This has been an exciting year for those participating in the Prison Justice Committee.  Those presently on the committee include Skip Dickinson, Betty Edson, Lynda Hadley, Will Hunter, Alice McDonald, Vy Manokill, Alan Perkins and Jeanne Zammataro.

 

BLUE SPRUCE LODGE:   
Things are moving along on the Blue Spruce Project (whereby two people from our committee have drawn up papers for a non-profit in which the lessor of the Blue Spruce (in Mount Holly, VT)  will be the Lutheran Church, and the Board of the non-profit will work with the Department of Corrections to renovate this property as a half-way house for offenders.  The plan is that inmates will do much of the work of the renovation; that there will be rehabilitation programs; and that there will be, eventually, programs for training people in carpentry, culinary skills, and mechanics.) Will Hunter and Jean Zammataro from the PJ committee have done the foot-work, and are both members of the new Board.  It is expected that work will begin on the project in Mount Holly this spring or summer.
 
VOLUNTEER AWARENESS DAYS:  We held our fourth Prison Volunteer Awareness event in Burlington this past April.  At these events, we have a panel of volunteers who work inside correctional facilities and/or in other venues along the correctional spectrum, such as Dismas Houses, Court Diversion, etcetera; we share in a simple supper; and we tour the Correctional Facility in the area.  In each instance, there has been at least some follow-up - someone becoming involved on our Committee, or in volunteer work in a correctional facility, or in networking between the various groups who present.

 

WEBSITE: We have a website, with links to many articles, which can be reached via the Department of Mission page of the Vermont Conference website, and have recently established a Facebook page.

 

CAMP AGAPE:  Again this year, we will be asking for people to bring new towels, with a goal of collecting 80, one for each camper.  (Camp Agape is a camp for children who are experiencing the incarceration of a parent and is an ecumenical project.)

 

WORSHIP IN THE SPRINGFIELD FACILITY:  Jeanne Zammataro, a member of our committee, has worked very hard to expand the mainline church involvement in worship in the Springfield facility.  When she herself leads worship, she includes a time of sharing prayer concerns and this has been very well received by those who attend.  She is also working with people in other parts of the state who have expressed interest in doing worship in facilities in other areas.
 
ANNUAL MEETING:  At Annual Meeting, we will, of course, have a display; we will be offering a workshop; and members of our committee will be speaking at the Peace Breakfasts.  As well, we have submitted a resolution which asks our Legislators to revisit present policy which spends much more money on incarcerating people with addictions than in rehabiliitation of these people, at tremendous cost to taxpayers and with minimal positive results.

 

CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO THE COMMISSIONER:  One of our members, Will Hunter, is serving on this committee, giving us insight into what is going on at the policy-making level.

 

LOCAL CHURCH CONTACTS:  Another member of our committee, Lynda Hadley, is assembling a list of people in local churches who would be willing to be a point person for information on prison justice issues.  If your church has not yet responded, there will be an opportunity on our Annual Meeting Display table for you to sign up.

 

GUBERNATORIAL PANEL:  Although not yet firmed up, we are planning to have a panel before the primary this summer, for discussion of prison-related issues.

 

THE COMMITTEE:  We would welcome new members to our committee.  We meet once a month, usually on a Monday in the morning, although that could be negociated!  

 

Respectfully submitted, Betty Edson, Chair