DrumTHE

Issue No. 18april 2019

IN THIS ISSUEPg. 1pg. 2pg. 3pg. 4pg. 5pg.6

Upcoming Events

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Reform of cannabis lawscitizen spotlight App of the monthread/watch/listenin the communitycrossword

BY LISA ROCHOW

April 28th, 20192:00P.M. - 4:00P.M.State Appellate Defender Office645 Griswold St. Suite 3300Detroit, MI 48226Join us in collaboration with the Prison CreativeArts Project (PCAP) for an art workshop forformerly incarcerated individuals, led by aformerly incarcerated individual. Attendees will have the opportunity to create a self portrait usingunique art styles, and present their final product tothe group!

Project Reentry Pcap workshop

 THE REFORM OF CANNABIS LAWS

The reform of cannabis laws throughout the United States has bothelected officials and voters implementing policies, which will decreaseincarceration rates and revolutionize the impacts of criminalconvictions. However, voters in Michigan passed a recreationalcannabis proposal that did not address the important problem ofpast and persistent unjust persecutions of cannabis-related masscriminalization. In her first press conference as Michigan’s Governor-elect, Gretchen Whitmer stated the majority of people in Michiganagree that for conduct that is now legal, “no one should bear alifelong record for that conduct." The Governor believes people whoare serving sentences in jail or prison for non-violent, cannabis-related crimes, deserve justice. Further, Whitmer declared she wouldbegin looking into cannabis crime expungement, make somedecisions, and act early this year. In Michigan, 117,123 people havebeen arrested and charged with misdemeanor cannabis offenses inthe past five years and nearly fifty thousand of those people havebeen convicted, according to the Michigan State Police, from recordssupplied by county prosecutors and courts. This means one in twelvepeople arrested have been charged with a cannabis-related offense.Nearly four thousand people are in prison, jail or on probation forcannabis-related felony convictions, according to the 2016 annualinmate population report by the Michigan Department of Corrections(MDOC). While some arrests are made for cannabis distribution (13%),others are simply for possession or use of cannabis (87%). Michigan's2017 arrest rate per 1,000 residents for cannabis offenses revealedthat black men were 3.5 times more likely than white men to bearrested for cannabis, and black women were 2.5 times more likely tobe arrested than white women. In states where cannabis-relatedconvictions can be expunged, residents must still initiate and navigatea process that includes paperwork, a lot of time, and unreasonablecourt fines and costs, which only adds to the burdensome stigmaaround cannabis criminalization. Without the ability to be free of acannabis conviction, many residents in Michigan face difficultiessurrounding job prospects, student loan opportunities, and housingassistance. The current legal status of cannabis in Michigan does notaddress the importance of racial equity and it is up to lawmakers toconsider the unjust implications of neglecting those who arecontinuously burdened by cannabis convictions.

Introductions to computers Thursday, April 184:00 pm - 5:00 pmDetroit Public Library12800 Harper AveDetroit, MI 48213Covers the basic parts of a computer, flash drives,saving documents/pictures, printing, mouseusage, keyboarding, an introduction to MicrosoftWord, Internet browsing. No computer skillsneeded.FREE

Crash Course in HTML & CSSWednesday, April 17, 6:30 p.m.Tech. Town440 Burroughs StreetDetroit, MI 48202Curious about coding, but don’t know where tobegin? HTML & CSS is the perfect place to start.Here you'll learn the basic building blocks of awebsite, and how to style them while completing aseries of challenges to help you master your newskills. Bring a laptop to ensure you get the most outof the workshop.

SECOND CHANCE GALASaturday, April 27th4:00pm - 8:00pmMarygrove College8425 W McNichols Rd.Detroit, MI 48221$40 per personA celebration of new beginnings for formallyincarcerated men and women.

CITIZEN SPOTLIGHT

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hometown

hobbies and interests

Workforce development

Daniel jones

Detroit, Michigan

came home march 2018

struggles since release

message to the community

Social Media. I love beingable to reach out to myfamily members who liveabroad.

My biggest success is that I'vebeen able to get my driver'spermit. I also was able to beaccepted at MacombCommunity College and havehad the opportunity to speakto groups of people atdifferent universities.

Have a vision for yourself. Seeyourself doing something outhere in the free world. Focus onyour health and save as muchmoney as you can.

Detroit Career FairTuesday, April 23, 20199:30AM - 12:30PMDetroit Marriott400 Renaissance Dr WDetroit MI9:30AM – 12:30PMMeet face to face with topemployers hiring for Sales,Customer Service, Retail, FinancialServices, Management, I.T. andGovernment positions. Bring yourresume. Detroit At Work skilled trades trainingBreithaupt Information Sessions4th Saturday of the monthBreithaupt CTC9300 Hubbell Ave.Detroit, MI 4822810:00AM-11:00AMRandolph Information Sessions2nd Saturday of the monthRandolph CTC17101 Hubbell Ave.Detroit, MI 4823510:00AM-11:00AM Center for employment opportunities The Center for EmploymentOpportunities provides immediate,effective, and comprehensiveemployment services exclusivelyto individuals who have recentlyreturned home from incarceration. 7310 Woodward Ave.Detroit, MI 48202Call 313-752-0680 to inquire

for assistance applying to jobs or to be connected to events and resources in your area, please reach out to project reentry.

picture of client

success since release

Hope Community Church hosts supportmeetings on the first and third Friday of

every month. Meetings are a healing spacefor individuals, family members, and friends

with loved ones who are or have beenincarcerated in the past. If interested, all you

have to do is show up.  

find hope!

Hope Community Church Support Meeting1st and 3rd Friday of every month

Next meeting April 19th6:00-8:00pm

Hope Community Church14456 E. Jefferson Detroit, MI 48215

Michigan share network, church of messiahThe Share Network provides resourcesfor employment, offers assistance withresumes, job applications, attire andaccess to employment.Contact Wally Gilbert for information.(248) 796-1921wallyg@blvdharambee.org

Parallel parking!

APP of themonth 

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What is insight timer?

A Special Thanks to JohnWoodson, Sofia Nelson, Karl

Henkel, Anastassia Kolosova, andCorey Bibbs for presenting and

volunteering at last month'sworkshop. A special thank you toMitchell Shamsud-Din, Executive

Director of the CommunityServices Community DevelopmentCorp., for donating money for food

for our event.

Magic happens when you givemeditation away for free. Most

meditation apps say they’refree, but the reality is quite

different; once the starter packfinishes they quickly lock youout. Insight Timer offers the

largest free library of guidedmeditations on earth and theworld’s most loved meditation

timer, for free.Available for iOS and Android.

insight timersave the date

Citizens for Prison Reform’s 8thAnnual Legislative Education Day

Wednesday, May 299:30 a.m. – 4:00p.m

Michigan State Capitol 100 N. Capitol Ave Lansing, MI 48933

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read

watch

listen

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and

Redemption by Bryan Stevenson

Etthehiphoppreacher on Youtube

Just Mercy is a work of nonfiction that delves into the life ofa new lawyer, Bryan Stevenson, and his journey inrepresenting juvenile lifers, and wrongly convictedindividuals on death row in Alabama.

Michigan native, Eric Thomas, started as a homeless highschool dropout, and is now a renowned motivationalspeaker here to help others reach their full potential andbring those buried goals to life!

Face The World by Nipsey HussleNipsey Hussle was not only a Grammy-nominated rapper,but someone who was deeply dedicated to his community.He owned many businesses in his neighborhood andencouraged community members to invest in their owncommunities. His music will remain as a blueprint forhappenings in the hood, unity and black entrepreneurship.

read/watch/listen list by Taylor BonnerPeanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

Cook time: 30 minutesPrep time: 15 minutes

Servings: 4

· 9 ounces chocolate wafer cookies orchocolate sandwich cookies· 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter,softenedFor Filling:· 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature· 1 cup (10.5 ounces) sweetened condensedmilk· 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter· 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract· pinch fine sea salt

5 ounces dark or milk chocolate· 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter

 for chocolate glaze

for crust

Meet the team

hometown

Hobbies and Interests

Going to concerts, music festivals, and surroundingmyself with my amazing friends and family.

Message to the communityI am very grateful and privileged to be working withso many wonderful clients, attorneys, and socialworkers. I appreciate the opportunities that havebeen given to me here at SADO and am very excitedfor the future of Project Reentry.

Lisa rochow

directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-by-8-inch baking pan with parchment paperor aluminum foil and set aside.2. Process cookies in a food processor untilfinely ground (or place in a Ziploc bag andcrush with a rolling pin). Add softened butterand pulse until evenly incorporated. Press intoprepared baking pan.3. In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of astand mixer, beat cream cheese, sweetenedcondensed milk, and peanut butter withpaddle attachment until smooth. Mix in vanillaand salt. Pour into crust, spreading into aneven layer.4. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until set;remove from oven and place on a coolingrack and allow to cool completely.5. For glaze, in a double boiler set overmedium heat, melt butter and chocolate untilsmooth. Pour over cooled cheesecake andrefrigerate until set.

Bay City, MI

in the community

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Project Reentry volunteered with About FaceCourse Correction (AFCC). AFCC is a nonprofitcreated by Shawna Reynolds. Reynolds has

been working tirelessly to renovate a house inDetroit that will eventually become a home forwomen exiting incarceration. Reynolds works

rain, snow, sun, and shine and solicitsvolunteers to assist with renovations. Needless

to say, she is passionate.

Project Reentry is grateful to have had theopportunity to volunteer with AFCC. If

interested in volunteering with AFCC pleasevisit aboutfacecc.org or find AFCC on

facebook to view updated dates, times, andneeds of renovation projects.

From left to right, Shawna Reynolds, Allison Gorine,

Elizabeth Nesbitt, Taylor Bonner

The ArtsTuesday, April 16

1:00pm-2:00pm: Prison Art Show

2:00pm-3:00pm: War on Drugs Panel

3:00pm-4:00pm: Keynote by Seth Ferrani

4:00pm-6:00pm: Screening of film “White

Boy and the War on Drugs”

White Boy and the War on Drugs

University of MichiganDearborn Presents...

University of Michigan DearbornKochoff Hall

4901 Evergreen RdDearborn, MI 48128

For more information, email Aaron Kinzel at atkinzel@umich.edu

The Detroit Symphony

Want free tickets to the Detroit Symphony?Call Project Reentry to inquire. Shout out to

Edward Sanders for the connection!

Spring Film Series: OrdinaryPeople, Extraordinary Courage

Through an artful blend of historical narratives and re-enactments, thisunique program draws viewers into the lives of real people, both free andenslaved, whose selfless acts of courage helped fugitive slaves find hopeand freedom. Produced by the Carnegie Center for Art & History to bringtheir permanent exhibit of the same name into the classroom and thecommunity.

Saturday, May 11 andSunday, May 12 3:00pm - 4:00pmDetroit Historical Museum5401 Woodward Ave.Detroit, MI 48202

call (313) 256-9833

 and Ask for a Project Reentry Team Member

or send a letter to

Project Reentry

State appellate defender office

645 Griswold, Suite 3300

Detroit, MI 48226

To see past versions of The Drum,

visit www.sado.org/go/drumFollow SADO on Facebook, Instagram,

and Twitter @SADOmich

 

Resource of the month

or email us at reentry@Sado.org

Have QUESTIONS OR something to contribute?

Shout out to harley paulsen for sharing the...

The Michigan Women’s Commission is made up of 15commissioners and an advisory committee comprisedof 4 millennials. The commission is dedicated tosupporting all women in the state of Michigan andovercoming discrimination. Currently, the MWC isfocusing on three main concerns for the state ofMichigan, which include:1. Identifying the needs of Michigan women veterans.2. Raising Awareness of Human Trafficking andSexual Assault in Michigan.3.  Advocating for Michigan women in business, whichincludes the promoting of women and girls in Science,Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.Although these are the commission's focused areas ofinterest, their constant goal is to support all women inall ways.

HERO OF THE MONTHOn Tuesday March 19, Reentry Coordinator AllisonGorine rescued a seriously injured bird (a woodcock)she found on her way to work, on Lafayette St. nearCampus Martius. Allison and Katherine took him to theWild Wings Wild Bird Rehabilitation Center in HazelPark. The Director of Wild Wings sent us an update,that the bird had a laceration from beak to ear, andsome internal bleeding, but x-rays were negative, andwhile he was responding well to pain meds andoxygen, we would know more in the next 24 hours.

April crossword

3. A container that often holds candy on Easter 4. April ___ bring May flowers. 6. We celebrate the planet on ___ Day April 22nd.

1. Popular Easter candy, also slang term for yourgroup of friends 2. The Ukrainian word for decorated eggs 5. The Easter Egg ___ is held at the White Houseannually 6. Ancient symbol of fertility

Accross

down

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On Wednesday, we learned that he was continuing tomake progress, and we were able to adopt him onbehalf of SADO. We named him Lafayette. On March29, we got the joyful news that Lafayette the SADOWoodcock had been released back into the wild(pictured below). So let’s give a huge SADO shout-outto Allison, our first ever Hero of the Month.