evans ci inmates receive college degrees through new ... · inside this issue: evans ci inmates...

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Evans CI Inmates Receive Degrees 1

Prison Initiative Commencement 4

Stedman Graham Visits Lee CI 6

Christmas Packages for Prisoners 10

Leadership Talks 12

PUSD Teacher of the Year 16

NABCJ Conference 17

Lee CBU Has Fall Concert 20

CBU Leadership/TESA Training 22

Governor’s Mansion 24

SCDC at the State Fair 26

Can Do Awards 28

Five inmates incarcerated at the South Carolina

Department of Correction’s Evans Correctional

Institution graduated from Northeastern Technical

College on Monday, December 9, 2019. The men,

who received associate degrees in business

marketing, were part of South Carolina’s first in-

prison graduation made possible through the U.S.

Department of Education’s Second Chance Pell

Experimental Sites Initiative.

Evans CI Inmates Receive College Degrees through New Program

By Clark Newsom

The joint initiative between Northeastern

Technical College (NETC) and Evans CI

enables incarcerated adults to receive Pell

Grants and pursue postsecondary education

with the hope of helping them get jobs and support their families upon release. The overall goal

is to reduce recidivism and to combat the impact of mass incarceration on families and

communities through educational opportunity.

NETC is one of 65 schools across the country that have been approved to take part in this pilot

program. The school first started offering classes to inmates at Evans about three years ago.

“We are preparing these inmates to enter the workforce,” said NETC president Dr. Kyle Wagner.

“It’s an untapped opportunity for employers to take advantage of people that are very hard-

working. We don’t just teach them class work, we teach them a lot of life skills.”

October/November/December 2019 2

According to SCDC Director Bryan Stirling, this is a terrific opportunity for these inmates at Evans

CI. “They can now take that degree and go out to society and become successful and not return to

what got them here in the first place.”

The Vera Institute of Justice is one of the partners in the program. Allan Wachendorfer, a program associate in the Center for Sentencing and Corrections, was one of the speakers at the graduation ceremony. Wachendorfer, a former prison inmate himself who got a second chance through education, says that studies over the past four years show that inmates who can earn a degree while behind bars can reduce their chances of going back to prison by 48 percent.

Allan Wachendorfer, Vera Institute of Justice

“This gives people hope,” said Wachendorfer. “It gives people a way of thinking about things. That’s different than they have ever seen in their life. Maybe they didn’t come from a family that everybody went to college. So this really gives people a different way of thinking—hope for a different future.”

Evans Inmates Receive College Degrees Continued


There is already a second cohort of inmates working toward getting their degree. NETC says they are expanding the courses offered to inmates at Evans CI and that they are working with

Evans on a redesign of some buildings to accommodate welding classes.

(Our thanks to WIS-TV, WPDE-TV, and Kinard Lisbon of SCDC for providing some of the information and

photographs for this story)

Evans Inmates Receive College Degrees Continued


The S.C. Department of Corrections hosted commencement ceremonies for another class of student inmates in the Columbia International University Prison Initiative program on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019,

at 1:30p.m.at Kirkland Reception and Evaluation Center in Columbia. CIU President Dr. Mark Smith conferred Associate of Arts degrees on 12 graduates. Two former Associate of Arts degree recipients also received their bachelor’s degrees. Since its inception, 157 men and women have

graduated from the program serving in more than 20 institutions.

The Prison Initiative between CIU and SCDC is based on a similar program at Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola provided by New Orleans Theological Seminary. The local program started

in 2007 and includes two years of courses designed to prepare inmates for ministry within the prison system. The graduates are enrolled in courses in the Old and New Testament, History and English, among other subjects. It is hoped that, in their roles as counselors and chaplain’s assistants, the

graduates can help improve the culture of the prison population. The Prison Initiative is supported by churches, businesses and interested individuals. By law, incarcerated inmates are not eligible for state or federal aid, therefore their programs are entirely donor funded.

Prison Initiative Commencement Held at Kirkland R&E

By Clark Newsom


The commencement speaker was Dr. Thad James of Birmingham Theological Seminary in

Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. James heads up a prison initiative program patterned after the one

started by Columbia International University at Kirkland R&E. Two graduates of the CIU program

were transferred on loan to the Alabama Department of Corrections to help in establishing the

program at Birmingham Southern Theological Seminary. That program has already produced two

cohorts of graduates.

“Our CIU graduates help improve life outside our prisons every day,” SCDC Director Bryan

Stirling said. “About 85 per cent of our inmates serve fewer than five years in prison, and we are

fortunate to have inmates who recognize that education is part of their successful reentry back into

society. This program is a crucial part of our efforts to reduce recidivism and make our prisons

safer.”

Prison Initiative Commencement Continued


Sixty-eight year old Stedman Graham is a renowned educator, author, speaker and businessman who is most often recognized as the longtime partner of Oprah Winfrey. However, he is also widely

recognized and respected for his philosophy on leadership as well. He authored the book Identity Leadership which emphasizes the opinion “To lead others you must first lead yourself.”

Stedman Graham seen here speaking to staff at Lee Correctional Institution

Graham, who himself once worked as a correctional officer in a Chicago area medium security prison, has been a guest speaker several times at Lee CI. Graham is an acquaintance of crisis manager and motivational speaker Andre Norman who for some ten months has headed up the Academy of Hope

program at Lee. Norman, a former prison inmate himself, proposed the Academy of Hope to the Department of Corrections after hearing about the April 2018 incident at Lee where seven inmates were killed and 22 others injured during a riot.

Stedman Graham Talks Leadership at Lee

By Clark Newsom


The Academy of Hope brings together inmate gang and other leaders from SCDC’s institutions across the state to learn leadership. Norman says he and his staff seek to reduce violence and create

a safer environment inside while teaching inmates pro-social behavior that will help to make society safer in the long run.

Andre Norman inside the Academy of Hope at Lee CI

For Stedman Graham, the number one thing is communication. Prison is just a different setting. “If you get out and you don’t know who you are, you have no direction,” Graham points out. “You have your freedom, but that will keep you a slave for the rest of your life.”

(L-R) Stedman Graham; Nena Staley, Deputy Director, Programs, Reentry and Rehabilitative Services;

SCDC Director Bryan Stirling; Andre Norman; AOH Staff member Dominic Smith

Stedman Graham Continued



During one of his talks, Graham told inmates that sometimes being truly powerful means knowing

when not to use power, and finding themselves so other people don’t define them.

Norman says he appreciates what Graham has done for the Academy of Hope inmates and staff in his

time there. Norman, who ran a gang when he was young and spent several years in prison, says he

vowed while living in solitary confinement that he would turn his life around and try to help others

do the same. “There is not another program like this one in the country.”

The Academy of Hope is a unique program says Graham, and it definitely drew him to South Carolina. “Everybody has potential,” says Graham. “Being able to understand the process of success

and how it works is what I have been working on all of my life. This is about as close to freedom as I can possibly get. It is really the same for everybody, and it is really important that we try to help everyone reach it.”


Lessons like those taught by Stedman Graham are apparently getting through to participating inmates. “This program is sharpening my tools I will need when I get out,” said one. “It’s going to

let me live out my destiny—and I know it’s not here.”


Note: Stedman Graham is scheduled to conduct Identity Leadership training at The

SCDC Training Academy in Columbia on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2020. There will be two different sessions, 8:30am-10:00am and 10:30am-12:00pm. For more information contact

Sandra Sullivan, [email protected]


The S.C. Department of Corrections, in coordination with the Southern Baptist Convention, S.C. Women’s Missionary Union and churches across South Carolina again made sure that incarcerated

men and women received at least one gift for Christmas this year.

For more than 40 years, Christmas Packages for Prisoners has worked to provide gifts for all SCDC

inmates, some of whom have few, if any, visits during the year.

Congregations from churches across the state donate items for packages from a pre-approved list, including such things as writing tablets, pens, envelopes, toothbrushes and tooth paste, soap and

candy.

Christmas Packages for Prisoners

By Clark Newsom


On Monday, December 9, 2019, at St. Andrews Baptist Church in Columbia, a team of SCDC chaplains, inmates and volunteers unloaded trucks with donations received from the churches and then

filled gift bags with a Christmas card and a scripture booklet. Over 18,000 bags were filled. On the following day, the bags were transported to all 21 SCDC institutions located around the state and then distributed to inmates.

Christmas Packages for Prisoners Continued


The South Carolina Department of Corrections hosted its annual Leadership Talks training conference at the SCDC Training Academy Multipurpose Room on Thursday morning, December

12, 2019. The theme of this year’s discussion was Incident Command Leadership. The event was coordinated by Christa Williams with support from many staff from within the agency and outside of the Department of Corrections.

The purpose of Leadership Talks is to bring community leaders and others together to network and discuss relevant topics regarding leadership. Incident Leadership, the main topic of this year’s event,

is a necessary and critical component in the successful management and resolution of any emergency management scenario. Also known as the Incident Command System (ICS), it is recognized as only being effective as those implementing it, much of which relies on individual human factors and

leadership abilities.

Leadership Talks

By Clark Newsom


SCDC Director Bryan Stirling welcomed those in attendance and especially thanked the first responders for their ongoing efforts in often facing trying and dangerous circumstances to insure

public safety. He applauded everyone for upholding the high standards of the Incident Command System.

Among those speaking during the session was South Carolina State Attorney General Alan Wilson who also serves as a Colonel in the S.C. Army National Guard. South Carolina Emergency

Management Division Director Kim Stenson spoke in depth about how Incident Command Leadership is so important when coordinating events like the hurricanes and floods that the state has experienced over the last few years.

Leadership Talks Continued



Other special guest speakers were Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell and Colonel David Gayle of the SC Army National Guard.


Palmetto Unified School District Names Teacher of the Year

By Clark Newsom

Ms. Tamikah Battle, an Adult Education teacher at Manning CI High School, won the district’s Teacher of the Year Award for the 2019-2020 school year. In addition to an individualized plaque,

she was presented with a rocking chair made by offenders in the carpentry program. She will received $1,000 for being a district honoree, and her application was included in the competition for statewide Teacher of the Year.

According to Ms. Battle, her childhood in a single-parent home in the urban inner city of Newark, NJ,

helped her develop “a heart for at-risk students and underserved populations.” As an educator, Ms. Battle has high expectations of herself and her students. She believes that “teaching is work from the heart” and that her job requires her and other teachers to “communicate, engage, and inspire.” Her

commitment to excellence in teaching led to a 80-90% passing rate on the Algebra I end-of-course exam and the high school exit exam (the state average is 68%).

Tamika Battle and Manning Warden Lisa Engram

In her words, “Our graduates should leave us equipped with a trade, academic, technological, and soft skills prepared to gain employment or further their education. My vision includes developing students’ cognitive skills so that they can think critically and rationally to solve academic problems as

well as daily problems they face inside and outside the SCDC. Having these skills may knock down many barriers, bring families together, and reduce crime and the recidivism rate.” Ms. Battle currently serves as the GED Teacher at Manning High School.


Brookland Banquet and Conference Center in West Columbia, S.C. was the site of the 25th annual training conference held by the South Carolina chapter of the National Association of Blacks in

Criminal Justice (NABCJ) on Friday, December 6, 2019. The theme of this year’s conference was “Criminal Justice Reform: Pathways to Safer Communities.” Chapter president, Dr. Pamela Thomas (SC Department of Corrections, Retired), presided over the event.

The Annual NABCJ Training Conference By Clark Newsom


The NABCJ, established in 1974, is a multi-ethnic, non-partisan, nonprofit association of criminal justice professionals and community leaders dedicated to improving the administration of justice.

Membership and participation in the Association’s activities are open to all, irrespective of race, creed, or country of national origin. NABCJ seeks to focus attention on relevant legislation, law enforcement, prosecution, and defense related needs and practices, with emphasis on courts,

corrections, and the prevention of crime. Among its chief concerns is the general welfare and increased influence of African Americans and people of color as it relates to the administration of justice. The South Carolina chapter of the organization was chartered in 1992.

Annual NABCJ Training Conference Continued


Work sessions featured various speakers focused on subjects like “The Power of One’s Voice” in all societal issues, Re-Entry initiatives, participation in the 2020 US Census, and the role of community

health centers in addressing the Opioid epidemic. Bishop Eric Davis of the Word of God Church and Ministries in Columbia, S.C. was the Awards Luncheon speaker.

The conference concluded Friday evening with the SC-NABCJ Gala at the Segra Park Ballroom in Columbia, S.C. which featured jazz artist Hank Bilal.

Annual NABCJ Training Conference Continued


Fifteen inmates from Lee Correctional Institution’s Character Based Unit, the Better Living Incentive Community or BLIC, held their fall concert on Thursday, December 5, 2019 in collaboration with the

University of South Carolina’s School of Music. The event was facilitated by Lee CI program coordinator Rosa Hilton, USC instructors Rebecca Nagel and Danny Jenkins, and the CBU music program participants. The event was held in the institution’s chapel.

Lee CBU Has Fall Concert with USC School of Music By Clark Newsom


The Lee BLIC music collaboration with USC has been in existence the last several years in cooperation with the university’s video distance learning program. Members of the USC School of

Music who play woodwind and brass instruments performed classical and original compositions during the first half of the program. Inmates from Lee’s BLIC performed songs that ranged from country, rock and popular old standards, original music, to Christmas music during the second half.

Following the concert the USC professors in attendance conducted a one-hour writing workshop for

the advanced and beginner music students who are housed in the CBU.

Lee CBU Has Fall Concert Continued


The Lieber CI Chapel was the scene of graduation ceremonies on Oct. 23, 2019 for inmates participating in the Character Based Unit (CBU) and TESA Facilitator training program. Forty-nine

inmates representing SCDC’s five maximum security male institutions (Broad River, Lee, Lieber, McCormick and Perry) were student residents at Lieber CI for six weeks.

During that time, SCDC Program Coordinator II John Pate and a team of inmates from Allendale CI’s CBU, gave intensive leadership and character training to these carefully selected inmates from each of

the five maximum security institutions. The inmates pursued a curriculum that was designed and executed to prepare them for the unique challenges and opportunities encountered by CBU leaders. These inmates will assume substantial responsibility for the quality, effectiveness, organization, morale and integrity of the Character-Based communities.

The TESA (Teacher Expectation: Student Appreciation) and Leadership Training was developed by

Allendale CI volunteer Dr. Thomas M. Conner along with Pate, the former long-time warden at ACI.

This training denotes the next stage of Character-Based evolution.

The Character program began some eight years ago at Allendale, now recognized as a fully Character-

Based institution, as a group of inmates sought the support of open-minded prison administrators to try something different. The result of their collaboration is the Character-Based Program, an initiative comprising living units inhabited solely by prisoners who have dedicated their lives to overcoming the

flaws that led them to prison.

CBU Leadership and TESA Facilitator Training Graduation at Lieber By Clark Newsom


Participants in a Character-Based Program sign a social contract voluntarily agreeing to give up many of the selfish and destructive behaviors that hurt themselves and those around them.

Participants then hold each other accountable to this commitment, encouraging one another to confront and conquer the habits and vulnerabilities that first brought them to prison. CBU residents take advantage of various educational courses and training opportunities that help them earn

employment and better exist in society when they are released. Those inmates who remain in prison are also able to greatly improve their overall quality of life by participation in the program.

Over the last several years, the Character program has been established at many of SCDC’s 21

institutions across the state. Pate says that the TESA and CBU program is an effort to bring some

uniformity to each of those programs. “Uniformity, in this sense, means that procedures and

protocols should be sufficiently standardized,” said Pate. “That way a Character Program at one

institution can easily interact with the Character-Based experiences of a resident at another

institution allowing for a reasonable understanding of what those experiences mean.” This is the

second class to graduate with the TESA and Leadership training.

Over the last several years, the Character program has been established at many of SCDC’s 21

institutions across the state. Pate says that the TESA and CBU program is an effort to bring some

uniformity to each of those programs. “Uniformity, in this sense, means that procedures and

protocols should be sufficiently standardized,” said Pate. “That way a Character Program at one

institution can easily interact with the Character-Based experiences of a resident at another

institution allowing for a reasonable understanding of what those experiences mean.” This is the

second class to graduate with the TESA and Leadership training.

The special guest speaker at the graduation ceremony was District 98 state representative Jerry Govan. He was introduced by Al Jenkins, the regional director for U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s office. Both expressed their support for the CBU program and commended SCDC Director Bryan Stirling

and Deputy Director of Programs, Reentry and Rehabilitative Services, Nena Staley, for spearheading it.

CBU Leadership and TESA Facilitator Training Continued


For the last several years, inmates working with SCDC’s Horticultural program have helped assemble

wreaths that are used as Christmas decorations at the Governor’s Mansion in Columbia.

During the week of December 2, 2019, the inmates, housed at Goodman CI, worked alongside

Horticultural Services Branch Chief Mary Pauzauskie-Blackmon and some of her staff to assemble 22 wreaths designed especially to adorn the governor’s residence.

SCDC Inmates Help Decorate the Governor’s Mansion

By Clark Newsom


Just as their predecessors have done for years during the holiday season, Governor and Mrs. McMaster opened the doors of the Mansion to the citizens of South Carolina for viewing on the evening of Dec. 9, 2019. SCDC is proud to be a part of this longtime tradition.

Governor’s Mansion Continued


For the last several years, the South Carolina Department of Corrections has had a good presence at

the South Carolina State Fair. Per usual, the SCDC Recruiting Division has hosted a booth in the Ruff

Building on the fairgrounds where they greet the public, answer questions about the agency and have

an opportunity to possibly recruit new officers and staff for non-uniform positions.

Here are some pictures from the day-shift on Friday afternoon, October 18, 2019:

SCDC at the 2019 State Fair By Clark Newsom


SCDC at the State Fair Continued


Punctuality Responsibility Self-Control Thoroughness Tolerance Wisdom

Att

enti

ven

ess

Dep

end

ab

ilit

y E

nth

usia

sm

Flexibility H

on

or Initiati

ve O

rder

lines

s Patience

CAN DO AWARDS

By: Clark Newsom 803-896-8578

The Can Do Club Program and the Character First Program were combined in an effort to recognize employees, not only for their positive attitudes and quality of work, but also for exhibiting good character. Check with your Can Do Club Coordinator for help with giving an award. Headquarters employees can check with Christel Wilson in DDA Office.

The Can Do Club Award is still given to individuals or groups. Supervisors are encouraged to give this award to their employees, and vice versa, anytime an individual is caught doing something right or exhibiting good character.

Two Can Do Spirit Awards per year can be given by an employee who has been with the Agency for at least six months. Spirit Awards are not meant to be given to immediate supervisors or to employees you directly supervise. Remember, only one person can sign a Spirit Award. This award is to be given to one employee who has gone above and beyond the call of duty to make YOUR job easier.

So let’s show our appreciation to our co-workers by giving them a Can Do Club or Spirit Award. Also, please remember to email your monthly submissions using the Can Do template of all awards

to Clark Newsom at [email protected] by the fifth of the next month so they can be publicized.

Awards given for the month of October 2019, listed below:

SPIRIT AWARDS Jessica Lecompte (Asst. Deputy Director Andrea Thompson)

CAN DO CLUB AWARDS Broad River Correctional Institution Capt. Christine Livingston, Sgt. Stephanie R. Bowman, Ofc. Micquel Cleveland, Ofc. James E. Henderson II, and Ofc. Dalton C. Sease (Assoc. Warden Lashawn Peeples) Perry Correctional Institution Sgt. Jacob Churray, Cpl. Renea Burnside, Ofc. Alanis Williams, Ofc. Joseph Zappola, Ofc. Chanze Harris, and Ofc. Neda Muhammad (Lt. Hunter Elliott); Cpl. David Chandler, and Ofc. Joshua Lollis (RN Katherine Burgess); Ofc. Joseph Zappola, Ofc. Dominic Rowe, and Ofc. Francisco Pravia (Lt. Kenneth Myers); Sgt. Jacob Churray, Ofc. Chanze Harris, and Ofc. Shockquell Rhodes (Lt. Brian Mitchell); Capt. Thomas Lasley (LPN Renee Heinrich); Sgt. John Fabanwo, and Mr. Allen Williams (Mr. Kenneth Scales); Lt. Brian K. Mitchell, Sgt. Tina Byrd, Sgt. Micah O'Daniel, Ofc. Corrina DeSautels, Ofc. Alanis Williams, Ofc. Chanze Harris, and Ofc. Charles Wadick (Lt. Jeff Bilyeu)

mailto:[email protected]


CAN DO AWARDS CONTINUED A

ttentiv

eness D

epen

dab

ility En

th

usia

sm

Flexibility H

on

or In

itiati

ve O

rderliness Patie

nce

Punctuality Responsibility Self-Control Thoroughness Tolerance Wisdom

Trenton Correctional Institution Maj. Yolanda Turner and, Lt. Charles Tennison (Assoc. Warden Joseph Canning); Cpl. William Wright, and Ofc. Samantha Martini (Sgt. Shaday Lewis)

Awards given for the month of November, 2019, listed below:

SPIRIT AWARDS No Spirit Awards were given in the month of November.

CAN DO CLUB AWARDS

Evans Correctional Institution Lt. Courtney T. Bruce, Cadet Alexis M. O’Conner (Warden Donnie E. Stonebreaker) MacDougall Correctional Institution Maj. Rodney Chang, Cpl. Fortune Bannister, Officer Thomas Murray, Lt. Gregory Neiderhiser (Warden Edsel T. Taylor)

Awards given for the month of December, 2019, listed below:

SPIRIT AWARDS No Spirit Awards were given in the month of December.

CAN DO CLUB AWARDS

Trenton Correctional Institution Sgt. Clayton Chisholm, Sgt. Daniel Base, Ofc. Justin Budd (Lt. Dion Gaines); Ofc. Devon Robinson (Lt. Marcus Brown); Acad. of Hope, Andre Barnes (Warden Evonne Willingham) McCormick Correctional Institution A/W Yolanda Turner (Warden Evonne Willingham, Trenton CI) Perry Correctional Institution Officer Liberto Rivera-Lopez (Capt. Daniel Harouff); Sgt. Kameron Laue, Ofc. Andrew Hester, Ofc. Wesley Ellisor, Ofc. Kristina Providence (Lt. Kevin Borem) Corrections Connections is a quarterly online publication jointly produced by the Communications team at the South Carolina Department of Corrections. Story ideas and photographs are welcome along with comments and recommendations. Please address them to [email protected]. This edition and all archived copies of the newsletter are available on the agency intranet at “Agency News.”

Chrysti Shain, SCDC Communications Director

Clark Newsom, SCDC Internal Communications Director and Editor of Corrections Connections

Kinard Lisbon, SCDC Graphic Artist

Gregory Harrington, Production Assistant

evans ci inmates receive college degrees through new ... · inside this issue: evans ci inmates...

Documents