The Center for Women in Transition will host a special performance of Shakespeare's "Green Eggs & Hamlet" by the Prison Performing Arts Alumni Theatre Company on Thursday, December 9 at the Centene Center. "Green Eggs & Hamlet" has a Dr Seuss-like twist on the Shakesperian classic.

Please mark your calendars for the special evening of cocktails, desserts and laughter at the lighter side of Shakespeare. The one-hour production will be followed by a panel discussion and reception with the actors.

Tickets for the performance can be found by click HERE.

The last several years have hardly been a walk in the park for area-resident Tracy Umar. Addictions to controlled substances such as crack cocaine and multiple stints in and out of prison have plagued her adult life. Umar is candid with the reality that the problems she endured were because of her own decisions, but surely the lack of a family foundation and supporting shoulder did not help the situation.

The city of St. Louis was still asleep as the sun broke the horizon of a muggy and early April 10 morning. Not a vehicle or person was in sight down Russell Boulevard, except for a Humanitri bus waiting to depart to a state prison. The passengers eagerly waiting inside did not care that it was 6:15 in the morning, or that they had to start their weekend earlier than most. They were happy to be on their way to see their family members who are in prison. 

“I have two sons locked up. I am the only one who ever goes to see them,” said one woman, as she excitedly tapped her foot in anticipation. “One comes out next year, and the other comes out in less than two. I let them know I love them, and I am starting to see positive changes because one just got his G.E.D. and wants to go to school when he gets out.”

Humanitri’s new two-year pilot program, “Next Steps Home,” will continue to serve inmates and their families 12 to 18 months after release.

Perhaps the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis' commitment to helping the ex-offender population can best be summed up by the Hebrews Scripture it displays on its web site: "Remember those in prison as if you were their fellow prisoners, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering."

Or, maybe it is the Foundation's beliefs combined with a $12,000 grant it awarded to ARCHS to help support the recently expanded St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR). The grant provides strategic management support to STAR as it connects reentry individuals to agencies working in coordination to strengthen the delivery of ex-offender services.