2004 – 2005 MCPCC Coordinator’s Report

The past year the Executive Committee continued to educate themselves about correctional issues with the goal of making our prison ministry effective and rehabilitation centered. We were blessed with the following excellent speakers:

Lee Gartenberg, Esq. His stimulating talk about various legal issues was thought provoking.

Brian Gendron He gave a detailed and thorough presentation regarding the new construction at Billerica which reflected the planning the Sheriff and his staff have given to this exciting project.

Ronald and Robert Two former inmates who have been trained in public speaking by the City Mission’s Public Voice Project shared their powerful and poignant stories of incarceration including ideas as to what works well in the rehabilitation process.

Drew Crawford, Social Worker & Al Curtis, Psychologist They presented a complete and thorough description of the physical layout, policies and procedures of the 25 bed psychiatric evaluation and stabilization unit at Billerica.

Morton Silverman, a volunteer for Parents Helping Parents, told of his experiences in leading a weekly inmate group

on parenting skills at Billerica.

MCPCC continues to liaison with other prison groups and have been pleased to be joined by NAMI members re the incarceration of the mentally ill. Bill Bergquist, Tom Crowther, and Dorothy Weitzman have attended several Criminal Justice Policy programs which is of benefit to both groups.

We continued many ongoing projects such as our monthly newsletter expertly written by Marjorie Moerschner, sent a fund raining letter written by Mary Ann Donaldson and obtained a new simplified web address http://www.mcpcc.info executed by Tom Crowther.

The monthly Bible Study led by Rev. Jamie Howard and parishioners from the First Church of Christ Congregational in Bedford is ongoing. The Houses of Healing Program, coordinated by Carol Peters has expanded at Billerica and two additional courses are now offered at the Lowell Center. Many thanks to Carol and her volunteers for their enthusiasm and dedication. We continue to sponsor creative art and writing contests for inmates and collect used paperback books for the Library. This year due to the generosity of Second Church UCC in Newton and the Central Church Legacy Trust we were able to send six children of inmates to summer camp for a week. Christmas cards for inmates to send out were collected to be distributed by the Protestant Chaplain, The Rev. Milton Thomas.

Our financial situation continues to be marginal in spite of the generous support of six churches and 15 individuals. Expenses exceeded income by $516.17 this year. We hope to develop a video to use as outreach to potential additional supporters.

The focus for the year ahead will be a public inmate art exhibit with the goal of destigmatizing prisoners and to raise the public’s awareness of our common humanity. The Sheriff has given his full support but there is much work to be done.

My deep thanks to all who have assisted in any way to further the goals of this prison ministry. From the Executive Committee, to our volunteers, to collaborative organizations, to speakers who educate us, to those who pray for us and for those who give us financial support. None of this would be possible without your help.

Bright Blessings to you all,

Beverly Fulton Wilkins