UNITE INDY's Scott Whiting, left, Doug Evans, and Jim Cotterill met at a unique venue, Echo Effect, run by Thurman Adams, (second from left). Adams' meeting space welcomed our crew, and almost 40 people who came from Shelbyville churches to find out about becoming Champions to mentor inmates in area jails as they take Jobs for Life classes in preparation for release.

UNITE INDY Partner Park 100 Foods Cooks Up Success

UNITE INDY second chance employment partner, Park 100 Foods, is working in tandem with the Drug Diversion Court of Howard County to keep drug offenders out of jail and on their way to wellness. Together the Court and the food manufacturer encourage employment over incarceration. At Park 100 Foods, understanding managers oversee modified work schedules that facilitate visits to counselors or corrections officials as directed by the court. Through UNITE INDY, all participants receive free transportation—even after finishing court ordered programs, as transportation issues are one of the greatest barriers to long term employment success. Second chance employees are scoring higher retention rates for the first 90 days and beyond than those with no convictions. Want answers to societal problems? This is one that works!

In study after study, childhood abuse and trauma is found to be a root cause of juvenile and adulthood crime.

UNITE INDY's Nancy Cotterill is studying the causes of trauma and how trauma incites a cycle of violence among individuals, who often end up serving jail and prison sentences.

This information will eventually become part of a training module for UNITE INDY's Champion/mentors working to help those reentering our community from long term incarceration.

Maltreatment, drug abuse and alcoholism in the home, as well as situations where children are not cared for, fed regularly, or live in fear are all trauma-inducing patterns that can last a lifetime. Juveniles who were victims of abuse most often are involved in violence against partners and peers, setting them up for incarceration. The deterioration of families is largely at fault. More to come.

A world-wide Jobs for Life audience gathered to discuss UNITE INDY's work with Indiana Wesleyan University to animate Jobs for Life course work—making the lessons more accessible to a wider range of inmate-students.

The JfL Global Leadership Network participants heard Indiana Wesleyan University Professor of Criminal Justice Brad Garner, PhD, co-host of Digital2Learn Podcast, and Unite Indy's Jim Cotterill describe the exciting development of animated programing that could be used in job preparedness training world-wide. Participants taking part in the meeting came from all over the U.S. and as far away as Hong Kong. See Announcement Video.

The United States Supreme Court is currently in the process of deciding if Joe Kennedy, a winning and popular high school coach in Washington State was illegally fired from his job for praying. He used to take a knee on the 50 yard line after a game to say a silent 10-15 second prayer, until he was fired for doing so.

Across the world, there is a war being waged against Christians, and American Christians specifically are being lulled or shamed into silence. As far back as 1986, a study of textbooks used by 87 percent of public-school students had removed all historic references to God, religion, or the flight to America for religious freedom. The study said, "there is not one account in the thousands of pages of all these books that includes our country's fundamental basis in faith." Believe, don't believe, that's your decision. But facts are facts and history should not be re-written because it might make someone uncomfortable. Read Nancy's post Here.

We are constantly talking about the things you could do for someone who is incarcerated. But what we don't easily talk about, is how powerful a position that is.

An Inmate Correspondent is in a volunteer position imparting not only human kindness, but also great wisdom and leadership. Being a mentor/Champion is a position of one who is greatly trusted as an advisor and friend.

For someone behind bars, these relationships become so important, that your words have more influence and authority than probably anyone they have ever talked to. These relationships are real. They unfailingly go both ways, with true friendships developing. And your encouragement and care fills that heart-shaped hole that only God can fill in those you serve. YOU are the GPS device that can lead the way.

If you are looking for fulfillment and power in your life, this is it. Because, the secret is how much these activities will do for you. Email us Here if you have questions or just want to sign up to write to, or champion an inmate.

UNITE INDY fights the root cause of poverty, which impacts some of the most pressing problems we face in our city, such as hunger, homelessness, and interrupted educational opportunities for children.

Our major focus is to assist the 12,000 inmates returning to Central Indiana after long-term jail sentences. UNITE INDY provides mentored job training inside the jail, and a website for those with a criminal record, SecondChanceIndy.com, filled with job openings offered by our Second Chance employer partners.

1. Volunteer to be a Champion (mentor). 

2. Volunteer to be a Prayer Team Leader. 

3. Become a Member - Your tax deductible gift will buy either 5 Student Workbooks for a class or 10 meals for students, their mentors, and instructors to gather around a table before each class, sharing food, transforming the moment into something more unique by creating a sense of community, which strengthens the relationship building process. 

A big Thank YOU to our Corporate Partners for their unwavering support which makes it possible for us to provide our services at no charge to job applicants and employers!

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