Coal Township, Pa. – A groundbreaking “Community Matters” town hall meeting brought community together in a new way at State Correctional Institute (SCI) Coal Township on Wednesday, May 15, as members of two philanthropic organizations inside the prison met with representatives from a variety of community groups in the area.
The meeting was the first of its kind to be held inside the walls of a medium security prison. The goal? For members of Triumph and Lifeline Association, two organizations composed of men inside the prison who have pledged to make a positive impact, to identify and discuss matters that are “plaguing the community.”
By asking questions of the participants who were invited—a collaboration in partnership with AppleGate Recovery—they hoped to brainstorm additional ways their fundraising efforts can help meet the greatest needs facing local communities.
Participants from the outside included representatives from the Donald E. Heiter Community Center in Lewisburg, Pa., Susquehanna Valley United Way United in Recovery, Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project, leaders and members of the Bucknell Institute for Lifelong Learning’s Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program, and others.
Following the town hall discussion, Mr. Wiles, president of Lifeline Association inside the prison said, “my takeaway from the town hall is that NEPA's top issues are: housing insecurity, help with prevention programs for the youth, resources for addiction, and food insecurity.”
Mentorship inside and outside
Peer mentoring was identified as a desperate need on the outside, although it is abundantly available within the walls of SCI Coal Township. Many inmates are involved in mentoring programs; some have become Certified Recovery Specialists.
An inmate organization called “Dare to Care” pairs older mentors with younger inmates, helping newer inmates manage the challenges of incarceration, learn conflict resolution, and how to become a productive member of society when they are released.
"The facilitators of 'Dare to Care' focus on character development," said Mr. Pippin, vice president of Lifeline Association. "We believe character comes first."
Participants discussed expanding a program similar to 'Dare to Care' for at-risk youth who have not yet engaged with the justice system, but Deputy Superintendent Victor Mirarchi said there is a lot of red tape that prohibits an arrangement like that.
Simply put: it's very difficult to put men inside face-to-face with troubled youth on the outside, despite the positive change it could effect.
How can their philanthropy make the greatest impact?
Implementing a mentorship program for youth outside of prison might pose challenging, but in the meantime, money certainly helps.
Triumph and Lifeline Association have already made an impact through charitable donations. Between the two groups, they've donated nearly $200,000 to causes they've recognized, from Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Sunbury to Camp Koala in Mifflinburg, to youth sports programs, United Way organizations, fire departments, and more.
In February, the two organizations donated $4,000 to the Salvation Army's Red Shield Community Garden & Urban Farm in Williamsport to purchase a small greenhouse. The new addition will lengthen the growing season, providing more free produce to the neighborhood residents, and host classes for youth about growing food.
“They’re making substantial gifts," noted Dr. Lenaire Ahlum of Susquehanna Valley Community Education Project. The town meeting was the first time Ahlum had been in the prison to meet with the men of Triumph and Lifeline. "I was profoundly impressed by what they are doing. It’s innovative. It’s inspiring.”
"The inmates recognize that they are having a positive effect both outside and inside the prison. I noticed a sense of purpose and self-confidence. They are providing advantages to others and it’s transformative for both the men and the organizations that they help," she said.
Ahlum advocates for community colleges. She said there are over 650,000 people with no access to a community college in Northumberland and adjacent counties. That community includes inmates who, once they are released from prison, could enhance the skills they're gaining inside at an accessible and affordable community college.
Making the connections
Triumph was established in 1995 and stands for Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Unity, Morals, Pride, and Honesty. Currently over 150 members strong, it’s a service-oriented organization open to any inmate who wants to invest in self-improvement, social responsibility, and to give back in a positive and meaningful way.
At the meeting, Mr. Brown, vice president of Triumph, spoke about change. He described how Triumph has evolved from hosting donut and soda sales twice a year to hosting between six to 12 fundraisers and events throughout the year. Further change is the innovative community forum.
Lifeline Association has about 260 members—all men who are serving sentences of at least 10 years or longer. Many are lifers. Members have to be in good standing behaviorally, and agree to the high standards the men themselves set for participation.
“We gathered a lot of information and will be utilizing it to develop preliminary plans to address the issues we are equipped to tackle,” Wiles said.
“Equipped to tackle” is one of the challenges Lifeline and Triumph members face. How can a population confined inside a prison be effective within a community from which they are separated?
The fundraising is perhaps the easy part: sandwich, donut, and snack sales, basketball tournaments, dues collections. Deciding where the money should go based on community need is tougher. Many of the men who sit on the executive boards have been incarcerated for 10, 20 years or longer. They’re able to stay in touch through family and friends, but the disconnect from greater society is, naturally, a barrier.
"We don't have a lot of access to what goes on out there in the world except through of course cable TV, newspapers, and the people we connect with who are out there in the world," said Mr. Willis, president of Triumph.
"What we did last week was basically one of our ways of getting to know things, through the people. We're not allowed to have direct access to the internet except through other people, which is why its so important to invite people in to us, sit, eat, and get into a dialogue that is reality-based," he said.
As a leader, it's important—imperative—to Wilis to show how the men in these organizations have grown and transformed.
"We thought the things we were doing was winning," he said of their younger, pre-incarcerated selves. "But to win, there have to be losers. We have a new outlook on winning: There should be no losers," he said.
The organizers hope this was just the first of many town hall meetings, of many productive conversations to make lasting and meaningful connections between Triumph and Lifeline members and the greater communities of which they count themselves members.
Interested in attending future Community Matters town hall meetings as a representative of a nonprofit or social services organization? Contact Cassandra Catino of Applegate Recovery at CCatino@applegaterecovery.com .
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