Prison Ministry Team Report for February

Iowa Prison Perspectives:

• At the end of January, Team members Ron Pile and Phil Beck took part in a panel discussion on an episode of Sue Hutchins’ YouTube series, “Iowa Prison Perspectives.” Their topic was a recent essay by Michael Blackwell, who is incarcerated for life without parole in Iowa’s correctional system. The essay, “The Value of a Reformed Murderer,” makes a powerful case for giving a second chance to “lifers” who have turned their lives around and become productive members of society while still behind bars. You can watch that video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nGICg8IeMU&t=687s.

Social Justice Sunday

• For “Social Justice Sunday,” Team members Sally Hartman and Phil Beck urged visitors to write or email state senators in support of Senate File 126, which increases the age a person can be sentenced to life without parole from 18 to 20. If passed by the Senate and then the House, this bill could retroactively make many LWOPs sentenced as teenagers eligible for parole.

Address postcards:

Senator [name]

1007 E. Grand Ave.

Des Moines, IA 50319

Include your name and address.

Read the official document at: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF126

Find state legislators at legis.iowa.gov

Pen Pal Program

• PMT continued to be active in its Pen Pal program. Members regularly correspond with incarcerated individuals either by “snail mail” or through the Iowa Department of Corrections’ o-mail system, CorrLinks.
• We are always looking for volunteers to write to inmates. Incarcerated individuals tell us over and over how important it is for them to hear from those of us outside. Just knowing that there are caring people who haven’t forgotten them and are willing to spend time writing to them is a deeply meaningful, positive experience for them.
• And it is very rewarding for volunteers, too. We can set you up with contacts, instructions for using CorrLinks and postal mail, and a sample introductory letter to use or modify as you see fit. If you think you might be interested, please email [email protected] and one of us will get back to you.  You can also check out our page on this website at https://www.uusic.org/connect/#justice.
• The UUA has a prison ministry through the Church of the Larger Fellowship, the Worthy Now Prison Ministry Network. They’re also looking for people to become pen pals to incarcerated individuals nationwide. For more information, go to worthynow.org.

Meeting Times

• The UUS Prison Ministry Team meets on the first Tuesday of each month in the UUS Conference Room. You are welcome to join us at our next meeting on March 4, 2025 at 7:00, either in person or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 848 0842 4430; passcode available via email).

Post Content URL: https://www.uusic.org/connect/#justice  (under Social Justice Groups & Community Service Teams)