The InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference, By Carolyn Esparza - Guest Blogger

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Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

The InterNational Prisoner’s 

Family Conference

By  Carolyn Esparza - Guest Blogger

Carolyn Esparza is the chairperson 

of the International Prisoner's Family

 Conference. We invited her to guest blog for 

prisonist.org about her experiences founding 

and growing one of the most important 

prison-related conferences in the country.

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The 8th Annual InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference will be held May 4 – 6, 2016 in Dallas, Texas.  

Just eight years ago, this conference was only an idea bounced around with a few friends until we took a deep breath and made a very bold step of faith to activate that idea solely on the “Field of Dreams Principle:” Build it and they will come!  Today, not only does the conference have an international presence, but unlike a typical (stuffy and often boring) corporate conference, the InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference is a powerful, action oriented, encouraging and supportive community.

From a single Facebook page, THOUSANDS HAVE BEEN EMBOLDED TO STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!  Not only does the our Facebook End Mass Incarceration page have over 8000 “likes,” today, but dozens of similar pages can now be found boldly addressing the many injustices prison families experience.
 
For far too long, with absolutely no valid reasoning, families with incarcerated loved ones were relegated to second-class citizenship, often treated with as much disdain as the prisoner.  Children and family members were shamed into isolation, withdrawing from the mainstream community, suffering alone in painful silence.  In some ways, this factor alone led to the revolving door of inter-generational incarceration, adding fuel to the ever-growing mass incarceration epidemic in our country.

Having had several life experiences and a professional background that told me talking about something bothering you makes problems easier to manage, it seemed that putting people with similar circumstances in the same room could ultimately reduce the unwarranted stigma and resolve many difficult challenges facing families affected by incarceration.  In fact, such a gathering had the potential to improve the quality of life for the entire prison-family.  Today, eight years later, we know we were right!

In eight swift years that initial idea has been affirmed time and again, as the conference has grown into a community of like-minded people, strengthened by others like themselves, as well as community members who care deeply and genuinely want to help.

In eight short years, we have “matured”!  The conference has grown from a solely information sharing venue into an action oriented body.  Today, prison-families who have availed themselves of the conference experience are being empowered as their voices are being heard through the advocacy arm that has evolved from this conference.

In 2012, the first-ever Prison Family Bill of Rights was drafted by conference attendees to be used as an advocacy tool.  In 2013, the National END MASS Incarceration movement began at this conference, taking the prison family voice to the social media – a powerful means for raising the prison family voice.

At the 2013 conference, it was with some surprise that we welcomed our first international attendees.  In 2014, even more international attendees attended.  And in 2015, with the strong commitment and persistent work of Francis Ssuubi of Uganda, the conference officially became INTERNATIONAL, when attendees from nine countries on three different continents came together to launch the first ever International Network for Children with Incarcerated Parents.



Inspired by the more visible support, in 2015 over eighty attendees signed an agreement to launch the "Advocacy in Action Coalition" under the auspices of the conference.   The Coalition Task Force drafted a resolute White Paper, now being used for talking points with lawmakers to achieve critically needed criminal justice reforms that will strengthen and humanize all members of the prison family.  

This, our 8th year we are pleased to expand our conference even further, as we welcome college and university students for our first Student Social Justice Forum at this conference.
 
Perhaps because this conference has filled such a critical void, we have experienced very few growing pains as the conference has evolved from a purely informative venue to an action-oriented body that embraces advocacy.  Conference attendees have been strengthened and inspired, leaving each conference with fresh ideas and a strong desire to actively pursue avenues to continually improve the quality of life and strengthen the voice of the prison-family.

For details about the conference and a listing of the 2016 presenters, visit www.prisonersfamilyconference.org. 


(The conference is a project of Community Solutions of El Paso, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving the prison-family.)
 

 Carolyn Esparza is a licensed professional counselor with over thirty years experience working with the criminal justice system.  As the founder and director of Community Solutions of El Paso, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving prisoners and their loved ones, she initiated and chairs the annual InterNational Prisoner’s Family Conference.   She can be reached at info@prisonersfamilyconference.org 
or  (915) 861-7733.

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DONATIONS

We are grateful for all donations to our Ministries that enable us to grow, reach out and serve this community for which there is far too little understanding, compassion and empathy.  Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal here, at the "Donate" button on on our site, prisonist.org or by sending your check payable to: "Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883. 

Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. is a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Thank you for your support and generosity.

If you, a friend or a family member are experiencing a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox.

The darkest days of a person's life can be a 

time of renewal and hope

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Progressive Prison Project/ Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
(o) 203-769-1096
(m) 203-339-5887
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Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org 

(203) 536-5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

Prisonist.org Dec. 2015 Newsletter. Happy Holidays! Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Prisonist.org: Blogs, Guest Blogs 

& News Concerning National and

International Criminal Justice Themes

Prisonist.org: Progressive Prison Project/

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Happy Holidays! December 2015 Newsletter  

The First Ministries in the U.S. created to provide confidential religious/spiritual support and counseling to individuals and families with white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues. We offer spiritual solutions to material problems all the way through the incarceration and reentry process to a new and transformed life of productivity and helping others 

Thank You For Your Year-End Donation To Our Ministries!

Donations Are Our Only Source of Revenue

 

Article: Our Ministries Featured in December 2015 Issue of "The Vision" 

The Newspaper of The New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church

White-Collar Ministry: A Riches-To-Rags-To-Redemption Story

"On Easter Sunday 2006, I reported to Allenwood Low Security Corrections Institution in White Deer, Pennsylvania. A guard came out and I showed him my court orders - he did not seem happy about my reporting on Easter Sunday. As we went through the metal door he spun me around, held my hands behind my back and slapped handcuffs on them. I had been anticipating this moment for over a year and not once did I consider that I would have to be handcuffed. At that moment I had my first inkling of how little I knew about surviving in prison."  To read the rest of this article, please click here (see page 8).
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Conference: Building Bridges: Refocused. Tues., Jan. 5, 2016, 9am - 4pm, Central Connecticut State University    

Please join us at Building Bridges: Refocused, Setting A Course For Reentry in a Second Chance Society. Student Center, Alumni Hall, CCSU, New Britain, CT. We are honored to sit on the faith-based break out panel in the afternoon. Please click here to register for this important conference.

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Radio Interview: Darby & Friends, WGCH Greenwich 1490 AM 

We were interviewed by Darby Cartun on her news/talk radio show, Darby & Friends. Original air date, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 at 12:30 pm. To listen to the live stream, or archived interview after the air date, please click here.

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Guest Blog: Last Blog Before Prison, by Brian  Jorgenson - White-Collar Felon

 

At the time he wrote this guest blog for prisonist.org, Brian Jorgenson had been a ministee of ours for a short few months.  Brian taught us new lessons in opening up to faith and reaching out to others for help.  We are honored that he wrote this blog post for us the evening before he reported to the camp at FCI Herlong in California to serve his two-year sentence for a white-collar crime.

"I'm sitting here looking at the pink sunrise pouring over the hills in Reno. The sky may be completely clear but that doesn't remove the dark cloud in my life. In just a little over 24 hours, I will be self-surrendering to federal prison (likely I will already be there by the time you read these words). Titles like felon or fraudster will be my label for the foreseeable future but starting tomorrow, my new title will be inmate. I'm not trying to get in a "woe is me" mentality but this is the stark reality of my situation." To read the rest of Brian's guest blog, please click here.

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Guest Blog: Child of an Incarcerated Parent, By Melissa Tanis

We asked Melissa to write a guest blog for  

prisonist.org after she contacted us looking for a job.  She sent us one of the most poignant, moving and authentic pieces we have ever had the honor of reading. 

"When I was five years old my father was sentenced to a maximum of 50 years in prison. I was not able at that age to comprehend how much my life would change from that moment on. I visited my father in prison when I was eight years old and then went 17 years without any contact."  To read the rest of this compelling guest blog, please click here. 

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Guest Blog: The Unnamed Victims of White-Collar Crime- The Family, By Ken Citarella, Esq. - Former Prosecutor 

Ken and I were law school classmates from 1978 - 1981.  When we learned about Ken's own spiritual & faith journey, we asked him to guest blog for prisonist.org. 

"After all, I was a prosecutor and not a social worker.  Although it was very rare, I did have continuing contact with some defendants.  Indeed, some even thanked me for convicting them, since it was the forceful redirection they needed to reform.  But over time, the plight of the victimized family remained with me just as did the more recognized status of the crime victim.  Moreover, the state had Victim Services offices that could assist crime victims recover from the harm done to them; the family did not."

To read the balance of Ken's guest blog, please click here.

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Video: Greenwich Leadership Forum

We were interviewed by David Miller, Director of the Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative, before a gathering of 200+ leaders dedicated to faithful and ethical business practices. To view the highlight video or the full-length video, please click here.

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Article: Our Ministries Featured in the Weston Magazine Group

We were featured in Greenwich Country Capitalist, Westport Country Capitalist, New Canaan Country Capitalist, Westchester Country Capitalist, Hamptons Country Capitalist, Long Island Country Capitalist, Litchfield County Country Capitalist, Rye, Weston, Alpine, Upper East Side, SOHONyc, Tribeca and Central Park West magazines. Please click here to read article.

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Donations: Thank You For Your Support & Generosity! 

We are grateful for all donations made to our ministries. Donations can be made by Credit Card/PayPal or by sending your check payable to:

"Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc." P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883.  We are a CT Religious Corp. with 501(c)(3) status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law.

Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy holidays! Blessings, Jeff & Lynn
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Comments from Social Media:

Barry Diamond: "To all of my connections who are in CT. I will be at the Building Bridges meeting. Come over & say hello"

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Progressive Prison Project/

Innocent Spouse & Children Project
 

Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org

(o) 203-769-1096

(m) 203-339-5887

Twitter
Facebook
Linked In
Pinterest
Google+

Tumblr

Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouse & Children Project
lspringer@prisonist.org

(203) 536-5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org
(203) 609-5088

Jim Gabal, Development
jgabal@prisonist.org
(203) 858-2865

Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact
mediababz@gmail.com
(203) 645-9278   

 

  If transformation and redemption matter to you, a friend or a family member with a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope.

Life Without Mom, By Steve Brase - Guest Blogger

Progressive Prison Project

Innocent Spouse & Children Project

Greenwich-Weston-Bridgeport

Connecticut

Life Without Mom

By Steve Brase - Guest Blogger

Steve and Kelly Brase first came to our attention because of their blog's name,"Orange is the New Blog."  Kelly is serving a three-year prison sentence & writes of her experiences from prison, even as life has changed significantly for Steve and their two children at home in California. We asked Steve to share his story with prisonist.org in our mission to bring compassion and light to people who suffer in silence. - Jeff

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My name is Steve Brase, on 9/23/14, my Wife (Kelly) was sentenced to a 3 year stay in the California Department of Corrections. She leaves behind our Son (12), our Daughter (18), along with myself.

3 months leading up to her sentencing was a roller coaster of emotions. There were 3-4 continuances and a suicide attempt that landed Kelly in a hospital. Kelly’s flawed mental state at that time thought that we would be better off financially if she weren’t around. This was devastating to us. These were extremely dark days for our family. We were very thankful that she was found and hospitalized. She was able to start the treatment she needed so badly.

When she was sentenced, it was sad but also a relieved feeling. We had been through so much already. It felt good to get that part of the process over. But, little did we know, how hard it would be.

The first few days after sentencing, my family was just numb. After the numb feeling faded, the hurt came in. My Daughter shut down. Didn’t want to be at home much. Her Mom was her best friend. Her rock. She felt like she had no one to talk to. I attempted to talk to her, but in reality, I’m just not Mom. I try and quite honestly, I would do anything for her to feel happy again. My Son was very confused. He understood that Mom is gone for a while. But, he has no idea how 3 years will feel. He seems to be handling it well. But, I do know, that when things get quiet around him, he will be thinking about Mom. How can he not ? I have seen him in the backseat of our car staring out the window while I’m driving. I know what he’s thinking about. Sometimes he will share and other times not. We do talk about Kelly a lot. It’s always a nice conversation. He holds onto the promises that his Mom has told him on all the things they will do when she gets home. I know Kel and she will definitely keep all of them.

You know, since all this has happened, I have changed tremendously. I never think of myself first anymore. I am so concerned with attempting to keep a stable home life for my kids, keeping the lights on, and food on the table. It has been a struggle. But, I’m getting there. I believe my cooking skills have been getting better ! To hear a “mmm, that’s really good Dad” really keeps me going. It’s the little things. I do believe that my kids and I have gotten closer. My Daughter still isn’t home much, but we communicate well. Even attending a group therapy a couple of times a month. I realize how hard it is and I do feel very bad for her, especially it being her first year in college. All this hit right about when school started. She struggled badly. Just no motivation. Her Mom could always talk her back into it and give her the direction she needed. Kelly was just incredible at doing that. I need to learn how to. But, we were very blessed. My Sister in Law (Kelly’s Sister), who is a teacher, stepped right in and helped. She helped my Daughter get back on track. She is still helping her. She is amazing. Our whole family has been very supportive. All the support took me by surprise. It took Kelly by surprise too. She told me she never realized how much her family cared. They followed her to her darkest moment and helped pick her up. This whole nightmare has taught us all about life. What’s really important and what’s not. My kids have seen and heard so much in the past few months while visiting their Mom at Los Colinas (County Jail). They have seen the reality of drug abuse and homelessness. We have seen women that have no teeth because of meth abuse, women coming down from heroin, women that have been physically abused,  and prostitution. We have seen the kids that line up with the rest of us coming to see their Mom’s. The Grandma’s with their Daughter’s infant kids coming to see their Mom’s. It’s just so sad. There has to be be a better way. My Wife constantly talks about starting her own foundation for second chances for women when she gets home. She has so many ideas. She talks often about how there has to be a way to “break the chain” from having these women return to prison. Giving them the support they need inside and outside of the walls. She talks about how there are so many single Mom’s and how they don’t have a lot of family support. She wants to be able to help them find jobs, training, and counseling. A lot of the jails and prisons talk about having “re-entry” programs. But, I have done a lot of research and have not seen much, if any. My Wife talks about having a program that actually identifies the inmates reason for being there. Not just rehab for a drug problem. But, maybe there is a reason for the drug use. Abusive relationship, co-dependent? These are some of her ideas while she sits in her cell. She definitely isn’t wasting her time in prison. She promises us that she will not give up and she will come home the same Mom and Wife she was before, but better. I believe her.

While she’s been in, I have started a blog for her. She writes to me and she shares her journey. It’s all her. Her words. It’s pretty amazing, sad, frightening, and motivating. It’s therapeutic for both of us. After writing it for about a week, I took to Twitter to get it out there. I had no idea all the amazing people out there “fighting the fight” for reform. It’s been an eye opener. I have been in contact with some wonderful people. People that I have never met but communicate with me about my Wife and family. Just incredible. There are so many incredible groups out there that want change to the system. I want change also. It’s not just because my Wife is incarcerated either. The stories I’ve read, the people we’ve seen, it just heartbreaking. Sometimes I think if we can just get more people aware of what’s really going on, maybe that would generate more interest in change. To be honest, I really had no idea how overcrowded prison was, how there was “prison for profit”, or how there were no real programs for mental health while incarcerated, until now. I wish I would have. I have now joined the the fight for prison reform. Just wished I could have started sooner. But, I’m here now.

As my family waits for my Wife to be transferred to a mainstream Prison, we try and prepare mentally for whatever the next “challenge” will be in this journey. Questions like, where will she be ? Will she be safe ? How far ? Can we afford to visit her ? Can we afford to support her ? It can be a tidal wave stress. But, we’ll make it work. I had a friend recently ask me “How do you do it ? How do you not give up ?” My answer to him was “How ? There are days that hurt more than others. They can seem impossible. But, giving up is not and never will be an option. That’s just not what you do when you have kids and a family. You dig deep and you make it work. That’s it” So, we keep moving, waiting for letters from Mom, and maybe a phone call. We stay strong for her and she does the same. Do things get easier with time ? No, you get stronger.

Steve Brase

When not writing, Steve Brase enjoys exercising, hiking, photography and watching his kids play sports. He counts the days until his wife can join him again. “Lord, please point me in the direction of strength.” Steve can be reached at: sbrase21@gmail.com, Twitter: @hear_my_voice22
Blog:orangethenewblog.blogspot.com

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Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director
jgrant@prisonist.org
jg3074@columbia.edu

(o) +1203.769.1096
(m) +1203.339.5887

Linked In Twitter  Facebook 

Lynn Springer, Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children
lspringer@prisonist.org
(m) +1203.536.5508

George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats
gbresnan@prisonist.org

Michael Karaffa, Advocate, Disabilities
mkaraffa@prisonist.org

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Comments from Social Media: 

There ain’t no skiing in jail

Guards and barbs. Shut the door
Excluding us. From nowhere
 Endless searches. All the time
Pockets, shirts, legs. Find nothing

Erratic calls. To start work
No work, no calls. No reason
 Food is warm. Food is cold
Menu’s right. Sometimes not

It’s not to think. It’s worse
Go numb. Stop thinking
 There ain’t no skiing in jail. Just sweet memories
Of the past. And some hope for tomorrow

Barry Diamond, reentrysurvivors.com
Incarcerated but never defeated

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Donations

We are grateful for donations from individuals, religious groups, charities, foundations and the like. Donations can be made by credit card/PayPal or by sending your check payable to: “Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.” P.O. Box 1232, Weston, Connecticut 06883. Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. We are a CT Religious Corp. with 501c3 status - all donations are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Thank you for your support and generosity.

If transformation and redemption matter to you, a friend or a family member with a white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issue, please contact us and we will promptly send you an information package by mail, email or via Dropbox. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope.