In November, 2010, this sign was posted by certain residents of Manheim Township, in Lancaster County. It is a reaction to plans for building a transitional housing corrections facility in the area. Inasmuch as Marsha Banks lives in Manheim Twp., and that is the headquarters of AMiracle4Sure, the photo was sent to Marsha to investigate what was going on. On December 26, 2010, Marsha published the following editorial in the Lancaster Sunday paper.
Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
I entered this world with absent parents, but was raised by a loving and caring grandmother. At a very young age, I was a single mother caught up in cocaine addiction. In those horrific times, I was raped, molested, shot at, abused, battered and left to die in the street. I had no sense of self-worth and saw myself as a hopeless case. I had mothered six children as I bounced from one rehabilitation center to another. Something was missing; I thought I was losing my mind. I just wanted to die, but for some reason, some unknown being kept waking me up.
On the day this roller coaster stopped, I was facing criminal charges for neglect and all my children were being placed in foster care. I dared to take my life because there was nothing else worth living for. A neighbor called the police station in an attempt to save my life — a kind act that seemed unwelcome at the time. As I watched the car pull away, the stare of my children is a memory that will last a lifetime.
I had never been in the prison system before. While completing my intake and physical, I learned that I was pregnant with my seventh child. Four months later, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, baby boy at Lancaster General Hospital, where I was shackled to a bedpost with a correctional officer at my bedside and another outside my door. This was truly a mother's nightmare. Twenty-four hours later I was transported back to the correctional facility where I spent another year.
Who would imagine with all those tragedies that success could be possible? How does a stranger to a new community find a new direction? Does re-entry work? How will society embrace this newly released parolee? Has she changed? What effect will she have on her community?
I can sum up the answer to all those questions this way: a miracle, for sure.
My life changed in prison, I found hope and healing in the Lord. I was released, and within my first year I regained custody of my six children. I found support in a local church, where folks were willing to mentor me and help me learn the skills I needed to be a good mother. I didn't do everything perfectly, but with the help of the caring individuals in my community, I was a success.
Today, I enjoy life as a human being, not as an inmate. I am a former offender, but my life has been transformed. I reside in Manheim, where I am constantly reminded that I am different. There is clearly opposition to bringing transitional housing to our community.
And I agree that the proposed location for a Minsec community corrections center on East Stiegel Street is not appropriate, especially with its close proximity to an elementary school. But I believe we deserve a chance to recover from our past mistakes. Who are we to judge? We, as Christians, are called to seek out the lost, the hopeless and those who are in prison. We are to assist with directing them to a new way of life.
Communities like Manheim and other small towns across Lancaster County offer an environment of comfort and peace. I embrace that every time I come home at the end of a busy workday. I don't hang a sign outside my door saying I am an ex-offender, and it makes my heart heavy when I travel throughout the borough to see signs posted referencing the very thing that saved my life.
I am a success story, and there are many like me. I am the proud mother of six adult children and two adolescents. I have a college graduate who works in the social service field, a junior marketing major, a manager of a local grocery store, and two young men in technical school. I am Nana to four of the greatest grandchildren you'll ever know. I hold not one but three degrees in social services. I graduated at the top of my class and earned a full scholarship to Lebanon Valley College.
My professional experiences encompass educating and empowering men, women and children to overcome the challenges we experience in life. I am proud of who I am, and I feel that my past has shaped me to be the role model, the educator, the mother, the mentor, the therapist, and (I hope) the community leader that I am today.
As we continue this debate on where to put facilities designed to help transform lives of former offenders, perhaps a change in our lenses is necessary. I challenge you to think outside the box, and perhaps one day that may in fact save a life.
I am drawn to Lancaster County because I believe there is a great need here. I want to be a resource for those who feel there is no hope. Will you consider helping? It works with simply helping one person ... one situation ... one day at a time.
Marsha Banks is president of Amiracle4sure, which helps individuals find strength and support as they transition back to the community. Visit amiracle4sureministries.com.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/328603#ixzz19HAdf4QA
Give Ex-Offenders a Second Chance
I entered this world with absent parents, but was raised by a loving and caring grandmother. At a very young age, I was a single mother caught up in cocaine addiction. In those horrific times, I was raped, molested, shot at, abused, battered and left to die in the street. I had no sense of self-worth and saw myself as a hopeless case. I had mothered six children as I bounced from one rehabilitation center to another. Something was missing; I thought I was losing my mind. I just wanted to die, but for some reason, some unknown being kept waking me up.
On the day this roller coaster stopped, I was facing criminal charges for neglect and all my children were being placed in foster care. I dared to take my life because there was nothing else worth living for. A neighbor called the police station in an attempt to save my life — a kind act that seemed unwelcome at the time. As I watched the car pull away, the stare of my children is a memory that will last a lifetime.
I had never been in the prison system before. While completing my intake and physical, I learned that I was pregnant with my seventh child. Four months later, I gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, baby boy at Lancaster General Hospital, where I was shackled to a bedpost with a correctional officer at my bedside and another outside my door. This was truly a mother's nightmare. Twenty-four hours later I was transported back to the correctional facility where I spent another year.
Who would imagine with all those tragedies that success could be possible? How does a stranger to a new community find a new direction? Does re-entry work? How will society embrace this newly released parolee? Has she changed? What effect will she have on her community?
I can sum up the answer to all those questions this way: a miracle, for sure.
My life changed in prison, I found hope and healing in the Lord. I was released, and within my first year I regained custody of my six children. I found support in a local church, where folks were willing to mentor me and help me learn the skills I needed to be a good mother. I didn't do everything perfectly, but with the help of the caring individuals in my community, I was a success.
Today, I enjoy life as a human being, not as an inmate. I am a former offender, but my life has been transformed. I reside in Manheim, where I am constantly reminded that I am different. There is clearly opposition to bringing transitional housing to our community.
And I agree that the proposed location for a Minsec community corrections center on East Stiegel Street is not appropriate, especially with its close proximity to an elementary school. But I believe we deserve a chance to recover from our past mistakes. Who are we to judge? We, as Christians, are called to seek out the lost, the hopeless and those who are in prison. We are to assist with directing them to a new way of life.
Communities like Manheim and other small towns across Lancaster County offer an environment of comfort and peace. I embrace that every time I come home at the end of a busy workday. I don't hang a sign outside my door saying I am an ex-offender, and it makes my heart heavy when I travel throughout the borough to see signs posted referencing the very thing that saved my life.
I am a success story, and there are many like me. I am the proud mother of six adult children and two adolescents. I have a college graduate who works in the social service field, a junior marketing major, a manager of a local grocery store, and two young men in technical school. I am Nana to four of the greatest grandchildren you'll ever know. I hold not one but three degrees in social services. I graduated at the top of my class and earned a full scholarship to Lebanon Valley College.
My professional experiences encompass educating and empowering men, women and children to overcome the challenges we experience in life. I am proud of who I am, and I feel that my past has shaped me to be the role model, the educator, the mother, the mentor, the therapist, and (I hope) the community leader that I am today.
As we continue this debate on where to put facilities designed to help transform lives of former offenders, perhaps a change in our lenses is necessary. I challenge you to think outside the box, and perhaps one day that may in fact save a life.
I am drawn to Lancaster County because I believe there is a great need here. I want to be a resource for those who feel there is no hope. Will you consider helping? It works with simply helping one person ... one situation ... one day at a time.
Marsha Banks is president of Amiracle4sure, which helps individuals find strength and support as they transition back to the community. Visit amiracle4sureministries.com.
Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/328603#ixzz19HAdf4QA
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