Newsletter 1st Quarter 2025 April

Did you know that there are over 100,000 military veterans incarcerated in the United States, and 44% reoffend after 2 years of release? 

Think about this for a minute. Recidivism rates for released military veterans from prison are generally higher than those of the general population. Still, they can vary based on factors like access to support services and specific program interventions. For the past year, we have researched the issues and, through our work with the Florida Department of Corrections Veterans’ Dorm Program and Reentry Initiative, submitted a proposal to coordinate Veterans’ Reentry Initiatives, including pre- and post-release programs and services. 

Due in great part to the work of Dr. Steven Madosky, Damascus Reentry, Inc., Division of Institutions Director for Florida, our proposal has been accepted!! We will coordinate the Initiative beginning at two state facilities, Martin Correctional Institution and the private prison managed by The GEO Group, South Bay Correctional Facility. We want to thank Nichole Landrum, Florida DOC Assistant Bureau Chief, Transition Services, for her support, Warden Jeff Robinson of Martin CI and Warden Shay Hatcher of South Bay CF for their willingness to expand their veteran’s programs and last but not least Rick Glau, Manager-Faith Based Services for GEO for his vision and counsel. We ask for your prayers for the veterans who volunteer for the Initiatives that they successfully overcome their life-controlling issues, for the volunteers who engage with us for perseverance, and for Dr. Steve, who will be at the center of the storm. For those of you who may feel led to partner with us financially in this work, thank you for your help in making it possible. We truly believe that OUR Military veterans deserve an opportunity for Second Chances!

UPDATE: Around the Country with Damascus Reentry

Working with local partners, we cover the country with our model for Reentry, Curriculum, Training, and Consulting, advocating for “better results" from incarceration and safer communities. Highlighting a few:

• Sacramento, CA.: Working with the GEO Group Faith Based Services-Kelly Clayton, Program Manager for the Sacramento Day Reporting Center, and Joanne Werneke, Coordinator for Damascus Reentry, Inc., in Sacramento, we are establishing Faith Based Programming for men and women who are on Home Confinement from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

• Wasco County, OR: Consulting and providing materials for Volunteers with the Wasco County Youth Services to provide programming for detained Youth.

• Beaumont, TX: Through our partnership with local coordinator Pitzer Family Foundation, providing training, materials, and consulting for the Faith-Based Dorm at the GEO Group Managed Beaumont Transitional Treatment Center. The GEO Group has recognized the Center as the Residential Reentry Facility of the Year due to the establishment of the Faith-Based Program initiative. Facility Director Brian Connealy will accept the award at the ceremony held at The GEO Group Headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida. 

• Chester County, PA: Through a cooperative effort with Bonnie O'Neil, Executive Director of Alpha Mid Atlantic, we are providing training, materials, and consulting for volunteers who will present the Alpha Course for women confined at the Chester County Detention Facility. As this is the first Alpha course at the Center, please be in prayer for the wonderful volunteers who will be leading it.

• Nashville, TN: Vision casting with Lisa Durr, Priest at C4SO Churches for the Sake of Others, and the Tennessee Department of Corrections to provide coordination of the Reentry Initiative at a correctional facility. Please be in prayer that God’s Will be done as we move forward with discussions, and thank you Lisa, for your partnership. You are simply AMAZING!

Meet Our Partners:

This quarter, I would like you to meet Rick Glover, founder of M.I.A. (Mentoring, Intimacy and Action) Ministries in Lancaster, Texas. He is a valued volunteer at the Damascus Reentry Initiative at the Sanders Estes State Prison near Dallas, TX. Under the coordination of our local coordinating partner, Ministries 101, he provides programming weekly. He started the ministry in 2006 after doing Kairos at Hutchison State Prison near Dallas. “I never knew anyone who had been in prison before, it was just a God thing.

I went in once and was hooked. God also led me to become a Licensed Assemblies of God Minister in 2010.” As a “Ministry Entrepreneur”, Rick holds weekly Zoom meetings, which he calls “Fathered by God”, for guys who have and have not been in prison. Men from across the USA, discuss topics from a Christian perspective. He commented that he is frequently asked what he does for fun and answers, “I go to prison!” Check out his website www.miaministries.com. He would love to hear from you! Thank you, Rick, for your partnership and being a true example of Christian Service.

(Pictured above/right: Rick & Mike from the Sanders Estes Unit, participants in Monday night Zoom meetings.)

Coming Soon:

Be on the lookout for our first-ever Annual Report! I can’t believe it has been over a year since we launched the Division of Institutions with Damascus Reentry, Inc. It’s hard to put into words just how much I appreciate the founders and long-time friends of Damascus, Todd and Christine Marallen, for giving our team this opportunity to continue our work under such a respected organization in the field of criminal justice. Of course, as usual, Vicky is waiting for me to provide additional information for the report, and I so appreciate her patience. She is the glue that holds all the parts together.  

There are several ways to give.

If your heart resonates with our work, please consider partnering financially with the Damascus Reentry Division of Institutions. 

Having been directly involved with prisons all these years, I can attest that we are making a difference and don’t take our donors’ trust in us lightly.

1.  Perhaps the easiest is to scan the QR code (above) with your cell phone; it will take you directly to the giving page on our website.

2.     Or you can go to the website from your computer by entering the URL: www.teamdamascus.com

Once there, select the GIVE > button on the top bar and indicate whether you are making a one-time or monthly gift. Select where your gift will be designated by clicking Division of Institutions in the drop-down box, then enter the amount you wish to donate and your giving information.

3.     Alternatively, you can send your support by check (made out to) OLAM Damascus Reentry, Inc., mailed to:

Jack Cowley

131 W Foley St #41

Eufaula, Oklahoma 74432. 

Any method you choose, thank you for supporting our work!

When I was in prison...

Will you Partner with us in Prayer?

Every week on Thursday we host a Zoom Prayer Call to pray for the needs of our programs and initiatives around the country.

If you are not receiving our weekly reminders and a link to our calls, please send a request, to be added, along with your email address, to:

victoria.walters@teamdamascus.com

We would love to have you join us!