Summer 2008 Newsletter
Let’s Start will be sponsoring a bus trip to the Vandalia Women’s Prison on Sunday, June 15 and on Sunday, Aug. 10. Approximately 30 children (and their caregivers) will be given an opportunity to visit with their moms. Research proves that on-going contact with mom and child is one of the best indicators that the incarcerated woman will be successful in her re-entry. The need for these bus trips increase as the number of children affected by parental incarceration increases. It is interesting to note that there are over 2 million prisoners in the United States with many more on Probation or Parole. This leads to approximately 7 million children with parents on some kind of correctional supervision. In Missouri, the Department of Corrections estimates that there are approximately 35,000 children with a parent in prison. We estimate that in the St. Louis region, at least 10,000 children are affected by parental incarceration.
Over the years, Let’s Start has evolved in ways that meet the current needs of its participants. To address these requests, Let’s Start has begun two small focus groups. One group is the “Parenting Group” – a gathering of mothers or grandmothers who want to learn more about parent/child relationships. The second group is a “Financial Literacy Group” – a gathering of participants who want to learn more about responsible financial management and/or who want to start a small business to supplement their income. Four of these participants will be getting a loan at the end of the summer to begin their business.
Although we are fortunately to have many generous people helping Let’s Start in a variety of ways, we are always in need of a few single item. The following is our on going wish list:
- All those who have contributed to our Mothers Day mailing asking 100 people to donate $100 in 100 days. Currently, we are about half way to our goal.
- All who have donated clothes, furniture and other items for the Let’s Start women and children.
- All who are on the Let’s Start Board of Directors, those who have volunteered to be on the steering committee for the Nov. 7 fall fundraising event: Let’s Start the Music – An Evening with Denise Thimes, and to those who are organizing the Let’s Start Luncheon on Sat. July 19.
- All the Let’s Start participants, especially those who continually reach out to new women who are coming out of the system and who bring them to the group sessions for support.
Recently, the women of Let’s Start have made bracelets – lovely beaded bracelets with the word HOPE centered on them. These bracelets are being sold for $30 and the money raised will support the group sessions at Let’s Start. The bracelets are available by contacting the Let’s Start office at 314-241-2324.
GROUP SESSIONS: every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
- Tues. June 3 - Group facilitated by Pam Palacios
- Tues. June 10 - Group facilitated by Sateck Delaney
- Tues. June 17 - Group facilitated by Jackie Cooperwood
- Tues. June 24 - Group facilitated by Robin Robinson
- Tues. July 1 - Group facilitated by Verdia Lawrence
- Tues. July 8 - Group facilitated by Jessie Randman
- Tues. July 15 - Group facilitated by Cathy Allen
- Tues. July 22 - Group facilitated by Harvest Garmon
- Tues. July 29 - STORIES OF HOPE for families and friends
- Tues. August 1 - Group facilitated by Wanekii Weens
SPECIAL EVENTS:
- Tuesday, June 17 is “Let’s Start Day at City Coffee House & Creperie, 36 North Brentwood Blvd., Clayton, MO. 25% of all proceeds will be donated to Let’s Start.
- The Let’s Start Board Meeting is Tuesday, July 8 at 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, July 19 is the annual “Let’s Start Luncheon” at St. Vincent’s, 1408 South 10th Street. Luncheon tickets are $15.00. Along with some Let’s Start participants, our speaker for the afternoon is JoAnn Hamilton Parks.
- Friday, Aug. 8 and Sat. Aug 9, Let’s Start participants will attend an overnight retreat in Ruma, Illinois.
"Our mistakes don't make or break us, if we're lucky, they simply reveal who we really are and what we're really made of." - Donn Moornaw
