Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition (CRESC) Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2011
MINUTES
1. Welcome and Introductions. Chair Vladimir Beaufils called the meeting to order, welcomed all present, and read the CRESC Mission and Vision as printed at the end of these minutes. He then invited all to introduce themselves. Present were: Vladimir Beaufils, The Firm Foundation; Larry Coleman, CCU Prison Ministry; Jim Cavenaugh, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg; Larry Washington, Cumberland County Prison; Stephen Scanlon, Center for Independent Living; Mel Viering, Dauphin County Work Release; Mia Davidson, Concerned citizen and parent of an incarcerated man; Natasha DiPrizito, the PROGRAM; Sandy Parodis, the RASE Project; Marcus Ricketts, Cap. Regional Clinic of HACC; William Peterson; Ken Wilson, DPW; Rev. Jim Doyle, Foundation House Harrisburg; Jeff Woodyard, OIC; Patti Brader, Firetree, Ltd.; Stewart Henretta, The Firm Foundation; Tim Whelan, United Way of the Capital Region; Ernestine Middleton, CRAM; Samara Scott, A Personnel Connection; Barry Nazar, Temple University Harrisburg; Reggie Bass, Bethesda Mission.
2. Approve Meeting Minutes from March / 2011. The Minutes of the March meeting were moved for approval by Bill Peterson. Motion seconded by Tim Whelan, approved without dissent. “ “
3. Committee Reports A. Workforce Development Committee Samara Scott, Chair The committee met for the first time on April 13. Others present were Joyce “Samaro” (AARP), Vladimir Beaufils, and Mel Viering. Committee Priorities are: - Training for exoffenders, - Education for employers (goal: identify success stories from employers who have hired exoffenders and put them on the CRESC website), and - Education for ‘John and Jane Q Public’ about exoffenders – especially in regard to ongoing legislation, and ‘owning the fishpond’ (rather than just teach someone to fish). When Ms. Scott started a business that could employ an exoffender such as her husband, this went beyond teaching someone to fish. For her for-profit business for the Health Center project, beginning in July of this year. She specifically asked if there were requirements regarding ex-offenders and learned there are none. So this will mean employment opportunities for exoffenders both with the general contractor and subcontractors. There will be another pre-bid meeting April 27th where she hopes to learn guidelines for hiring exoffenders. Ms Scott described job readiness programs underway to help exoffenders: Mel Viering trains work release residents in a four week cycle, with an 88.7% success rate; Vladimir Beaufils does ‘Ready 4 Work’ training at the CEEED at 13th and Derry in three parts: classroom, help with resume, and mock interview; Joyce and AARP train about 200 folks over 55 at a time, about 50 of whom are ex-offenders; and Samara Scott at A Personnel Connection (APC) works with CRAM doing daytime job readiness classes, for those who are not available evenings. New Committee Business: Identify success stories, such as Abbe ‘Garney’ a supervisor at McDonalds who is an exoffender and has helped McDonalds to hire exoffenders who in Vladimir Beaufils – Chair/President, – Vice President, Jeff Woodyard – Treasurer, James L. Cavenaugh - Secretary CRESC was convened in September 2005 by the United Way of the Capital Region and several key re-entry service providers. Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition (CRESC) Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2011
turn have been successful. Vladimir Beaufils noted that Abbe has been a presenter at a previous CRESC meeting. The committee developed a strategy to educate and inform employers: a job fair to present success stories, along with positive incentives to hire exoffenders, such as bonding and tax credits.
B. Mentoring Committee Chaplain Coleman Mentor Committee chair Larry Coleman spoke of Work Release Director Matt Miller’s positive report on the Successful Exoffender Mentoring Group (SEMG) program, which he hopes to use as leverage to persuade PA State Probation and Parole to support its own mentoring program. The SEMG program has operated for a year now. At a recent Mentoring Committee meeting they interviewed a potential leader who in her work interfaces with children’s’ services. They expect her to be at tonight’s meeting. Bringing in new leaders is a challenge because they don’t think they have anything to offer – and they do have something to offer. Potential and current leaders are busy people. The report mentions average attendance of 37, and it is more than that now. The next committee meeting will address how to ‘marry’ the existing one-on-one mentoring effort of DCP with the group mentoring. Next mentor committee is May 5 at Dodge City Restaurant on Paxton Street. Chair Beaufils urged all present to get the report, which shows how successful the SEMG program has been, and encouraged frequent visits to the CRESC website at ‘reentrynow.org. ‘
C. Finance Committee Barry Nazar Chair Barry Nazar worked with CRAM on a 2dChance Act application, with help from SAMHSA, The PROGRAM, Firm Foundation, OIC and A Personnel Connection. Chair Beaufils noted that the Workforce Investment Board (WIB) with help from Bob Garraty had just submitted a grant that had CRESC written in. Jim Cavenaugh noted that he had assisted Mr. Garraty in contacting DOC for reentry statistics. CRAM got a Basic Needs grant from United Way of the Capital Region for exoffender basic needs. Brethren Community Ministries received a similar grant of $10,000 for the South Allison Hill Community to provide for emergency relief, and they will work with HELP Ministries of Christian Churches United to carry it out.
4. Treasurers Report Jeff Woodyard Treasurer Jeff Woodyard distributed a current report showing a current balance of $2,412.80. Prospective member Jim Doyle had sent in a check in February for his dues and asked why it had not cleared yet. Since Jeff and Vladimir check the CRESC mailbox several times a week it was not clear where the delay had originated. Jim was advised to stop payment, as CRESC clearly did not get the check.
5. PRESENTER: United Way of the Capital Region Tim Whelan, VP
Presenter Tim Whelan told the group that United Way of the Capital Region (UWCR) has supported CRESC since its inception in September 2005. He began by addressing the question: Why did UWCR get involved at first? Back in 2005, he and Valerie Simmons (CEO of the PROGRAM) and the PROGRAM’s Assistant Director at the time discussed the availability of Federal state funds, which no one from our area was pursuing due to lack of a strong Vladimir Beaufils – Chair/President, – Vice President, Jeff Woodyard – Treasurer, James L. Cavenaugh - Secretary CRESC was convened in September 2005 by the United Way of the Capital Region and several key re-entry service providers. Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition (CRESC) Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2011 organization and a lack of collaboration. We were a community of competitors in 2005, not collaborators – there were no conversations about ways to work together to help exoffenders.
There are still ways to improve what we do. A recent Community Forum addressed ‘what makes for successful collaboration?’ Two things: Participants need to share power for the group to move forward; and they need to share resources – ‘it’s not a collaboration till everybody at the table puts resources on the table’ as one mentor put it. That’s difficult because none of the organizations in CRESC have enough resources. He pointed out that we (CRRESC) still need to find our niche, to define our ‘brand’ so the newspaper and others in the community will recognize us. The Capital Area Coalition on Homelessness (CACH) has a very clear niche around the Annual Point-in-time Survey, and the community knows it. The CACH makes things happen, and the community knows that as well. CRESC could do multiple workshops each year, with job fairs for exoffenders and employers. There are studies of outcomes that need to be made. Could CRESC be the source of information for the community? We are still in existence and productive after six years, and there are great opportunities for us if we can gain strength, share power and resources for the betterment of the whole community. Thank you [applause]
6. New Business.
Accept resignation of VP Ivy Rose-Schneider. Chair Beaufils asked for a motion to accept the resignation of Ivy Rose Schneider as CRESC Vice President due to work pressures. Moved by Larry Coleman, seconded by Larry Washington, approved without dissent. The chair will accept suggestions for a new VP to be voted at the next meeting.
7. Announcements & Sharing of Information / Networking A. Jim Cavenaugh described meeting with his state representative, Susan Helm, discussing the need for criminal court proceedings to automatically expunge from the record all charges that were dismissed, nolle prossed, or withdrawn. He asked those present to offer examples of exoffenders whose records include many such charges, to lay the examples before his legislator and the committee that would review the bill. Samara Scott agreed, pointing out an example of one whose charge was driving without a license, and found that the PennDOT records included charges for which no finding of ‘guilty’ was ever found. And the individual has to go to PennDOT and go to a lot of trouble to get these spurious charges removed. Vladimir Beaufils agreed, pointing out that so many clients of R4Work at the CEEED have multiple charges on their records that should not be there. A young man ‘Steve’ had pages of charges from Pottstown that the Judge recognized as excessive. But until the charges are expunged, they will remain on Steve’s record. B. Mia Davidson, a concerned citizen whose son is in a state prison, spoke both of personal issues with her son’s treatment, and of the habit of prison officials of treating family of prisoners ‘like dogs.’ She asked “who is there to help these people?” The Probation Officer can have a negative attitude and not ‘lose business.’ A parent and taxpayer deserves respect. Chaplain Coleman pointed out the SEMG is helping to fight the cynicism of officials. Vladimir Beaufils pointed out that we need to reach out to legislators regarding public policy in this area. Vladimir Beaufils – Chair/President, – Vice President, Jeff Woodyard – Treasurer, James L. Cavenaugh - Secretary CRESC was convened in September 2005 by the United Way of the Capital Region and several key re-entry service providers. Capital Region Ex-Offender Support Coalition (CRESC) Meeting Thursday, April 21, 2011
C. Chaplain Coleman announced the Prison Action Committee’s Gospel Concert coming up April 30. D. Natasha DePrizito announced the PROGRAM’s Cinco de Mayo at the Community Center, 1515 Derry Street. Twenty tables have already been reserved by agencies and employers, including recruiters. E. Larry Washington stated that the PA DOC will be contracting with county prisons to house DOC inmates, bringing them home from Michigan and Virginia.
8. Next Meeting – Third Thursday of the Month (Thursday, May 19, 2011)
9. Adjournment: The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
James L. Cavenaugh, Secretary
Vision Statement: We believe that every ex-offender should have access to the services and resources necessary to maintain a productive, crime-free life.
Mission Statement: Positively affecting recidivism by educating and strengthening the community through coordination of services that the ex-offender needs for a successful reentry.
Vladimir Beaufils – Chair/President, – Vice President, Jeff Woodyard – Treasurer, James L. Cavenaugh - Secretary CRESC was convened in September 2005 by the United Way of the Capital Region and several key re-entry service providers.