More than 80 area reentry, Department of Corrections, and justice officials attended the first St. Louis Alliance for Reentry (STAR) professional development series on July 13. The first topic concerend issues revolving around sex offenders.

Workshop presenters included Mary Bouman, District Administrator for the Missouri Department of Corrections; Mary Schicker, LCSW, Team Lead for Re-Integrative Services at Provident; and Dr. Greg Markway, Chief of Mental Health Services at the Missouri Department of Corrections. Regional Administrator of Missouri Probation and Parole Nancy McCarthy and Area Resources for Community and Human Services Vice President of Grant Management Services Les Johnson gave the welcome addresses.

Those in attendance we also able to give input during a Q&A session. Watch for updates on upcoming programs this fall at www.stlreentry.org.

STAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PHOTO GALLERY

The men of the Northeast Correctional Center (Bowling Green, MO) will present The Government Inspector by Gogol on Thursday, June 30 at 6 p.m. RSVP is required by June 17.

In addition, the Vandalia Women's Theatre will present two performances of William Shakespeare's The Tempest Acts 1 & 2 and Spoken Words on Monday, July 25 at 1:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. To RSVP, please call the PPA office at (314) 289-4190 or email info @prisonartsstl.org.

Find out more by visiting Prison Performing Arts' website.

The pen of Missouri Eastern Correctional Center (MECC) inmate Demetrius Williams scribbled back and forth across his notepad during a self-reflection exercise. Deep thought kept Williams' eyes focused on the paper in front of him as words became sentences, sentences became paragraphs, and paragraphs became a deeper meaning to why he was in prison.

Williams is one of dozens of men enrolled in ARCHS' Second Chance Act Mentoring Program, which assists individuals toward a positive life change through activities such as the writing process. Journaling allows individuals to share and receive feedback on their thoughts with peers. It also allows individuals to take a look at past feelings and criminal behavior, and explore different ways to change their perceptions and attitudes

It also allows individuals to take a look at their past feelings and criminal behavior, and explore different ways to change their way of thinking to live in a positive way.

"This has to be the best class offered here (MECC) because you feel like you are taking something away with you, and also that the people really care," Williams said, whose been in prison four years for robbery. "It makes a big difference."

Congratulations to STAR's own William Siedhoff (St. Louis Director of Human Services) and Nancy Mitchell McCarthy (Regional Administrator of Missouri Probation and Parole) for being honored at the annual meeting of the National Convocation of Jail and Prison Ministry. Both were given awards at the organization's banquet on May 17 at the Pear Tree Inn by Drury.

Siedhoff, who also served as a keynote speaker, received the Mike McGough Award. Previous award recipients of the award include Sen. Ted Kennedy and former Governor of New Mexico Toney Anaya. McCarthy was awarded with the Special Award for Collaboration in Prisoner Reentry into the St. Louis Community.

The convocation was held May 15-18 and focused on issues that affect people before, during, and after incarceration. Over 50 area professionals involved in the reentry process discussed topics such as mental health, sex offenders, veterans, and youthful offenders. The event was hosted through the leadership of the Criminal Justice Ministry of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.