Middlesex County Prison Coordinating Committee
Annual
Report Fiscal year 2007
Compiled by: Carol Langdon
Winton, Coordinator
The following is a report of activity conducted by
MCPCC during the period September 2006 to June 2007.
At the close
of F/Y 2006, Beverly Wilkins, who served the committee for 17 years as
coordinator, retired. She was recognized for her dedication and service at the
October 15 Prisoner Art Show sponsored by MCPCC at the Lowell Community
Counseling Center, 291 Summer St., Lowell, MA.. Middlesex County Sheriff James
DiPaola presented Beverly with a plaque to honor her contributions.
A search for a new Coordinator was conducted with
Mary Ann Donaldson as chairperson of the recruitment committee. Mark Hemenway
was chosen as Beverly Wilkins replacement. A graduate of West Point and Andover
-Newton Theological School presently involved in prison ministry, his
qualifications were consistent with the mission and goals of MCPCC. An
unanticipated increase in commitments required Mr. Hemenway to resign as
Coordinator during the month of Sept. 2006.
Carol Langdon Winton, one of the original applicants
for the Coordinators position was contacted and accepted the position.
Carol is
retired from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and has worked in
the field of substance abuse for the past 30 plus years. Her experience is in
direct care and regulatory management, including incarceration services.
An art show
was held at the Lowell Community Counseling Center on Oct. 15, 2006 sponsored
by MCPCC and the Middlesex Sheriff’s
Office. 40 works of art created by the inmates of the Billerica House of
Correction and chosen by the MCPCC members were prepared for viewing . All art
work was professionally matted, framed and hung by Judith and Eric Lustig.
Judith is a supporting member of MCPCC. The art work will be permanently
displayed at the new corrections facility in Billerica.
Nov.
8, 2006
Susan
Rourke, Director of Reintegration Services, Billerica House of Correction. Susan reported on the new Reintegration
Program which will follow each inmate from intake to discharge. Referral for
after-care and supportive resource information for ex-inmates will be included.
Refer to minutes of Nov. meeting for more details.
Jan.
10, 2007
Sean McAdam, Deputy Superintendent and Human
Services Director, Billerica House of Corrections. Sean is responsible for all
Human Service programming provided at HOC. His presentation was both
informative and impressive regarding all the new innovative programming being
provided to inmates. Refer to Jan. minutes for more details.
March
14, 2007
Attorney Lee Gartenberg.
provides legal services to inmates at both Billerica and Cambridge jail. Mr.
Gartenberg brought news from Billerica Superintendent Martin Gabriela that a
family counseling program has been initiated. He also provided the group with a
detailed account of the CORI Reform Initiative with an in-depth explanation of
all related issues. Refer to March 2007 minutes for more details.
May
9, 2007
Linda
Burrell Supervisor, Step Inc., Joe Martinez, Counselor, Step Inc. Linda and Joe presented the components of
the rehabilitation programming provided by Step Inc in the new facility at
Billerica. Refer to minutes of May meeting.
May
5, 2007
The Shaw Brothers Concert
held at the New Song Coffeehouse in Bedford was a success. Co sponsored by the
New Song Coffeehouse and MCPCC, the event raised $252.00.
June
2, 2007
The Vox One
and the Boston Jazz Voices Concert was held in the sanctuary of Eliot Church in
Newton . The concert was an overwhelming success. Profit from the concert
exceeded expectations and included a substantial anonymous donation.
Elizabeth Woodbridge and her
sister Marie Thompson donated and organized the sale of refreshments.
MCPCC
received a $600 grant from the Legacy
Trust to purchase reference books for Carol Peters' emotional awareness courses
at Billerica.
MCPCC collected used clothing to be given to
indigent inmates upon their release.
The United Methodist Church of Newton, contact person Nancy Gaulin, and
the First Church of Christ, Bedford, participated..
Close to 3000 Christmas cards were collected by MCPCC. and distributed by Chaplain Thomas
to the inmates to send to their loved ones.
Respectfully
submitted,
Carol
Langdon Winton, Coordinator