You don't have to be an expert to do something about it!

As the 25th birthday of Humanity for Prisoners approaches, I’m writing some essays that help to explain where we came from and where we are going. 

My friend Tommy suggests that the title should be something like, “If you see a problem, even with no experience, do something about it!” Actually, his language was a bit stronger, suggesting that one get off his or her posterior. That kind of wording didn’t seem quite appropriate for this piece. 

Anyway, it is true that 25 years ago, this broadcast journalist and church musician knew absolutely nothing about prisons and their inhabitants. After nearly 10 years of visiting my friend Maurice Carter, serving time for a crime he did not commit, I became fully aware of the way incarcerated men and women are being treated…or mistreated. 

At Maurice’s suggestion, it seemed like it was time get our hands out of our pockets and do something about it. As a result, today we have an organization with a title that describes our work and an agency that is unique in all of these United States.              

An M-Live newspaper feature about a local and nationwide effort to deal with another problem this week got me started on the topic. 

As I’m sure you are aware, because of the Trump administration’s approach to immigrant enforcement, hundreds of thousands of people are being arrested throughout the country. Roving bands, mostly masked and heavily militarized, are detaining immigrants, not even letting them post bond, regardless of circumstances. (Often the color of their skin!) 

Well, quietly and behind the scenes, there’s a loose network of advocacy groups forming around the country doing something about it! These volunteers are helping ICE detainees while in custody and after they are released. 

The story was of particular interest because it’s happening right here in our backyard! 

In western Michigan we have one of the largest ICE detainee centers in the mid-west. North Lake Processing Center in Baldwin is a privately owned facility operated for ICE. It has an 1,800-bed capacity. Since it opened we’ve been hearing all kinds of scandalous reports…overcrowding, poor medical care, sad food issues, as well as exasperating issues upon release. 

As a part of this nationwide effort to show compassion to these people, HOPE FOR NEIGHBORS was formed here in Michigan, and its members are doing great work! 

The news story tells how volunteer Delight Lester, 66-year-old Mental health counselor from Rockford took all steps necessary to help a recently released detainee, whose needs included money, transportation to his home in another part of the country, a cell phone and lodging. HOPE FOR NEIGHBORS covered it all! 

A word of encouragement from Delight to all of us: 

“It’s not so hard to provide a little light in the dark, or a little bit of hope.  Giving a smile away, giving kindness away. We all have the capacity to make the world a better place.” 

That same philosophy led to the formation of HFP. 

God bless Hope for Neighbors. God bless Humanity for Prisoners! 

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind and compassionate to one another

 

 

 

 

 

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