Ex-offenders in state re-entry program to pitch in at Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E.
Lewis McMullen, left, and Bradley Potter look forward to participating in the Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. community cleanup.
Janet Miller | For AnnArbor.com
But they feel they owe more.
Potter, McMullen and about eight other ex-offenders will participate in Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. today, picking up trash and sprucing up the area around Michigan Avenue and Ecorse Road. MPRI, a statewide program that delivers services, programs, support and supervision for prisoner re-entry, organized the crew’s participation in this year’s P.R.I.D.E. It is the first year MPRI has participated.
The 17th annual Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. brings together between 500 and 1,200 volunteers who pick up, clean up and spruce up close to 50 sites, from downtown Ypsilanti to city and township parks to churches and non-profits such as Hope Clinic. Volunteers paint, plant flowers and give the community a good scrubbing.
For the past couple of years, MPRI has connected participants with community service. Mary King, MPRI community coordinator, said it's a way for ex-offenders to begin to make amends. “As a result of their time in prison, many (offenders) have the opportunity to think about their lives and how they want to live their lives differently. Volunteer work provides them with a meaningful expression of making these amends,” she said.
It can also be a source of pride. A Habitat for Humanity crew from MPRI completed the work assigned for an eight-hour shift in four hours. The Habitat staff, she said, was impressed. “Some of our participants feel they have something to prove,” King said.
Since he was released in January after serving nine months for driving under the influence, Potter has volunteered at the detox center at Dawn Farms and helped build Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley houses. It’s important, he said, to do positive things. “It draws me closer to having a relationship with the community and the people in the community,” he said. “I’m in recovery and it also keeps me connected to the recovery community.”
He added that it's good to be on the other side of the law. “I caused a lot of chaos and destruction. This is a way to begin to make it right,” Potter said.
It’s also a way to move beyond the stigma of being an ex-offender, and to prove his worth. The stigma is especially difficult when job-hunting. “When you put down on a job application that you’re a felon, it goes to the bottom of the pile,” Potter said.
McMullen said that as an ex-offender convicted of criminal sexual conduct, the stigma is even worse. Released 14 months ago after close to nine years in prison, he knows he has a long way to go to prove himself. “It’s not going to be immediate,” he said.
McMullen enrolled at Washtenaw Community College, where he made the dean’s list, and he hopes someday someone will take a chance on him. “For me, volunteering helps show people that we’re not all monsters,” McMullen said. “Some of us learn.”
For now, McMullen said he’s happy to be able to volunteer. “It makes you value your freedom more, that I have the freedom to volunteer,” he said.
He’s worked on five Habitat houses and regularly volunteers at Living Stone, an Ann Arbor area CSA (community-supported agriculture) organic farm for those returning from incarceration. While he graduated from MPRI in April, he continues to volunteer.
Volunteering has the added bonus of filling in a job resume, King said. “Our participants have gaps because of incarceration,'' she said. "Volunteering allows them to fill some of those gaps.” It worked for Potter. Before he went to prison, he was a house painter. Dawn Farms needed some painting, so Potter pitched in. A contractor on the job noticed his skill and hired him.
Comments
Andrew Jason Clock
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 1:30 p.m.
I just think its crazy that there is coverage of this story, but not of the event these people are participating in. Can you say "can't see the forest for the trees?" But you are correct. The subject of the story is a good one. I disagree that an instance of forgiveness is more important than examples the community coming together to do good works. I can't help but see shining examples of the shoddy coverage of Ypsilanti this weekends selection of stories.
Cash
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 3:06 p.m.
Andrew, I agree with your last sentence. But maybe because I'm old and see the end of my life as a reality, my priorities turn to how I have treated my fellow man more than anything else. Have I forgiven my enemies? Have I been good to the "least" of my brethren? For me, nothing uplifts the human spirit like forgiveness.
Cash
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
Andrew, I am saying that caring about people and giving them a chance again is more important to me than cleaning stuff up. That's all. We should be proud that we can work together at ANYthing and not be running around judging each other, whatever work we are doing. In the end (which yesterday WASN'T LOL), what counts is how we treat each other. I'm not defending AA.com or saying they shouldn't do an article on Pride Day....I am defending THIS article for pointing to the forgiving goodness of our people.
Andrew Jason Clock
Sun, May 22, 2011 : 12:09 a.m.
Cash, how is 17 years and 700 volunteers this year a flash? I'm pretty sure Ypsi PRIDE is the perfect example of what is great about Ypsi. This story represents a tiny, tiny part of that story. A story that (surprise!) aa.com didn't cover. I'm surprised they didn't work a rapture joke into this headline, too.
Cash
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 10:03 p.m.
Andrew, This story demonstrates that Ypsi has a big forgiving heart and does not "look down" or judge people. I'm really proud of that. Events come and go and although this is a nice one, it's not the kind of splash that I think best speaks to the good people of our town. Frankly I think this story trumps any story on this site today. To paraphrase..... Whatsoever you do for the least of your brethren, you do for me......I was in prison and you came to visit me..... The article speaks at the highest level about the goodness of the people of Ypsilanti. We forgive and we accept all who come in peace. This story makes me really proud!
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
The 17th annual Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. Day Saturday, May 21st, 2011 9am until noon An expected 500 to 1200 volunteers from our community will be out picking up litter, painting, sweeping, cleaning, planting flowers, cleaning up the river, and giving our community an overall facelift. Check out our interactive site for the cleanup location nearest you! Once the work is done, volunteers are treated to a 'post-event celebration' in Prospect Park from noon - 2pm that includes lunch, entertainment and presentation of awards. Ypsilanti PRIDE is truly a community-wide event and we can all be proud of our involvement. The benefits are numerous and the activities of the day help all our businesses grow by creating an environment that is friendly and inviting. Want to volunteer? All they need is some basic information plus About how old are you? Do you have any special skills that might be helpful? (photography, landscaping, boat-owner, computers, etc...)
Andrew Jason Clock
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 8:10 p.m.
So, we got a story about former convicts working for PRIDE, but no coverage of PRIDE itself? Was there maybe a press release from MPRI? A great story to be sure, but the usual "top notch" coverage of Ypsilanti.
Janet Miller
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 6:10 p.m.
The MPRI crew will be working at their assigned site. They will not be mingling with children. In fact, the crew will not participate in a post-Ypsilanti P.R.I.D.E. picnic for volunteers because of rules that prohibit crew members with a CSC conviction from being in a park. They will have a picnic of their own, inviting graduates of the program, at an approved location.
Elizabeth
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 10:21 p.m.
Thank you for the update and this wonderful article. It's great to see these individuals giving back to the community, just like several hundred others of us this morning! I'm also glad to hear they were able to have their own picnic!
Cash
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 9:48 p.m.
Janet thanks for the update. Very nice of you.
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 6:18 p.m.
Thanks for the update now that the event is over!
Cash
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 3:13 p.m.
Great story, great idea. Some people see things as they are and ask ...why? Some dream dreams that never were and say ....why not?
Olive
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:42 p.m.
@Clara - I'm curious. How do you know about the conditions you listed? They aren't mentioned in the article. Or is it supposition on your part?
Cash
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 10:26 p.m.
clara, It has been made clear to you that he did NOT work with children. Give it up. I know exactly what Ypsi Pride is. Judge not.
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 10:01 p.m.
Elizabeth, sorry I missed you while I was working with a group for boys at Ypsi PRIDE. No they do not grasp their limits, that is why society, including the Courts, the Department of Corrections and the legislature who says we citizens need to know where these dngerous offenders are and what their limitations are to be. Sex offenders have a high recidivism rate. This one in particular is still serving his sentence!
Elizabeth
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 8:58 p.m.
@Clara, While I'm sure they appreciate you looking out for them and their parole conditions, I think they probably have a better grasp on them than you do. For clarification on Ypsilanti PRIDE, the event has volunteers from all over Ypsilanti at different locations... maybe you should have been at a site this morning like these folks! They weren't volunteering with children... youth groups often volunteer at one site together, looks like these individuals did the same.
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 5:50 p.m.
Ypsi pride day has cub and boy scouts involved as well as local grade schools. Sorry you do not know what Ypsi PRIDE day is
Cash
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
And so from that you assume he is with children? No one but you has said that.
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 3:22 p.m.
It is straight for his order of parole , on line at OTIS Criminal Sexual Conduct, 3rd Deg (Multiple Variables), 2 yr parole to 03/25/2012 , also"Not provide care or live in home w/child 17 or under" and "No romantic relationship with person associated w/child" and "1,000' from schools and child care centers without approval" and "Not possess/use photo equipment/photo development equip". He is a registered sex offender so even off of parole he will still have to notify police of where he lives. His Michigan department of corrections number is 371574 and this was a Wayne County case but he paroled to us!
clara
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 2:02 p.m.
Why is a convicted sex offender with a condition of "No contact with any child" and "500' from parks/public pool/playground/arcades" participating with children in Ypsi Pride?
Mike Langenright
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
I worked the event and I can assure you that there were no children working with anyone who had parole conditions stating that they couldn't be around children.
Thomas
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 12:33 p.m.
I don't know what site he was assigned to, but it's possible that there were no children at his site. And sex offender does not necessarily mean pedophile.
Forever27
Sat, May 21, 2011 : 11:55 a.m.
This is really cool.