Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Issue 3 of 8
Hello All! Thanks for reading, and thanks for the support. This work is made possible by so many who have helped in big and small ways! This issue marks the third in our eight-part series. The next issue will be released in October, 2018. Peace!
Tuesday, May 8, 2018
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Introduction & Welcome!
MISSION
● To encourage those sentenced to the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) from Jackson County since 2016 throughout their incarceration and to help prepare them for successful parole/release.
● To influence the citizens in Jackson to see the prison and those in residence there as included in our community and as our neighbors.
● To make our prison town a model climate for reentry where returning citizens can return with support to productive citizenship.
A CONSTELLATION OF ACTIVITIES
● Create and send newsletters to give grist for productive reflection, models of successful return to the community, and information for local resources.
● Present to community faith and service groups to invite participation in transition mentoring through correspondence and follow-up with selected prisoners.
● Prepare volunteers who want to participate in Jackson Transition activities.
● Advocate for Restorative Justice.
OUR WORK
Jackson Transitions newsletters are mailed to those sentenced from Jackson County to the Michigan Department of Corrections since 2016 plus others who have requested copies.
Production and First Class Mail is supported by contributions from the Michigan Conference UCC, GoFundMe, and from citizens like you.
Jackson Transitions is currently making application for 501c3 status. Its current financial home is First Congregational Church UCC Jackson.
To volunteer to work with Jackson Transitions, to request a program for your organization, to sign up for email copies of each quarterly newsletter, or to make a financial contribution, mail the information requested below to: First Congregational Church, Jackson Transitions, 120 N Jackson Street, Jackson, MI 49201.
HISTORY
Jackson Transitions was initiated by R.W. Van Sumeren in 2016. His inspiration and passion were rooted in his own experience in the criminal justice system. He designed Jackson Transitions to support those committed to returning to productive citizenship. The program sends inmates a quarterly newsletter encouraging growth and reflection, and involves community mentors to write letters of encouragement to inmates preparing for parole or release.
Mr. Van Sumeren has written two books and is currently finishing law school at Wayne State University.
Mike and Becky McKenney are former middle school teachers who successfully mentored a parolee.
David F. Habicht, CRE is Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Albion, a Presbyterian minister with years of experience in prison ministry.
Ed and Christine Peterson coordinated Bridges to Justice in 2015 and have advocated for restorative justice practices.
Tom Frasier provides technical expertise.
Jackson Transitions is a project of the Jackson Area Civil Rights Awareness Association (JACRAA) housed at First Congregational Church in Jackson. Other churches involved are St. John’s UCC and Immanuel Lutheran.
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