PREPARE was launched in June 2021 at Marian House. On June 5th, one year on we all gathered there again to celebrate the one-year anniversary. A lot happened in the first year: A successful pilot at MCIW using volunteer parole advocates. The return of in-person parole advocacy thanks to the end of the COVID lockdown. The receipt of GOCCP (Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention) funds to support the development of key infrastructure such as our Parole Materials, a database and our website. The receipt of a grant from the Baltimore Women’s Giving Circle to support a part-time position of a reentry specialist.
Just like the launch, the one-year anniversary was attended by Chair of the Maryland Parole Commission, David Blumberg, along with his lovely wife. Also in attendance were Commissioner Lisa Vronch and former Commissioner Chris Reynolds, who sits on the Board of PREPARE. Other Board members and advisory board members were also there to celebrate the anniversary. [In the picture above, back row, Fran Kuhne, Karen McNeal, Kathryn Eliscar, Hillary Galloway Davis, Jacqueline Ahn, Front row: Walter Lomax, Christopher Reynolds and Maryjoel Davis.]
