Saturday, June 28, 2008

3R's: It's not a hand out but a hand up

Group works to give offenders a second chance for a new and better life

Jackie Schlotfeldt News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jschlotfeldt@news-bulletin.com

Los Lunas For a period of time when he was growing up, getting on the right track seemed to be a continuous struggle for John Chavez, and he eventually found himself spending time in the juvenile justice system.

Four years ago, while serving a 28-day detoxification sentence in the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Albuquerque, Chavez got the wake-up call he'd been searching for. Although he had always had different plans for his life, what he didn't have was a helping hand to help get him to the place he wanted to be.

"I think everyone has an unlimited amount of potential within them," Chavez said. "They just need to learn how to tap into it."

While in detoxification, Chavez talked with inmates, many of whom had spent the better part of their life in prison, and it was there that he realized that this was not the path he wanted to take.

"The people there told me their stories of what got them there in the first place, and I was like 'wow,'" Chavez remembers.

He then started thinking of what he could do to help those incarcerated when they were released from prison and decided he'd like to get into real estate and build homes so they'd have a place to stay when they got out.

"I just want to give back to the community for all I've taken," Chavez said.

But he wasn't sure how to go about doing it — until he came across the organization 3 R's, Recover, Renew and Restore.

The 3 R's is a faith-based, non-profit organization designed to help those coming out of prison transition back into society and lead productive lives.

3 R's executive director Renee Davison said she met John Shipe, president of the group, three years ago while working as a real estate agent and learned they both shared the same desire for reaching out and helping those who are incarcerated with their re-entry into the community.

"John has done prison ministry for more than 20 years, and I joined him three years ago," Davison said. "We met this individual in prison who had a dream of getting out and opening an organization or support group like this that helps guys getting out of prison in Valencia County."

An e-mail received shortly thereafter from Wings Ministry, another prison re-entry program, informed Davison that there was a small capacity building grant available for organizations such as theirs, and after burning some midnight oil, they submitted an application for the grant and were awarded $5,000.

Davison said they're using the grant for monthly training for their board, some computer equipment and liability insurance for their organization, all of which is allowable under the terms of the grant.

Davison went on to say that the organization is comprised of a diverse group of individuals, five of whom are ex-offenders who have gone on to become successful business owners.

"We all have the same vision," Davison said.

Shipe said there are four parts to their vision, with the first being a weekly breakfast gathering at Joanne's Cafe in Rio Communities every Saturday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. He said this environment is a place to develop socialization skills and is open to anyone wanting to attend.

The second part involves being a "mama rabbit," as Shipe likes to call it.

"It's somebody who helps guys coming out of prison get the necessary documents such as driver's licenses, birth certificates, Social Security cards and employment interviews," Shipe said. "Mama rabbit helps them (ex-offenders) stay compliant with their probation and parole and is someone who really cares."

Third on the list, which is something that will take some time to achieve, is finding a facility they can use for their "halfway there home." Shipe said right now they have their eyes on a place they could use as a transitional home, but they have a ways to go before that dream may become a reality.

"When they get out of prison, they'd stay six months at the 'halfway there' facility and then move next door into an empty house with their families and kids," Shipe said. "While there, then they could go out and work towards building a house of their own."

The fourth part involves one-on-one mentorship, which can help those previously incarcerated find their way outside of the life they knew and step outside their comfort zone and achieve their goals — staying away from the environment and situations that got them sent to prison.

"There are 650,000 inmates released each year in the United States," said Davison. "In 2007, two-thirds went back to prison. Ninety percent of inmates will be released and will be your neighbor, whether you like it or not. Why not have the community form a strategic partnership with employers, state agencies, victims and neighbors and collaborate with us on the re-entry program?"

Odelia Baca-Tully is all too aware of the feeling of "no hope" that many inmates have. Her son is currently in a prison in Louisiana, and it's been a very trying process that she and her son's children have gone through. She said that, in her experience, when a parent goes to prison, it is the children that are affected the most.

"My grandson asks me when his daddy is coming home," Baca-Tully said, her voice breaking. "I was at a loss, and it's taken a lot out of me because I knew how long he'd be in prison."

But Baca-Tully heard about the 3 R's organization and today is secretary on the board and is determined to not only help her son, once he's released, but everyone she can.

"I'm amazed at what they are doing," she said of the organization.

Baca-Tully said since her son's been in prison, he's earned his GED and attained a commercial driver's license, and she believes he will be ready to move forward when he comes home.

"I keep telling my son, 'you can do it,'" Baca-Tully said. "All he needs is a little bit of support."

The 3 R's mission is to "make a positive difference in the lives of the formerly incarcerated individuals and their families." They are working towards helping ex-offenders with job training and placement, transportation, housing, life skills, substance abuse, anger management and mentoring.

"They have a genuine desire to get things right," Davison said. "They want a second chance."

Davison said those who have been incarcerated for so long find it extremely difficult to fit into a society that has changed so much. She said they need employers to become mentors to these people and give them a chance to prove themselves.

She said she realizes there will be opposition to a facility because not every neighborhood or person in the community has a welcome mat out for ex-offenders, but 3 R's would like to have a collaborative effort between communities, neighbors and state agencies.

"We have big visions," said Julie Gutierrez, treasurer for 3 R's. "We're here to help. They need something to come back to."

"It's not a hand out but a hand up," Davison added. "Our responsibility to them is to allow them to show remorse for what they did, pay restitution to who they need to and hold them accountable for what they did, but we also need to give them a chance to live a productive, crime free life. Life is all about second chances. Who are we not to provide that for them?"

3 R's recently was given office space in Los Lunas from the First Baptist Church of Los Lunas so they can continue to work towards their mission. Davison said they are looking for more volunteers and funding to develop a successful program that includes intense supervision in addition to a life skills curriculum.

For more information on 3 R's, Recover, Renew and Restore, call Renee Davison or John Shipe at 712-6449.

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