HomeHalfwaySPRING 2016The Newsletter of Renascence, Incorporated

The mission of Renascence is to help non-violent, male ex-offenders make a successful transition from prison into the community.

TURNING IT AROUND

“Giving back” or “paying it forward” is a common denominator with many of our men after they leave the Renascence program, a sure sign that what we’re doing works.

Structure and financial management were the two most valuable components of the Renascence program for two graduates, former residents Daniel Longmire and Brian Pleasant. “This still sits with me now,” says Mr. Longmire, who budgets his money and saves on a regular basis. Both men spent at least six months completing the Renascence program.

Currently, our weekend House Manager, Mr. Longmire, 37, is a stacker at Koch Foods during the week, a job he secured while at Renascence. He spent 22 months in prison for “distribution,” and says he has now become a homebody with a normal lifestyle, a different way of living.” Although he is from Greenville, he decided to stay in Montgomery to start over with his wife Elaine (whom he met while he was with us) and his stepdaughter.

In 2011, after 6-months at Renascence, Dr. Pleasant, 40, founded a church which he now pastors, The I Crave Fellowship. Homeless for 30 days when he left Renascence, “I was trying to rebuild my life,” and the accountability and structure he learned at Renascence kept him from slipping.

A multi-faceted young man, he has earned several degrees that include a B.A. in Music, an MBA, a Master of Divinity, and a PhD in Philosophy. He “gives back” by hiring Renascence men frequently to help members of his congregation with moving and odd jobs and he also brings a fully cooked meal to

the men once a month. He has written a book, Save the Date, and plans to give a percentage of the proceeds from sales to Renascence.

A story about “giving back” and Renascence would be incomplete without mentioning House Superintendent, Dereck Wise. A former parolee himself, one who has been drug-free now for 18 years and has received a

full federal pardon, Mr. Wise is the glue that holds the house together and makes good results possible.

He joined our ranks as a volunteer during renovation of the house, after he ran into our first director, Jim Walden, whom he had known in prison. He was Jim’s intern for the Crime Bill Class when Jim worked at the Bibb County Corrections Facility before coming to Renascence. (Sadly, Jim died of cancer 9 months after we opened our doors for residents.)

Hired as a House Manager when we opened in September 2006, Mr. Wise puts heart and soul into the men and the house. “I love what I do. It keeps me on track,” he says frequently. An ex-marine, he is tough but fair, and as a former addict himself, he knows what these men need to succeed.

When not at Renascence, Mr. Wise works at the Montgomery Country Club as a busser and spends time with his white German Shepherd, Sunday, at the house he bought several years ago.

Dr. Brian Pleasant

Dereck Wise

Daniel Longmire

2 Renascence, Inc. Halfway-Home Spring 2016

Halfway Home is published by Renascence, Inc., 215 Clayton St., Montgomery, AL 36104 (334-832-1402).https://halfway-home.netrenascenceinc@outlook.com

All information and photography in this issue is copyrighted by and the property of Renascence, Incorporated.

Board of Directors

Mary Lil OwensPresident

Joe CrowleyVice President

James (Mac) HallSecretary

Dr. Jan HeierTreasurer

Brian Belsterling Nancy BradfordArtegus Felder

Avril HarrisCyrus Johnston

Thomas McPhersonDr. William Mitchell

Laura MurdockNelson “Smitty” Smith

Members at Large

Renascence, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization.

Halfway Home A Message from the Executive DirectorTeam Renascence

SO are you tired of the political scene yet? All the fighting and name calling? Mudslinging and out and out lies! I know I am! It seems our political process has been degraded to a level I am sure our founding Fathers would be ashamed of if they were alive today!

Well, I have some good news for everyone who feels frustrated with our political process. No matter what party you belong to, no matter who you favor or who you despise, this is a way you can all feel good! A way we can all win!! No, I haven’t found a new independent super candidate who will rush in and save

the day. No, I haven’t discovered a humility pill that will make our presidential candidates act like …….well presidential.

Nope! If you want to feel good and you want to be on the winning side, join Team Renascence! Our men struggle daily just trying to make it on the right path. They need most of the basics you and I take for granted.

The goal of Renascence is to provide a safe environment where our men can work on daily struggles and get the support they need to succeed. There are no free rides here and everyone has to earn his own way; but, just having a safe place to call home while trying to put the pieces of a broken life back together can mean all the difference to the outcome.

So, how do you help? How do you join the winning team for 2016? Glad you asked. First, put down the remote and stop watching the political race for a while. It will surely be there when you return and I promise you won’t miss a thing!

Now, take a look at what you have and how you might be able to benefit our men. Can you spare a few dollars? That would be great!! Since we are privately funded and receive no state or federal dollars, money is always an issue. How about any extra clothing? Most of our men come with the shirts on their backs and nothing else. Clean clothes go a long way to making someone feel and look better. How about household items? Any working microwaves, clock radios, TV’s, old washers or dryers that still work that you are upgrading to a new model? How about slightly loved furniture? We are always in need of chairs, dressers, beds, lamps, couches etc. As you upgrade yours, think about donating your good used stuff to us.

A church in town builds hygiene packs for our guys. They take gallon zip lock bags and fill each one with soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, shave cream etc. We give each man a hygiene pack upon arrival! Truly appreciated by both the men and Renascence!

So you see, being on the winning side is easy! By donating money, food, clothing or other needed items we can all win in the race of Reentry! Regardless of your political persuasion, being on Team Renascence makes us all winners!!

(No politicians were hurt in the making of this Ad! My name is Al Smith and I approve of this message!)

Director Al Smith

Douglass PorterEmeritus

Officers

3Renascence, Inc. Halfway-Home Spring 2016

Thank You Donors and VolunteersThanks to all who have so generously given

Donations, Volunteer Hours, and In-Kind Items to RENASCENCE.The following list reflects gifts and services for October 10, 2015 through March 31, 2016

INDIVIDUALSJoe & Kathy AlbreeAnonymousJoe & Jim ArbanMaria Luisa ArdonStacia BaileyRonnie & Nan BarganierDavid BarrancoPatricia BarsomBetty BealeJacqueline BeazleyBen & Helen BenfordSanders & Linda BenkwithPaul & Cynthia BisbeeIlouise BradfordBob & Nancy BradfordLawson BryanTom Cagle & Gail WallerAnn CarltonAlleen CaterTom & Kitty ColemanWynne CrawfordPaul & Patricia CrowleyThomas CrowleyLaura & Gertrude CrumRebecca CumbieJudith DeBrayMorris DeesDorothy DiOrioJack & Jamie DurhamWilliam J. ElberfeldJohn D. FairShirley FifieldRichard & Anne FortmannLyn FrazerElizabeth FrenchRick & Cathy GassenheimerRaye GregoryAlan GribbenMac HallOzie HaroldEmmi HarrellCharlie & Susan HarrisCathy HegjiJan & Carol HeierMark HerronJoyce HobbsTruman & Debbie HobbsTimothy HoraJim & Gina IzerGeorge JacobsenJ. D. & Barbara JohnsonCyrus & Faith JohnstonShirley JordanMarc KaramKeith & Mary Karst

Helen KellyPete KnightPhil Kraus & Jacqueline StephensRay KynardAnn P. LinderBill Little & Mary Lil OwensElizabeth LittleJoan LoebStephen & Bonnie MaddoxKitty MarksTim & Carmela MartellWilliam & Molly MartinFrank & Judith MayVirgil McCainTalmadge McCorklePat & Casie McGinnThomas MeneguinKay MillerGeorge & Sarah Mingledorff, Jr.Bill & Joan MitchellTom & Darby MitchellRosetta MoncriefSamuel MunnerlynCharles & Kitty NicrosiGwen NorthcuttPamela PaineA. D. Perkins, IIIO. M. & Cary PhillipsBrian PleasantMary PonsCheairs M. PorterJohn M. PorterMac & Douglass PorterNoelle PotterMichael & Enid ProbstAlice ProsserNancy PughBeverly RankinBruce & Emilie ReidEdward ReifenbergKatie RichburgBetty RollinsRaymond RotonJaney Whitten SabelPatsy SaintBuddy & Tee SamfordMrs. Samuel SchlossDale W. ScottRobert D. SegallYancey E. Shaver, Jr.Joe SimsKreg & Angela SherbineDorothy ShippenAlan SmithNelson (Smitty) SmithGordon Stenger & Brooke Goudy

Young StevensonBobby & Linda SwaynePaul & Joyce SweatAnne TippettJoan TreadawayMarybelle TrimbleMaureen TrussellTommy & Martha TysonDavid WalkerValerie WilkersonJanet WallerLewis & Tess WareBarbara WiedemannBrett & Lesley WilkinsonBilly & Pat WilliamsonSusan WillisRobert WisnewskiJay WolfBarbara Zdanis

IN MEMORY OFFrank Ardon Maria Luisa ArdonNancy Elberfeld A. William J. ElberfeldElizabeth (Tootsie) Emmet Tom & Kitty Coleman Mrs. Samuel SchlossDan & Ruth Hyde Joe & Cathy AlbreeBill Mitchell Lawson BryanRob Trussell Maureen TrussellHelen Wright Joe & Cathy Albree

IN HONOR OFNancy Bradford Betty Beale Janet WallerJoe Crowley John D. Fair Susan WillisJoe & Tricia Crowley Richard & Anne Fortmann Tim & Carmela MartellBill Little & Mary Lil Owens Elizabeth LittleMark Montoya Jack & Jamie DurhamDouglass Porter Jacqueline Beazley Paul & Cynthia Bisbee Dorothy Cameron

Renascence, Inc. Halfway-Home Spring 2016

CHURCHES, FOUNDATIONS, ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES

A New Beginning MinistryAlabama Power Foundation, Inc.Aldersgate United Methodist ChurchBank of America Charitable Gift FundBeulah Baptist ChurchCentral Alabama Community Foundation - Community Trust Grant - Richard EstateChicago Community Foundation – Pat &

Patty Crowley FundChurch of the AscensionChurchwomen of Episcopal Church of the

Holy ComforterChurchwomen United, Montgomery

ChapterDorcas Society (St. Bede’s Catholic

Church)First United Methodist ChurchHaigler Auto ServiceHalcyon Downs Neighborhood Assn.Herron PropertiesThe Hobbs FoundationHoly Spirit Catholic ChurchThe J. K. Lowder Family FoundationThe Journeys CounselingKnights of ColumbusMontgomery Sunrise Rotary ClubRiver Region Alternative Gift FairRiver Region United WaySt. John’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth

Walk

“Giving back” isn’t necessarily on hold until a resident leaves. The first weekend he was with us, Mr. Price did major repair on the upstairs bathroom, all for the cost of supplies, saving us almost $15,000, which was the lowest estimate we had received for the job!

As of March 31, 2016, Renascence has served 227 men

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SAVE THE DATE

When: Saturday, August 13, 2016.

What: Montgomery’s newest fundraiser: A Ping-Pong Tournament to Benefit Renascence Reentry Program: Battle of the Paddles

Where: Crump Center, 1750 Cong. Dickinson Blvd, Montgomery 36109

Why Ping-Pong? We encourage the men in our program to "step up to the table and play by the rules" so that they can renter the community as responsible citizens. We invite you to step up to the table and play Ping-Pong because it is the number one activity for brain health, activating all parts of the brain simultaneously. It promotes strategic thinking, eye-hand coordination, and mental alertness, and may well ward off cognitive decline and dementia. Plus, it's great aerobic exercise and lots of fun!

At the tournament on Saturday, August 13, there will be prizes for all ages and skill levels. At a preview party on Friday evening, August 12, sponsors and ticketed guests can enjoy cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, watch top-notch players show off their fancy moves, and bid on fun auction items. This is a weekend event you won't want to miss!

We need sponsors, volunteers, and players! Call the Renascence office at (334) 832-1402 to help us make this event a success!

5Renascence, Inc. Halfway-Home Spring 2016

We welcome four new members to the Renascence Board of Directors: Brian Belsterling, Artegus Felder, Avril Harris, and Nelson (Smitty) Smith, as we say goodbye and thanks to Jan Heier, who has served as our Treasurer for 6 years.

Pictured left to right are: Brian Belsterling, Avril Harris, and Nelson (Smitty) Smith.

Artegus Felder

The name Renascence means “rebirth,” and was inspired largely by the fresh start men will begin in this residential program and partly by the poem “Renascence” by Edna St. Vincent Millay (1862-1950). It comes directly from the same Latin word as the more familiar form Renaissance, which came into English from French. Renascence is pronounced “reh NAY sons,” with the stress on the second syllable.

The name “Renascence”

BOARD CHANGES

Two residents, Kaleb Cheeks and John Hardin, play Ping-Pong behind the house.

SAVE THE DATE

August 13, 2016

“Battle of the Paddles”

A Ping-Pong tournamentto benefit

Renascence Reentry Program

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

MONTGOMERY, ALPERMIT #66

PAID

Halfway HomeRenascence, Inc.215 Clayton St.Montgomery, AL 36104

Renascence is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization.

“FUEL A LIFE”“Renascence has given me the opportunity to succeed in all I

do that I have been needing to do for a long time. I thank God for Renascence.” - Resident Kaleb Cheeks.

How much have you saved at the gas pump from a year ago? $30 a week? $60 a week? Could you spare 3 weeks of your savings to help someone like Kaleb?

(1) Donate your gas pump savings for 3 weeks, (2) Ask 3 friends to do the same, and (3) Ask those 3 friends to ask 3 more friends.

You still come out ahead because the donation is fully deductible. A little bit can go a long way. Help us “fuel a life.” Go to https://halfway-home.net to make a donation and note on the “other” line that this is for Fuel-a-Life or send a check to: Renascence, Inc., 215 Clayton Street, Montgomery, AL 36104.