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RENASCENCE INC
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HALFWAY HOME
Newsletter

HALFWAY HOME / Fall 2021

1/18/2022

1 Comment

 

From the Executive Director

Susan Hunt Sims
Susan Hunt Sims
It has been a little over a year since I started at Renascence, and WOW, have I had an education since then! The criminal justice system is something I had only read or heard about before then, without first-hand personal experience. I had visited a few prisons, but none of that truly prepared me for the challenges and rewards I would experience in this role. Challenging because sometimes the residents make big mistakes despite their own and our staff’s best efforts. Yet it is also rewarding because some of the residents will take the opportunity they are given at Renascence to make their lives better. They will graduate and move on to contribute to society in a positive way. I am grateful for the small role I have that helps make that happen. Regardless of whether they successfully complete our program or not, I hope we offer enough encouragement to all our residents so they will remember their time with us in a positive light and know that there is hope.
  • I am happy to report that we have successfully held COVID-19 at bay in the house except for one resident who had the illness early in 2021. All residents and staff are vaccinated.
  • We renewed our contract with the Bureau of Pardons and Paroles a few months ago; we are grateful for this partnership with them. Ten of our fourteen beds are reserved to house the men they send our way, and for which they pay us.
  • We are starting a partnership with Leadership Montgomery in which one of their cohorts will be renovating and restocking our art room. We hope to offer new art classes again soon!
 
Thank you for your continued support of Renascence and our residents. We are making a difference, one resident at a time.
 
You will read about a few of the good things going on in our house in this newsletter. Here are a few more points of good news:

New Bicycles!

Thanks to an anonymous donor through the Central Alabama Community Foundation, and the Seekers Sunday School class at First United Methodist Church, we now have five bicycles at the house for our residents to use! These bicycles are making it possible for our residents to get to jobs faster (instead of walking) or to get to jobs further away; to take trips to a store; even to get some exercise. We were also able to purchase repair kits, helmets, and locks. The Montgomery Bicycle Club offered a class to our residents about Bicycle safety and maintenance on September 26. They will continue to offer classes to our residents in the future.

Meet our new social worker

Jeronda Bouie
For several years, the staff and board of directors at Renascence have wanted to hire a social worker to offer additional support resources to our residents. Through a grant from the Central Alabama Community Foundation, we were able to finally realize this dream!
 
Jeronda Bouie was hired in early May and has been an excellent addition to our team since day one. She is a Licensed Master-level Social Worker and brings lots of experience and expertise to her work. She graduated from Troy University and has worked in the social work field for over 17 years.
 
She provides a psychosocial assessment to our residents to determine their needs and help them identify realistic goals for a successful reintegration into society after they leave Renascence. She assists them with issues such as family reconciliation; obtaining needed medical care and services; job preparation and retention; addiction recovery; and many other developmental needs. She talks with them about their problems and helps them make better decisions. She helps them analyze a situation so they can think it through and understand what the outcomes might be before taking the next steps.
 
Jeronda has one-on-one sessions with each resident, but she also holds house group meetings for everyone to discuss their good news, their frustrations, and to work out any interpersonal house struggles that might be happening at the time.
 
She says, “I am passionate about my work, and I view helping others as more of a calling than a job. I am grateful for the opportunity to help the residents learn new skills to help them in making better choices for themselves and to achieve their goals. I aim to strengthen their confidence and increase their self-accountability in a supportive environment.”
 
In short, she helps them become better prepared to meet the next challenges they will face when they leave Renascence and go back to family and friends.
 
The residents have these descriptions for her:
  • A good listener
  • Professional
  • Smart
  • Golden
  • Helps with everything
  • Has good answers
 
We are glad to have Jeronda on board. We believe more of our residents will complete the program with her help


Look how our garden grows!

One of our residents was busy at work this summer planting a garden! Mr. Hickman got his inspiration, instructions, and plants from EAT South. He connected with them when he was going to the bus station downtown. He grew tomatoes, turmeric, jalapeño peppers, carrots, beets, radishes, husk cherries, eggplants, and more! Learn more about Eat South at eatsouth.org.

Leadership Montgomery Project

We are honored and proud to be selected as one of the projects for this year's Legacy Class XXXVIII of Leadership Montgomery! This team will be helping us renovate and restock our art classroom. We plan to offer art classes for our residents once again. If you are interested in teaching art (any medium) to our residents, please call 334-832-1402.
Leadership Montgomery Legacy Class XXXVIII
Leadership Montgomery Legacy Class XXXVIII

Current volunteer needs:

  • Drivers to take our residents to appointments to get their ID, medical appointments, etc. Health precautions will be taken
  • Mentors
  • Art teachers
  • Volunteers to provide an evening meal to the residents (10-12 men)

Current donation needs:

  • Bus passes
  • Twin sheet sets (new)
  • Towels, washcloths (new)
  • Men’s new underwear (boxers)
  • Men’s pajamas
  • Men’s toiletries
  • Men’s jeans
  • Men’s belts
  • Men’s wallets
  • HVAC Filters: 20"x25" and 20"x20"
Visit our Volunteer page or contact Susan Hunt Sims at renascenceinc@outlook.com or 334-832-1402 to volunteer.

Incentives Program

We have started a new program to encourage our residents. When they go above and beyond their normal house responsibilities or help another resident or staff member in an exceptional way, we want to provide them with a small reward. These could be small-denomination gift cards to fast-food restaurants or a store, discount coupons, or items that would be a treat for a resident to have. Prison and the life these guys knew before coming to Renascence were about punishment and restrictions. Renascence is about inspiring and positive motivation.
 
You can help us collect these items so we can give them away to our residents! Even $5 gift cards will make a difference. Next time you are in a store, pick a few up and stop by the office. 

Thank you!


Resident Offers Thanks to Donors

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​Assisting in the transition of male ex-offenders from prison to a successful reintegration into the local community.

​215 Clayton Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36104

Phone (334) 832-1402
Fax (334) 832-2927
Email renascenceinc@outlook.com

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