Singing about the "Unsung"

I learned a lot about unsung heroes when I was a young radio newsman. As News Director of a small-market radio station, I discovered that we were pretty much taken for granted. 

The larger stations in the larger markets were getting publicity and awards. That’s because their operations had enough money to spend on special investigations, documentaries, extensive coverage of events, etc. I’m not taking away the importance of their work. It’s just that, in the little radio stations, we had no money for that kind of exotica. With what dollars we had, we did our very best to make sure the people in our community were properly informed. I was one of hundreds of small-market reporters doing our best to not only fairly cover the news, but to make sure that public officials were operating within ethical norms. 

That’s true in so many categories, isn’t it? We read and hear daily about heroes…rescuing people from sinking boats, burning buildings, smoking automobiles. Granted, those police officers, firemen, EMTs and other heroes deserve that attention. But, we have a tendency then, to forget the rest of the police officers, firemen, EMTs, and first responders who serve on the front line every day getting little or no attention or thanks. 

That leads me to a little team in a neat little office condo on the outskirts of a little town called Spring Lake, Michigan. Prodded by my prisoner/brother Maurice Carter to do something to help others behind bars, I formed a little organization called INNOCENT in 2001. Years later we changed the name to HUMANITY FOR PRISONERS, because that more accurately reflected our mission. 

You read and hear about Innocence Projects, Innocence Clinics, and Conviction Integrity Units working on behalf of the wrongly convicted. Numerous other agencies in Michigan have rather high profiles as they fight for prison reform, sentencing reform, and legislation to help inmates and reduce mass incarceration totals. 

But, you don’t hear much about the little team working in the little Spring Lake office. That’s because their stories aren’t making headlines. This dedicated group of staffers and volunteers just keep on answering the phone, opening daily letters from behind bars, responding to hundreds of email messages. Led by a formerly incarcerated person, they quietly and kindly provide forms and documents, forward critically important information, offer advice and consolation, and sometimes just hold a hand. All because they care. Every message to every person behind bars from this office ends with these gentle, sincere words to a Michigan inmate: You matter! 

I used to grumble to my old preacher buddy Al Hoksbergen that nobody ever noticed the things I was quietly doing for the Music Department of our church. He’d chuckle and respond with tongue in cheek: “You’ll get your reward in heaven.” 

There’s no Oscar or Emmy or Nobel Prize for the HFP gang. 

They may have to wait for heaven but, believe me, they’re award-winners!