Rollin, Rollin, Rollin...
UNITE INDY Vans Transport Hundreds of Newly Released, Newly Employed to Job Sites
After spending more than a year with our Pilot Reentry Transportation Program, we now have 8 vans making 146 trips a week, carrying 116 riders to locations where jobs are offered to those with a criminal record. The project has provided jobs with employers that not only pay a living wage, but are flexible with employees who have parole meeting issues, and other court-mandated responsibilities. These employers are paying from $17- $20+ per hour (plus free transportation), and due to being paid well, almost 10% have already been able to buy their own vehicles to drive to and from work, making room for other newly released folks to take seats on the vans.
According to Manhattan Institute Public-Interest Research, a job that pays a living wage can reduce recidivism by a whopping 90%, and the savings in incarceration costs to tax payers can be pretty amazing too. We'll report more as time goes on, but for now we're rollin'!
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HIS HANDS & FEET...
30 Champions Sign Up for Training From ONE Church in Shelbyville
OK, The people pictured are really not those who volunteered, but you get the idea. We are just so encouraged by the enthusiasm exhibited by this family of believers who said a big "YES" to caring for those who are imprisoned —living out the mandate of Hebrews 13:3. They will be working one-on-one through the Jobs for Life course work with people who are nearing release, and will continue to mentor as the reentrants go out into the world to begin life anew. Thank you to the AWESOME people at Crossroad Community Church and welcome to the powerful ministry you are about to begin!
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Good People Doing Good Things...
With the new Marion Community Justice Campus about to open to training efforts, Wanda Thomas from Jobs for Life and Brad Garner, PHD, a professor of criminal justice at Indiana Wesleyan University, met with UNITE INDY staffers to fine tune the the new Jobs for Life digital courses. Their goals are to ensure a good fit with the technology available at various correctional facilities and to make sure that the lessons relate well to the students.
Here's the big advantage: Through these digitized, video classes, UNITE INDY will be able to supply training at any time of day or evening, depending upon the schedules at each facility, and classes can be held with or without bringing outside people into the jails and prisons, depending upon the level of security at each location. Animated videos mix with taped "best of the best" instructors to replace the old, heavy workbooks. These colorful videos are guaranteed to better engage students and to improve their understanding and success on the job after release. We're stoked! See why... Plan for Prosperity here.
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"War Behind Bars" by Tyrone Edwards Sr. on Stage 4-23
UNITE INDY is so proud to help get the word out about this important stage play production, "War Behind Bars," that will be introduced on Saturday, April 23rd, at 6pm, at the Warren Performing Arts Center. The play centers on a prison inmate as he explores his growing spirituality in connection with the experience of incarceration.
The author spent 12 years in prison and says "a spiritual journey with God led him into a whirlwind of writing." Through his writing, he found faith, and began a healing process that continues today. It is a play that will leave you with hope—and don't we need more of that today than ever?
Please click the link and get your tickets! Watch this great, brief video about the production here. Get tickets here for the performance. Map it here.
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Ministries Join To Fight
Crime & Homicides
Dr. Charles Ware is a regular at UNITE INDY’s Wednesday morning prayer meetings. Through his efforts, our prayer group will join a force of many, not only to pray for peace in our streets, but to help plan a way to reduce the violence problems that plague our city. As executive director of Grace Relations, a ministry of the College of Biblical Studies, Dr. Ware is creating a network of ministries to develop a more effective engagement with government officials and law enforcement.
Join us at the meeting on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm, at College of Biblical Studies, 3500 DePauw Blvd., Building One, Suite 1010, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Lunch will be provided. Let's all get involved in the important work of carving out strategic initiatives to reduce crime and gun violence. Questions? Contact Deb Terry here, and please RSVP by Monday, April 25, 2022, to let us know you will be attending.
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The Slap of Offense
I wasn't watching the Hollywood prima donnas giving themselves awards, but when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock for a joke he didn’t like, social media cranked up the Oscars’ low, low viewership numbers by 3.7 million in a matter of moments. The constant coverage of a war in Ukraine isn’t enough degradation for the American public to watch. We want to see someone be offended!
Forget offense. Here’s my idea of an award show worth watching: I’d like to see a trophy go to the "Tired Pastor Who Prays At Midnight With The With The Mother Of A Child Killed In The Street." I’d like a trophy to go to “Best Dad In The Neighborhood,” and “Best Mom Who Never Has To Use Words Written By A Script Writer To Comfort Her Child.” Who knows? Maybe we could replace the Oscars with the "Virtuous Awards." Nah, that would never be popular. Read Nancy's Blog Post Here.
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Could You Be A Champion?
At UNITE INDY, Champions are the mentors who walk along side of those who need a friend, helping inmates as they take Jobs for Life classes, and are there to help as they are released from incarceration to guide, and support as needed in the effort to find housing, get licensed, figure out transportation issues, and ultimately to get a good job that can change his or her life.
Champions are encouragers, who give a hand up to folks who need a friend at a crucial time in their lives. More than anything else, a Champion is someone an inmate can trust and rely on. It is an important position, and one that gives the heart amazing satisfaction. UNITE INDY provides training and each Champion only works with one person. Want to change a life? Email Scott, who can answer all your questions.
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Indy Reentry Navigator: Bringing
Power To The People
As a reentrant, coming out of long-term incarceration, the contacts you need to handle the myriad of issues you face are your keys to successful reentry.
UNITE INDY's Reentry Navigator is being developed to provide just that: Quick connections to the people one needs for successful reentry, from a parole officer, to a drug treatment center, someone to help get a needed driver's license, or assistance with housing, finances, or just about anything a reentrant will need. Coming soon on your phone. BAM!
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Why Support UNITE INDY?
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.
These jobs are powerful weapons with which to fight poverty in our neighborhoods.
How You Can Support Jobs for Justice- Involved Individuals
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.
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Support of Ministries and Charities:
Since 2017 UNITE INDY has provided a free web-based system at UNITEINDY.org that connects churches, ministries, and other charities to share their volunteer needs or needed items. UNITE INDY also provides the manpower necessary to assist smaller organizations—that have no one to upload needed items—the help they require to access this service. Through this portal, UNITE INDY has brought hundreds of volunteers and thousands of dollars worth of needed goods into the hands of those who assist the poor.
Serving the Servants:
UNITE INDY comes behind urban pastors and ministry leaders by addressing personal and professional needs with free services for those who work tirelessly in their neighborhoods to care for the needy and bereft.
Remember, almost 1 out of every 3 children in Indianapolis lives below the poverty level, yet even in the aftermath of the COVID shut down, as our economy comes back to life and employment is returning, all this good news stops at the lines surrounding many of our inner city neighborhoods. In some neighborhoods of Marion County unemployment is now 21%, and poverty remains the overwhelming divider of people.
Please donate to UNITE INDY now. There are a number of choices that are all secure and safe. By sending your fully tax deductible gift* now we can have a greater impact meeting needs in our community in 2021.
Many, many thanks!
*UNITE INDY, Inc. is approved under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(c)(3) as a Public Charity, donors can deduct contributions they make under IRC Section 170.
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Corporate Partners
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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