In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Newton Council for Racial Justice (NCRJ) and Newton Public Library invite you to participate in two interactive escape room experiences exploring Dr. King’s life, legacy, and vision for justice.
Register here: newtonplks.libcal.com/calendar/?ci...

Just a #latergram to say thanks for coming to support us and other organizations at the United Way chili cookoff a few weeks ago!

We were saddened to hear of the passing of another of our longtime volunteers. Peter Hartman passed away unexpectedly September 10. Peter served OVM faithfully as an M-2 volunteer for 22 years - until he was nearly 90 years old - and as a board member for part of that time. (Continued in comments)

Teens who graduate from high school, on average, make $848 more a month than their friends who dropped out of high school. (US Bureau of Labor Statistics)
...continued in comments

“The ultimate question I have to answer for myself is, can I hold myself accountable for my actions and can I learn to love and like myself enough to actually change?”
-Recent OVM BIP Participant

"While in class I have learned better ways to deal with my anger, sadness, feeling betrayed and also taking accountability!" ...quote continued in comments

"Through my time in this program, I have learned to be a better husband, partner and person. I have learned how I was acting is not anything you should ever have to deal with. I have learned we are equals in this relationship and that abuse is not only just physical but is very much mental as well."

"The mission of batterer intervention in Kansas is to hold those who batter accountable, create nonviolent behavior, and promote safety for victims." (context in comments)

This is your *sign* to start volunteering with M-2! Two training opportunities this weekend:
Hutchinson Correctional Facility:
Saturday, Sept. 13, 8:30am-12pm (10am-12pm for current volunteers) - Old Schoolhouse
Hesston College:
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2-6pm (4-6pm for current volunteers) - Kropf 160

“It felt good to be remembered by people."
In the past three years of OVM's prison pen pen pal program, more than 1500 letters and cards have been exchanged - and lives have been changed for the better.
Contact Emily to add to this count. ✍

"Not experiencing joy from an outside visit and then joining M-2 and having a visit with someone brightened my life, making me a much better person." M-2 "matches two" people: a volunteer from the community with an inmate at Hutchinson Correctional Facility for friendly, encouraging conversation.

“You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by something more valuable: kinship." (1/2)

1 in 2 adults in America has had a family member in jail or prison. everysecond.fwd.us
9800 adults are currently incarcerated in Kansas prisons.
1750 of those are in Hutchinson Correctional Facility.
Many of those never get a visit from a loved one. Visit them: secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/...

But the way that it is applied to systems and structures is outside of a person. So at the core is a fundamental value we miss: the opportunity to provide forgiveness, healing and reparations, and to create wholeness. Justice is a way of being. It's in everything we do. - author unknown (post 2/2)

Justice is not a law; it is used in the legal system to define right and wrong. Instead, justice is a thread through all parts of life. Justice is really about being— what we see and the way we behave. It's not a thing that is outside of me; it's a thing that's in me. (post 1/2)

In "Just Mercy", Bryan Stevenson wrote, “Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” This perspective informs all of the restorative justice work we do at OVM.

OVM staff volunteered at The ROCK: Reentry Conference of Kansas last week, learning from formerly incarcerated individuals and service providers. Though the future of our work in this area is uncertain, we're committed to supporting citizens' reintegration into society after prison. #reentryreframed

Did you know: 120 inmates at Hutch Correctional Facility are Master Gardeners! They garden on 2 acres; sell their produce; and donate produce and proceeds to local food banks and soup kitchens - to the tune of 20,000 lbs and $15,000 donated last year!🌱👐

Thank you for coming! We had a full house to watch & discuss this excellent film.
If you missed it, we encourage you to find it on Netflix sometime. We'd also love to bring it on the road to quilting circles and other interested parties in Kansas - contact us! www.justwatch.com/us/movie/the...