Sept. 2016 Newsletter, Progressive Prison Ministries

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

Do You Know an Individual, Family or Organization with White-Collar Incarceration Issues? Help is in this Newsletter!

Please feel free to forward to those in need!

 

Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. 

Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Director, Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate

September 2016 Newsletter

Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead  

  

The first ministry in the United States created to provide confidential  

support and counseling to individuals, families and organizations with  

white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues    

 

    _____________

Significant Outcomes: Since Jan. 2015, We have Served Over 90 Individuals and 35 Families in 25 States:  

   

Since Jan. 2015, we have served individuals and families in twenty-five states, including:     

Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

We typically communicate with individuals and families before, during and upon reentry from prison in person or by phone, email, Skype, FaceTime, GoToMeeting or, if in a Federal prison, via CorrLinks. Please click image for our information package. 

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News: We Have Started A Confidential White-Collar/Nonviolent

Online Support Group -  

the first in the country

If you have been convicted of a white-collar or nonviolent crime and have served your sentence, please consider joining our confidential online white-collar/nonviolent support group. We hold our weekly group meeting on Tuesdays, 8 pm Eastern, 7 pm Central, 6pm Mountain, 5 pm Pacific. For more information please click image. 

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Guest Blog: White-Collar Woman's Story: Surviving Danbury FCI,by Jacqueline Polverari   

   

"I am now branded with a scarlet "F" on my back as I am a felon.  I can never go back to my old life-style.  In an electronic world of the internet, I can never get away from this crime.  So I have decided to embrace who I am and let the world know that I am here and I will make a difference." Click image to read Jackie's story. 

 

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Video: Jeff's Main-Stage Presentation At The Nantucket Project  

   

Way different than your average TED-talk! Jeff shared his alcoholism/ drug addiction/ white-collar crime/ redemption story at The Nantucket Project, a conference founded to exchange challenging ideas, build strong relationships and share ground-breaking insights that build a better tomorrow and unlock the power of human potential.  Fellow speakers included Larry Summers, Eric Schmidt, Larry Lessig and Eve Ensler. We are grateful to The Nantucket Project for its continuing support of our ministries. Click Image to view Video of Jeff's Main-Stage Presentation. (17:27) 

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Article: Our Ministry Featured in Business Insider   

   

Rachael Levy wrote a powerful article about our ministry, "This is what it's like when the 1% go to jail, according to a couple that ministers to their families." Publication date: July 27, 2016. Click image to read article.

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Event: Courage & Faith Presents Bryan Stevenson at Christ Church Greenwich, CT 

   

Please join us as our friends at Courage & Faith and Christ Church Greenwich present one of the most influential criminal justice advocates in America. Sat., Sept. 24, 2016, 7 pm, 254 E. Putnam Ave. Greenwich, CT 06830. Click image for information and tickets.

 

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Event: We Will Lead a White-Collar Work Session at the Methodist Reentry Conference Symposium in NYC

We will lead a white-collar work session on Sat., Oct. 1, 2016, 9:30 am to 4 pm at the United Methodist New York Annual Conference Board of Church and Society presents "I Was in Prison and You..." Conference Symposium at the Grace United Methodist Church, 125 West 104th Street, New York, NY. Please join us. Click image for more information.

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Grant: ABCUSA Has Awarded Us A Grant To Help Struggling Families & For College Scholarships. Apply Now!

We are so grateful to the American Baptist Churches USA for awarding us a Matthew 25 $2000 grant to provide one-time stipends to individuals or families with white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issues to be used for short-term expenses and for college scholarships. Please feel free to email us if you require assistance. The funds will be administered by Rev. Hopeton Scott of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport.  Click image for more information.

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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.    _____________  Contact Information:   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. Blessings, כן, מאוד Jeff & Lynn     Prisonist.org: Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.      Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 1232  Weston, Connecticut 06883  (o) 203-769-1096 Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Director  jgrant@prisonist.org (m) 203-339-5887  Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr, Instagram Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouses, Children & Families lspringer@prisonist.org  (m) 203-536-5508 Rev. Fr. Joseph Ciccone, Ed D, M Div Supervising Minister stjosephmissionchurch@gmail.com (201) 982-2206 Jacqueline Polverari, MBA, MSW, Advocate Women's Incarceration Issues jpolverari@prisonist.org (203) 671-5139 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    Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead _____________   Copyright Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc. © 2016. All Rights Reserved. Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 1232, Weston, CT 06883

Prisonist.org: April '16 Newsletter

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

Prisonist.org: 

April '16 Newsletter

Op-Ed to Gov. Malloy, 

ABCUSA Grant for Struggling Families, 

The Norwalk Hour, Family ReEntry, 

Grace Farms, The Nantucket Project, 

Christ & Holy Trinity Westport, 

Weston Kiwanis, More...

From: Rev. Jeff Grant, Director, Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project Prisonist.org: April '16 Newsletter

Progressive Prison Project/  Innocent Spouse & Children Project Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead Coming May 2016: Men of Faith Cover Story  White-Collar Ministry I Advocacy I Service    The first ministry in the United States created to provide confidential support and counseling to individuals, families and organizations with white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues.    Op-Ed: To CT Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Our CT State Legislators   To read Jeff's Op-Ed responding to the CT's Plan to Cut Funding for Prisoner Reentry, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment, please click here .  Grant: ABCUSA Has Awarded Us A Matthew 25 Grant To Help Struggling Families!    We are so grateful to the American Baptist Churches USA for awarding us a $2000 grant to provide one-time stipends to individuals or families with white-collar or nonviolent incarceration issues to be used for short-term expenses. Please feel free to email us if you require assistance. The funds will be administered by Jeff's Supervising Minister, Rev. Hopeton Scott of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport.  Click here for more information.  Event: We spoke at the Weston CT Kiwanis We are grateful to the Weston Kiwanis for inviting us to speak about faith and dignity at its meeting on Sat., March 26, 2016. Click here to read the article about this event in the Weston Forum.   Article: Our Ministries Featured in The Hour To read Jeff Eydt's powerful article for The Hour of March 26, 2016, "Ministry Counsels People Who Committed White-Collar Crimes," please click here.    Sermon: We Guest Preached on Good Friday at Christ & Holy Trinity, Westport, CT We were honored to be among seven guest preachers at this special Good Friday service, March 25, 2016. Upcoming Event: 8 State Re-Entry Reintegration Conference  Please join us on May 6 & 7, 2016 in Stony Point, NY at this two-day faith-based conference centered on the trauma of incarceration as it relates to jobs, housing and family reintegration. We will be leading a white-collar breakout session. Organized, underwritten and sponsored by the Prison Ministry Network of the Synod of the Northeast of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Information: kent.mckamy@gmail.com. Click here to register.  Event: Family ReEntry Spring Event At Grace Farms  Please join us on Fri., June 10, 2016, at Grace Farms, New Canaan, CT, for "An Evening Focused On Advancing Justice In Our Community," to benefit Family ReEntry (Jeff is on the Board of Family ReEntry) and the Connecticut Legal Rights Project.  For information and sponsorship opportunities, please click here or contact Milena Kotara, 203-290-0863, milenakotara@familyreentry.org. Video: Jeff's Main-Stage Presentation At The Nantucket Project We are grateful to The Nantucket Project for its continuing support of our ministries. Click here to view Video of Jeff's Main-Stage Presentation. (17:27) Information Package:      We are the first ministry in the United States created to provide confidential support and counseling to individuals, families and organizations with white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues. Please click here for our full information package. 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.    Contact Information:   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. Prisonist.org: Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.   Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 1232  Weston, Connecticut 06883  (o) 203-769-1096 Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director jgrant@prisonist.org (m) 203-339-5887  Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr  Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children lspringer@prisonist.org  (m) 203-536-5508 George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats  gbresnan@prisonist.org  (m) 203-609-5088 Jim Gabal, Development  jgabal@prisonist.org  (m) 203-858-2865 Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact  mediababz@gmail.com  (m) 203-645-9278 Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead

Prisonist.org: Newsletter Jan. '16, White-Collar Ministry, Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead

Prisonist.org: Faith & Dignity 
for the Days Ahead
Blogs, Guest Blogs & News

Prisonist.org  Newsletter Jan. '16

Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead

Progressive Prison Project/  Innocent Spouse & Children Project White-Collar Ministry I Advocacy I Service    The first ministry in the United States created to provide confidential support and counseling to individuals and families with white-collar and other nonviolent incarceration issues. Thank You For Your Donation To Our Ministry! Donations Are Our Only Source of Revenue

Prisonist.org  Newsletter Jan. '16 Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead  Article: Our Ministry Featured in The Greenwich Sentinel   A Worldly Fall, A Spiritual Ascent This article appeared in the January 7, 2016 issue of the Greenwich Sentinel. We hope it offers faith and dignity to individuals and families with white-collar and nonviolent incarceration issues. The darkest days of a person's life can be a time of renewal and hope. __________  "There's a transformation that goes on in every single person I've ever met that has gone through incarceration issues," Grant said. "Whether they recognize it or not, at some point it becomes clear to them that they are no longer the people that they had been. That's generally a good thing. These are life-altering experiences.."  To read the rest of this article, please click here.   Radio Interview: We Talked White-Collar Crime with Babz Rawls Ivy on her radio show We talked white-collar crime, reentry and redemption with our dear friend Babz Rawls Ivy on her talk show, LoveBabz LoveTalk, WNHH FM 103.5 New Haven, CT. Original air date, Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. To listen to the archived show on SoundCloud, please click here.    Article: Our Ministry Featured in "The Vision" We are grateful to The New York Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church for the invitation to write an article for its monthly newspaper, The Vision.  This article appeared on page 8 of the December 15, 2015 issue, was published online and was distributed to all of its 450 churches in New York and Connecticut.   _________  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. (page 8).   Video: Our Main Stage Presentation At The Nantucket Project  We are grateful to The Nantucket Project for its continuing support of our ministries. Click here to view Video of Jeff's Main-Stage Presentation. (17:27) Guest Blog: Journey From Darkness to Light, By Melissa Tanis - Child of an Incarcerated Parent   Melissa's first guest blog for us, Child of an Incarcerated Parent, (Jan. '15) chronicled her reunion with her father who was sentenced to 50 years in prison - it became our most-viewed blog ever! Below is her follow-up blog that brings us up-to-date on her incredible and heartwarming story. __________  "...As I wrote in my last blog post, my dad had cancer and at the time and was in remission. But in March of this year I got a call from my dad like I normally do except this time, he told me his cancer had returned and spread to his lungs. The doctor said he had at best, two years to live. He has responded well to chemo but it will be an ongoing treatment and at different moments, he is very vulnerable to infection. If it's not the cancer that gets him, it could very well be a minor infection that his weakened immune system is not able to fight off. When I first found out about his cancer returning, everything seemed meaningless. What do we talk about now? How do we catch up on 20 years of not knowing each other in at best two years?" Click here to read the rest of Melissa's guest blog.  Guest Blog: Financial Fraud: Top 13 Crimes, by Brad Reid, Prof. of Law & Ethics   We've greatly admired Brad's articles for the Huffington Post, and asked him to guest blog for prisonist.org. __________ "Many years ago I provided commercial banking legal representation to a bank president. One day, out of the blue, he asked me to backdate some documents. Thankfully, I declined. Some years after I entered the academic world, he and the bank's leadership team were convicted of federal fraud offenses. Additionally, the bank collapsed. A number of families were devastated. The president was an energetic businessman and doubtless never imagined this outcome to his career. What happened? My observation, at a distance, is that he was caught-up in the emotional high of great success and came to believe that cutting a few corners was okay because rapid growth would cover any issues. The "just this once" rationalization is a powerful seduction..."  Click here to read the rest of Brad's informative guest blog.  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. Blessings, Jeff & Lynn Rev. Jeff Grant, Director & Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate  Contact Information:   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. Prisonist.org: Progressive Prison Project/Innocent Spouse & Children Project are missions of Progressive Prison Ministries, Inc.   Mailing Address:  P.O. Box 1232  Weston, Connecticut 06883  (o) 203-769-1096 Rev. Jeff Grant, JD, M Div, Minister/Director jgrant@prisonist.org (m) 203-339-5887  Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, Pinterest, Google+, Tumblr  Lynn Springer, Founding Advocate, Innocent Spouses & Children lspringer@prisonist.org  (m) 203-536-5508 George Bresnan, Advocate, Ex-Pats  gbresnan@prisonist.org  (m) 203-609-5088 Jim Gabal, Development  jgabal@prisonist.org  (m) 203-858-2865 Babz Rawls Ivy, Media Contact  mediababz@gmail.com  (m) 203-645-9278 Faith & Dignity for the Days Ahead