Latest News

The PCI Women in Corrections Presented the Empowering Lives Richly

Mon, 09 May 2016 10:45:26 GMT

The Pickaway Correctional Institution Women in Corrections presented the Empowering Lives Richly (Mind, Body and Spirit) conference at the State Fire Marshal Academy in Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Director Mohr opened the conference with the story of his beginnings in corrections.

The conference was designed to encourage and empower women through emotional, financial, and health concerns they encounter every day in their work and home life. And it did just that!

All of the presenters were on point and pertinent to the issues we face every day. How do we make ourselves heard without being called emotional, how do we make sure we have enough to cover our medical expenses, how can we inspire our fellow women to reach the goals ahead.

The speakers included Maryann Ruben author and motivational speaker, Evelyn Ikehorn educator and motivational speaker, a panel of three women Dr. Maureen Black, Jackie Dodley, and Sheryl Clinger (all amazing in their field) and Nina Turner (activists, motivational speaker, and former state legislator) finished the conference on the highest note possible. Sponsors and venders filled the hallways.

The conference was supported by Warden Charles Bradley, Rob Jeffreys Southeast Regional Director, and Mary Lawrence women’s coordinator and her Team.

ORW Sings to Ill Children in Africa

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:31:38 GMT

On Thursday, April 14 2016 the women of the Tapestry Therapeutic Community, located in the Ohio Reformatory for Women in Marysville, donned their distinctive teal t-shirts with a decal of a pink butterfly in flight, held colorful hand-made paper crafts and waited anxiously in front of a blank television screen. Tapestry and ORW staff, along with volunteers from the Harmony Project in Columbus, Ohio, waited just as anxiously alongside them, hoping that all of the modern-day technology would work just right so an amazing event could take place...and it did.

By way of a Skype phone call, the women in the program sang children's songs, waved their hand-made butterflies, and used playful puppets to interact with the children a half a world away. The children, whom are all ill and depend on the Sunflower House and their amazing staff for their care, smile, clap and giggle in delight until it is their turn to sing to the Tapestry family. These two families, separated by prison fences, geographic boundaries, and circumstances beyond their control, gather to communicate with each other in the universal language of music. The women proudly and animatedly sing "This Little Light of Mine" and "You Are My Sunshine," many with tears in their eyes, all with smiles on their faces. The compassion, love, laughter, and joy exchanged between the Tapestry Sisters and the Sunflower Children are both therapeutic and priceless. They can only be found in the most unlikely of places; places that are so notoriously characterized by negativity and despair. Through Skype, smiles and song, incarcerated women and chronically or terminally ill children are giving each other the greatest gift of all: Hope.

ManCI Donates 54 Handmade Items

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 12:11:19 GMT

On Friday April 22, 2016 Jackie McCartney representing “Bee Strong”, accepted 54 hats that were crocheted by men at Mansfield Correctional Institution. “Bee Strong” is a non-profit organization that ministers to patients undergoing chemotherapy. They provide bags that include various sundry items, and now will include these donated hats.

The five men completed 204 hours of Community Service to make the hats. Warden Lazaroff and Deputy Warden Angela Hunsinger were in attendance for the presentation.

Graduation Held at LeCI for "Building Success" Professional Skills Course

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:32:39 GMT

Last night, volunteers from Crossroads and The Four-Seven came together to celebrate the graduation of the first "Building Success" class at LeCI.

"Building Success" is a six-month course that helps build personal skills (rebuilding relationships, balancing life and work, finding a community, etc.) and professional skills (public speaking, interviewing, overcoming adversity, managing finances, etc.) needed for success upon reentry. Throughout the course, over 50 volunteers came to LeCI to share their expertise and knowledge with men preparing for their return to society.

Mother's Day Tapestry Event at ORW

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:18:38 GMT

On Friday, volunteers joined the Tapestry program at the Ohio Reformatory for Women for a day full of events that included essay writing and the creation/designing of Mother's Day cards. The cards, made by the women in the Tapestry program at ORW, will be sent to relatives as well as hospice patients this year for Mother's Day.

Volunteers from the Tapestry program spent the entire day at ORW as part of the program's events, including a desert celebration to end the day.

Director Mohr's Aleph Institute Speech

Fri, 29 Apr 2016 11:04:14 GMT

Last month, Director Gary Mohr spoke at The Aleph Institute's Alternative Sentencing Key Stakeholder Summit on the view from corrections. Take a listen below to the Director's remarks.

Day 1 View From Corrections v5 from The Aleph Institute on Vimeo.