Friends Outside in Los Angeles County 2017 END-OF-YEAR REPORT
Good + Foundation Selects FOLA’s Dads Back! Academy to be a Partner! Mission We are very pleased to announce that achieve milestones such as attendance Statement the Good + Foundation has selected at a targeted number of support groups our fatherhood program in Watts, the or participation in our Dads Back! Insidehe mission of Friends Outside is Dads Back! Academy, to be a recipient Academy Alumni Group. T to assist children and families, prisoners, and former prisoners with of donated goods they receive and We were especially thrilled when the immediate and long-term effects distribute. Founded in 2001 in New York we received the news in early October of incarceration, and to act as a City by Jessica Seinfeld and originally that Mrs. Seinfeld and her famous bridge between those we serve, the named “Baby Buggy,” Mrs. Seinfeld husband were going to visit the community at large, and the criminal decided she wanted to help families Academy along with several members justice system, thereby enhancing the who were trying to help themselves by of their impressive staff. After their character of justice. providing them with gently-used items visit, executive director Mary Weaver such as (you guessed it) baby buggies! presented Mrs. Seinfeld with a doll FOUNDER The organization changed its name to that was handmade by female inmates Martha Jane Dowds “Good+ Foundation” and has grown in Los Angeles County Jails, pointing- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR significantly, now partnering with 100+ out that the doll is a reminder of the Mary Weaver “carefully selected organizations” most basic reason we do this work (the ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES who have qualified to receive a litany children) and Mr. Seinfeld with a FOLA 261 E. Colorado Blvd., Ste. 216 of items, which now also include new cap, welcoming him to “Team FOLA.” It Pasadena, CA 91101 Tele: (626) 795-7607 items from corporations across the was a proud day. Special kudos to the Fax: (626) 795-1476 U.S.A. The items we will be receiving crack Academy staff and their leaders, [email protected] will be given to reentry fathers in Kelly Quintana, LMFT, and www.friendsoutsidela.org the Dads Back! Academy when they Donald “Bo” Hulen, M.A. BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRESIDENT Dave Bates Director of Re-entry Five Keys Charter School VICE-PRESIDENT Jim Ehlers, Senior Director of Gift Planning California Institute of Technology SECRETARY Wanda Edwards, Executive Manager Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance TREASURER W. Elizabeth Watts, M.S.A. Certified Public Accountant Photo and text taken from Jessica Seinfeld’s Instagram Account Donald “Bo” Hulen, staff supervisor, Jerry Seinfeld, Jessica Seinfeld DIRECTORS Lisa Alegria Thank you to Bo and the team at Dad’s Back Academy for showing Jerry and Marilyn Graves, M.S.W. me your extraordinary work. Dad’s Back Academy and Friends Outside LA are Eunice Howe, Ph.D. Reggie Miller, M.S.W. helping people who are affected by the criminal justice system stabilize and Rusty Russell make positive changes in their lives. They are a @goodplusfdn partner so we can give children with incarcerated Inside Friends Outside in Los Angeles County is published quarterly. Editor: Mary Weaver or formerly incarcerated parents a higher chance of success. MESSAGE FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Appreciation for a Most Fulfilling Year… s each year as an organization or as individuals) firm commitment to his beliefs. People Aflies by more to receive three awards just in the past don’t come much better than he. More quickly than six months. As I commented when I recently, we lost another long-time the one before received an unexpected award from the volunteer jail visitor, Beatrice Wolfe. it, we pause U.S. Probation Department, “Getting “Bea” died on October 28 at the age of for a moment recognition is not the reason most of 91. From her obituary, “She was most of gratitude in us do this work but it is certainly very proud of her 20-year affiliation with appreciation for a gratifying when it happens.” Friends Outside, where she visited very fulfilling year. I hope you will review The year has also come with weekly with women inmates in the statistics below to get a sense of the our fair share of losses. The the Los Angeles County Jail.” scope of our work, in terms of number Honorable John Van de Kamp, As you can see by these two of clients served, services provided, and former California Attorney nonagenarians, the secret to service outcomes. General, died earlier in a long life might well include Friends Outside was one of the the year, leaving behind a volunteer work with FOLA! first entities in the state and in the legacy of advocacy for Thanks to all who have country to become concerned about progressive policies in the supported our work the “unintended consequences of criminal justice system. during 2017 in myriad incarceration.” 60+ years later, the Mr. Van de Kamp served on our ways, including financially, sensibilities of the country have Advisory Board for more years through voluntarism, and via donated finally caught up with the values and than were ever counted. I called him goods such as no-cost office space that sentiments of our organization’s early about a month before he passed to ask is provided by many of our partners. leaders so that now we find ourselves in for some needed support, a request to We extend our deepest appreciation for the interesting position of having many which he immediately responded. your contributions to our Mission and colleagues in the field and multiple Father Roger Wood, long-time wish you all the very best of the holiday opportunities for collaboration. We volunteer jail visitor, past board season and during the coming year. are now working in a rapidly-changing president, and board member died on environment with the wind finally at our June 14 at the age of 93. I memorialized Winter wishes, backs! him in a prior newsletter but suffice to As you will read in this report, we are mention him now as a beloved person honored to have been selected (either of utmost integrity, intelligence, and a Why I Got Involved... FOLA Client Statistics HAPPY HOLIDAYS I joined the board of FOLA last spring. January through I admired their mission before joining October 2017 FROM ALL OF US the board, and my respect has grown 4 770 Unduplicated Clients ever since. I saw the joy of graduates Served at Dad’s Back Academy, and children with incarcerated parents in elective 4 91 Jobs Attained by Re-Entry after-school programs. After many Population years as a professor at USC, I can 4 71 Vocational Training recognize untapped potential. FOLA Certificates Completed by Re- is unique in providing a path to Entry Population fulfillment and stability for individuals who might otherwise have no support. 4 12 Children with Incarcerated AT FRIENDS OUTSIDE I feel privileged to be a member of this Parents Improved Their Grades dedicated and skilled community. and/or School Attendance IN LA COUNTY –Eunice Howe, Ph.D.
2 A YEAR OF RECOGNITION FOLA Honored in D.C. with “Urkel” Award On August 10, FOLA was one of only six grantees who were honored in Washington D.C. during the Grantee Conference that was hosted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Family Assistance. The “Urkel” award was presented to FOLA and the Dads Back! Academy for Geneva Ware-Rice, program consultant, Carrie Petrucci, Ph.D., program having the highest percentage amongst evaluator, DaJohnai Vincson, data-entry, Mary Weaver, executive director, 90 grantees of contact between our and Donald “Bo” Hulen, staff supervisor. clients and our staff, an indicator that our clients will do well in the long-run.
FOLA Staff Member Ernest Melendrez Recipient of Harriet Tubman Award! Job Specialist Ernest Here’s an excerpt from Ernie’s award letter: Ernie participated in a Friends Melendrez (Ernie) was “Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman, Outside in Los Angeles County (FOLA) a recent recipient of a noted abolitionist, subsequently program, Project New Start, in which the Harriet Tubman escaped only to come back and free FOLA was sub-contracted under the Distinguished Award others trapped in slavery. It was City of Los Angeles. He was offered a job at the inaugural during this time the Underground with FOLA and is quickly approaching Beyond the Bars LA Railroad was born – a network of his eighth year anniversary with our Con ference. The conference is “reserved antislavery activists and safe houses. organization. We are fortunate to have for special individuals who have Tubman was a brave champion of him on “Team FOLA” and congratulate experienced incarceration and dedicated freedom and equality, and it is in this him on this wonderful accomplishment their life’s work to abolishing the current respect that we intend to honor you and well-deserved recognition. state of mass incarceration.” and your work.”
FOLA Executive Director Weaver Wins Award from US Probation Office On November 7, FOLA’s executive director Mary Weaver was presented with an award by the United States Probation Office “in recognition of your dedication and partnership in advancing the goals, mission and values of the United States Probation Office.” Presented by Probation Officer Jane Alcala, Ms. Alcala recognized FOLA’s efforts to provide employment services to persons on federal probation. Former client Jose De La Cruz spoke effusively about the value of the services he Jose De La Cruz, employed client, Jane Alcala, federal probation officer, received from FOLA, noting that case Mary Weaver, executive director manager Patrice Knox was the first Dorian Esters was instrumental in for about a year, Mr. De La Cruz works person to think to welcome him back to helping him prepare for job interviews, in the real estate business, also having the community after a long absence due giving him confidence that he could inherited a house in which he will soon to incarceration and that job developer get a job. Now successfully employed be living! 3 3 APPRECIATION FROM OUR CLIENTS...
And this testimonial was written by an inmate at Pitchess Detention Center who participated in our jail-based job readiness program... “I’ve been in and out of the system since my early teens. At 19, I became a father. Months later I also became a convicted felon and took the next step on the “Thug Life.” I was living (State Prison or the Major Leagues) as I called it. That would be my home for the next couple of years. I had enough time but I didn’t think much. A former client writes... I paroled a little before my daughter’s 3rd birthday. But still not much ran “This place is awesome. This through my mind besides I was once again a free man. Reality did not hit me place has helped me in more ways till hours later when I finally made it home. That baby I once left behind wasn’t than one. Friends Outside in Los a baby any more. She stood on her own two feet and wanted nothing to do Angeles County has helped me with me. Eventually I won her over and because of her I kept myself out of the get self-esteem back in my life, I way and made it five years free but then I “back-stepped” and found myself can look in the mirror and smile behind these walls once again. Even though it’s not a long time, it’s enough to and truely (sic) say I’m somebody make me realize that if I continue down this path this place will always have a today. bunk waiting for me. But most important I will be away from my little girl and When every door seemed to close that’s where I don’t want to be. in my face, Friends Outside doors My goals when I get out are to find employment as soon as possible. If it’s were always open. God has really in the auto industry I’ll be happy as can be but if it consists of mowing lawns, put some great people in that place. washing dishes or even sweeping floors it will be fine as long as I can provide for Thank you Friends Outside.” my family. Altha Thank you Friends Outside!” – Jose