Offenders give back to community
Photo by Shari Harris
Seated, from left: Brandy Christman, Jennifer Coonrod, Donnetta James (LUCHC), Kristina Wallace and Trista Kinder; back row: Glen Robinson, Daron Simpson, Joaquin Warren, Randall Arnold, Jared Cole, Justin Lewis, Tavon Gray, Jamar Staten, Benjamin Stidham, Calvert Antwine, Damien Bryan and Assistant Warden Troy Wade.
By Shari Harris, Publisher
The eleven members of the Offenders Offering Alternatives (OOA) program at South Central Correctional Center (SCCC) presented representatives from Russell House and Licking United Community Help Center (LUCHC) with checks for $500 each on Thursday, December 19. The organization held fundraisers throughout the year to raise the money, as a way to give back to the community.
OOA officially became a program in March of 2024. It is an offender organization that is overseen by the Division of Probation and Parole; it works in conjunction with local courts to bring individuals who are struggling into the prison to show them the realities of incarceration. The eleven inmates who comprise the program completed a one year training program before they were eligible to participate in tours of the prison. These tours are coupled with group sessions to help troubled individuals understand the problems they are encountering. OOA President Glen Robinson explained that they try to offer the individuals alternatives.
Some of the members have participated in prior similar programs directed at juveniles (some for decades) but the OOA program works with adults.
“I love this program,” said Robinson. “I’ve been doing this for 35 years. It’s an excellent program.”
OOA members credit sponsors Kristina Wallace, Parole Officer-District 11, Brandy Christman, Parole Officer-District 10NL, and Jennifer Coonrod, Unit Supervisor-District 10NL, and SCCC Institutional Parole Officer Trista Kinder for their work with the program. They agree that there has been positive feedback about the program, and say it can be very effective. Five to ten individuals are brought to SCCC every one to two months for the tour and group session with OOA members.
“Focus is about change,” said OOA member Damien Bryan. “ If we change one person, that’s a success for us. We can’t do it without all of us and the parole officers.”
“We want to change the institution and society,” Bryan continued.
The eleven members of OOA include President Glen Robinson, Vice President Calvert Antwine, Secretary Daron Simpson, and members Damien Bryan, Benjamin Stidham, Justin Lewis, Randall Arnold, Jared Cole, Jamar Staten, Joaquin Warren and Tavon Gray.
Photo by Shari Harris
From left, Gabriel Delossantos, Shelly Swearingen, Outreach Director for Russell House, and Lauren Tripp, Russell House, show the rugs created and donated by the RJO program.
In addition to OOA’s presentation, the Restorative Justice Organization donated 36 rugs to Russell House. RJO member Gabriel Delossantos presented the rugs on behalf of the approximately 20 offenders involved in the program.
Russell House is a domestic and sexual violence service provider and shelter, working with people in Phelps, Crawford, Dent and Maries County.
Licking United Community Help Center is a food pantry and thrift shop helping people in need in and around the Licking area.
Photo by Shari Harris
