the jurisdiction. Local professionals can include: the police, community chaplains, community and institutional correctional personnel, members of the victim/survivor community, psychologists, politicians and other key community workers.
Under normal conditions, once a person is convicted and sentenced, levels of incarceration and restrictions of freedom start high and are gradually decreased over the course of the sentence. Corrections research suggests that facilitated community reintegration and treatment reduces the risk of re-offense. As well, mental health research suggests that strong social networks reduce negative symptoms and difficulties during the re-integration process. Unfortunately, offenders with the highest risk of re-offending are often released at sentence completion with no official community reintegration process in place.
Circles of Support and Accountability attempt to address the dilemma of individuals who have been convicted of violent offenses and have no positive, pro-social mechanisms to assist with their safe adjustment to the community upon release.
For more information, or to get involved contact:
Moira Brownlee or Melanie Weaver
Circles of Support & Accountability
#210, 2946 32 Street NE
Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7
Phone: 403-275-6935
Fax: 403-275-3711
Email:
Programs
 Aboriginal Neighbours
Seeks to build bridges with Aboriginal communities and Mennonite churches in Alberta
Go to Aboriginal Neighbours Program Page
 Community Justice Ministries
This includes such programs M2/W2 Prison Visitation, Community Chaplaincy, Circles of Support and Accountability, LifeLine Alberta, and the Recreating Community in Edmonton
Go to CJM Program Page
 Generations At Risk- HIV/AIDS Fundraising
MCC Albertas work focused on raising money for our international HIV/AIDS work. Includes concerts, fundraising CD's featuring Kim Thiessen, our Annual Glimmers of Hope fundraising event, and more.
Go to Generations at Risk (GAR) Program Page
 Global Family
A sponsorship and education program. Make a dream come true
Go to Global Family Program Page
 Health Services
MCC Alberta organises workshops, seminars and forums and provides resources on Mental Health and Disabilities, Fetal Alchohol Spectrum Disorder, Parish Nursing, as well as other DVD, video, and printed materials for groups or individuals
Go to Health Services Program Page
 Low German Services
MCC Alberta works together with local churches and other agencies to help Low German speaking Mennonites who have imigrated to Alberta from Mexico, Ontario and Manitoba with employment, documentation, settlement assistance, and more
Go to Low German Services Program Page
 Material Resources
With your help, we collect and send abroad things like health kits, school kits, quilts and blankets, AIDS care kits, relief kits, sewing kits and newborn kits
Go to Material Resources Program Page
 Peace Program
Through events, workshops and retreats, the Peace Program works to provide a window through which Alberta people can engage in thinking, talking and living peacemaking
Go to Peace Program Page
 Refugee Sponsorship
The Refugee Sponsorship Program matches churches, sunday school classes, Bible study groups, businesses & former refugee families with refugee applicants to form sponsorship groups
Go to Refugee Sponsorship Program Page
 Service Program
Providing young people and adults with opportunities to serve locally and internationally
Go to Service Program Page
 Youth Program
Involving Youth in the vital (and fun!) work of MCC locally and abroad
Go to Youth Program Page
Community Justice Ministries
Celebrating 27 Years in Alberta!
- WHAT IS CJM?
Community Justice Ministries (CJM) is a group of ministries under the auspices of Mennonite Central Committee Alberta (MCCA). We work in conjunction with volunteers and churches of various denominations to provide an opportunity for individuals to bring healing and restoration to the community, particularly to those whose lives have been directly affected by crime.
Staff members work with volunteers to train and support them as they visit and form friendships with those in federal prisons. Friendships and encouragement are also extended to former prisoners as they integrate into the community.
- HOW DO WE ACCOMPLISH THIS?
We have a variety of programs across Alberta, including:
M2/W2 (Man-to-man, Woman-to- Woman): Volunteers make monthly visits to form one-on-one relationships with federally sentenced offenders in Bowden, Drumheller and Edmonton Institutions.
Go to M2/W2 Page
Community Chaplaincy: Churches and individual volunteers participate with the Community Chaplain to offer support to ex-prisoners in the Calgary community.
Go to Community Chaplaincy Page
Circles of Support and Accountability (CoSA) : Groups of four to seven volunteers enter into a covenant relationship of mutual encouragement and accountability with released high-risk offenders for the benefit of the community and the ex-offender.
Go to CoSA Page
Victim Support: We are able to assist victims of crime with resources available through MCC.
- WHO SUPPORTS CJM?
We receive donations from churches and individuals, as well as some government grants from the Correctional Service of Canada for CoSA and Community Chaplaincy.
- WHAT IS MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE?
Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) is a Christian relief, service, community development and peace organization with approximately 1,000 workers serving in over 56 countries. MCC was founded by Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in Canada and the United States.
The mission of MCC is to demonstrate God’s love by working among people suffering from poverty, conflict, oppression and natural disaster. MCC strives for peace, justice and dignity of all people by building healthy relationships, sharing experiences, resources, and faith in Jesus Christ.
- WHAT IS CJM’S APPROACH TO JUSTICE?
We believe that true justice is restorative rather than retributive. This means that, when a crime occurs, it affects the victim, the offender, and the entire community. Therefore, we all need to be involved in seeking creative and personal ways to transform pain and heal wounds.
From various sources, we learn that
restorative justice seeks to:
- focus on the harms of wrongdoing more than on the rules that have been broken;
- show concern and commitment to victims and offenders, involving both in the process of justice;
- work toward the restoration of victims, empowering them and responding to their needs as seen by them;
- support offenders while encouraging them to understand, accept and carry out their obligations;
- recognize that while obligations may be difficult for offenders, they should not be intended as harms and they must be achievable;
- provide opportunities for dialogue – direct or indirect – between victims and offenders as appropriate;
- involve and empower the affected community through the justice process, and increase its capacity to recognize and respond to community causes of crime;
- encourage collaboration and reintegration rather than coercion and isolation; and
- show respect to all parties including victims, offenders and justice colleagues.
- WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE?
Restorative justice is not an easy way out. It requires ongoing passion, commitment, determination, knowledge, and community and justice system partnerships. These contribute to working toward empathy, forgiveness and healing.
All parties involved must be willing to actively engage in this process.
There are times when people need to be incarcerated for the protection of the community. Prisoners should be provided with programs and opportunities to accept responsibility for their actions and to acquire skills to function in society.
The relationships that our volunteers make with present and former prisoners can provide them with a sense of care and hope, as well as a model of a wholesome approach to life.
- HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED WITH THE WORK OF CJM?
We have opportunities for volunteers in all our ministries, as well as administration and Advisory Committee involvement.
We can only move forward with your prayers, participation, and financial support.
To learn more about CJM and how you can make a difference with us, please contact:
Community Justice Ministries
Mennonite Central Committee Alberta
peterworsley@mccab.org
#210 2946 - 32 St NE Calgary, AB
(403) 275-6935
(toll free) 1-888-622-6337
|
|
Share
RSS feed