October 22, 2014
Story and photo by Brandon Steinert
Second chances and renewed hope for brighter futures for inmates were underscored by the speakers at the 10th Annual Learning Celebration on Tuesday evening at Ellsworth Correctional Facility.
As a team, Barton Community College and the Kansas Department of Corrections are a force to be reckoned with, giving inmates the opportunity to improve themselves through education while incarcerated.
One inmate named Danny received his Work Ready Certificate. He has been in the prison system for 13 years, since he was 16 years old. Due to repeated violent activity, much of his time was spent in and out of segregation, which can best be described as a prison within a prison. His most recent stint in segregation, which ended in 2012, paired with the loss of his mother to cancer, shook Danny and opened his eyes. He was done repeating the same mistakes.
“I really made some drastic changes and made the decision to stay away from gangs,” he said. “I also decided to take any opportunity available to improve myself.”
That's when Danny began taking Barton classes, which he said were paramount to solidifying his internal transformation.
“I saw my grades and my progress, and had the opportunity to see tangible proof of the changes I made inside,” he said. “It meant a lot to me to see that. It gave me confidence and showed me I'm on the right track.”
He said the coursework and results have only been part of the equation, alluding to the friends he has made in the process.
“Without the opportunity to join new social circles, it's hard not to fall back into the same negative spiral. The guys in my classes are all trying to improve themselves too, and that creates positive atmosphere in a place where a lot of people talk negative.”
Danny is up for parole in December and remains hopeful. He plans to get a degree, likely in physical therapy, which he said is a perfect reflection of his new-found passion – helping people strengthen themselves.
“I also want to serve as an example to kids to help them avoid the mistakes I made,” he added. “Gangs made me feel empowered and secure, but it wasn't real. Real empowerment and security comes from education.”
Dozens of inmates just like Danny were recognized during the learning celebration for reaching milestones in their educations through Barton’s Building Academic Skills In Correctional Settings (BASICS) program.
Some were awarded a GED or recognized for achieving Work Ready status as recognized by the state of Kansas. Others had taken the next step and earned certificates in a trade like welding, computers or manufacturing skills.
All of these opportunities are afforded to inmates thanks to grant funding and the drive of several employees and administrators at Barton and Ellsworth Correctional Facility, such as Dean of Workforce Training and Community Education Elaine Simmons, who helped start the program several years ago.
Many of the inmates were able to take courses with the help of privately funded scholarships. Barton Foundation Director Darnell Holopirek distributed certificates to the 21 scholarship recipients.
The evening was bittersweet for Holopirek, who will be retiring in December. She took her responsibility at Ellsworth Correctional Facility very seriously and personally. She joined the Spiritual Life Board and spent a great deal of time educating people on the benefits society enjoys thanks to the program at Ellsworth. Her colleagues surprised her with a plaque thanking her for her dedication to raising money for the many scholarships provided to inmates. She was given a standing ovation.
Barton Trustee Don Learned was also in attendance to offer support to the inmates and the program.
“These people really care about your education,” Learned told the crowd. “You are doing a great thing, turning a negative situation into a good situation.”
An inmate named Aaron, who is heavily involved in a service group called Jaycees, addressed the crowd and touched on the essence of what everyone in the room was celebrating Tuesday night.
“This partnership shows us that not all of society has given up on us. The fact that we are here tonight also shows we have not given up on society,” he said. “Prisons don't have to be the end of life. They can be the beginning of a new one, better than the one you had before.”