Walking the Talk

Great story in the Sunday Star Tribune about a group of volunteers with the Community Justice Project who work with ex-cons to reintegrate them into mainstream life. Written by Jeff Strickler, the article brings attention to some of the unsung heroes who are around us every day.

Heroes like Henry Bridges, an MTC bus driver who has mentored 100 men after they were released from prison. He keeps in touch with them after they move beyond the program, too. As Strickler quotes Bridges, "Just because people have been locked up in jail doesn't mean that they don't deserve a second chance... When people get out of jail and prove that they are willing to step forward, we need to help them become good citizens."

In general, 45 percent of Minnesota ex-cons return to prison within a year of release; for Community Justice Project participants, the rate is 13 percent. (Some of that success rate comes from the fact that the program is selective -- they're looking for people who have had a change of approach while in prison.)

The Community Justice Project is a joint program of the Minneapolis Council of Churches and the Minneapolis Police Department, and is run by Hillary Freeman, a woman who's both a cop and a UCC minister. But it's not a "faith-based program," a la the Bush administration: About 75 percent of the mentors are motivated by religious conviction, but 25 percent "don't have anything to do with churches," according to Freeman.

With 1 in every 100 U.S. adults in prison (according to the Pew Center on the States), having a plan for how to successfully reintegrate them into society seems pretty essential. Thanks to Jeff Strickler for bringing this great program to wider awareness.

Volunteers are always needed at the Community Justice Project; to find out more or sign up to attend their next info session, call 612-673-2892.