The Chapel on the campus of the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex (RJSJCC) was transformed with a 60s theme and the 19th Annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet was held on Thursday, August 20, 2015. This annual event honors all the volunteers who spend countless hours on the RJSJCC campus and Brownwood Halfway House performing duties such as mentoring, tutoring, leading Bible study, providing Chaplaincy services and/or being members of the Community Resource Council. Several were recognized for their outstanding service during the course of a year in various categories.
April Jameson, RJSJCC superintendent, opened the banquet with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—“Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” Ms. Jameson and Mr. Jarome Finley, Superintendent of the Brownwood Halfway House then welcomed some of the 250 active volunteers who spend thousands of hours of service at the Ron Jackson State Juvenile Correctional Complex. In fiscal year 2014, volunteers gave 11,340 hours of their time.
Tammy Holland, Manager of Family, Community, and Chaplaincy Programs, from the Central Office of the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, honored volunteers who received the Presidential Achievement Awards from the White House. Recipients of this honor in the Bronze category (100 – 249 hours of service in a year) include: Shenika Arredondo, Paul and Deborah Bellinger, Peggy Coppedge, Thomas Cyprian, Silvia Diaz, Anonymous, Gary Gibson, Guadalupe Gonzalez, Shirley Hansen, Chaley Perkins, Rebecca Reynolds, Nancy Richter, Elva Rood, Chris and Lisa Seaton, Trudy Smith, Rebekah Steadman, and Michael Wiley. Awarded the Silver Award (250 – 499 hours of service in a year):James Kit Dean, Paola Guzman, Claude and Anna Jackson, Donald Newsom, Mary Ann Rowan and Nimitr Weropas.
The recipients of the 2015 Ron Jackson/Brownwood Halfway House awards were: Paola Guzman, Outstanding Mentor Award; Patricia Boland, Volunteer Achievement Award; Allison Voss, Dr. Edward Garrett Individual Volunteer Award; Marvin and Nancy Richter, Mickey Harr Chaplaincy Volunteer Award; Andy and Lupe Gonzalez, Family Award; First Christian Church, Group Award; and Ron Jackson Home Economics teacher Linda Salter, Spirit Award.
The evening’s meal was catered by Cook’s Fish Barn and was enjoyed by all. Amanda Leija of Sweet Life Treats provided delicious tie-dyed cupcakes used for the centerpieces and dessert.
The highlight of the evening was the panel of speakers: Charleston White, Gabriel Delgado and Jesse Taylor of the non-profit organization, Hyped about HYPE (Helping Young People Excel) which is based in Ft. Worth. Mr. White and his colleagues spoke from the heart about their own experiences in the juvenile justice system and the challenges they overcame. In addition, they talked about their current work as volunteers with TJJD and the satisfaction it gives them to be able to repay what was done for them. They stressed the importance of volunteer involvement in the juvenile justice system. Mr. White closed with a quote from Frederick Douglass, abolitionist: “It is easier to build strong children than repair broken men.” To arrange a speaking engagement with HYPE, contact Charleston White at cjwhite@txwes.edu.
The banquet was closed by commemorating the fifth successful year of the PAWS program which works in partnership with the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center to rehabilitate dogs that would otherwise be unadoptable. Two students spoke of their experiences, describing changes in themselves such as improved relations with family, anger management and empathy. They discussed everything that goes into training the canines, including walking them 7 times a day regardless of the weather. “We don’t just play with the dogs, like some people think we do,” one girl stated, “We work with them.” Attendees were then treated to demonstration of Canine Good Citizenship Skills by Nico, a Chihuahua mix and his young trainer who has been on the program for 2 years. Holli Fenton, Dorm Supervisor of the PAWS program then spoke of the strict requirements students must meet to join the program, the level of continued behavior that is expected from them, the history of the program, its successes and the community collaboration that makes it possible to continue. On behalf of Ron Jackson, she thanked and presented awards to the following individuals: Dr. Joe Speck of the Brownwood Animal Clinic, Lane Dryden and Leona Cleveland of Agmart, and the Brownwood Women’s Club represented by Edda Ratliff and Jan Cate.
Pictured at top are: 1st row (L to R) Nancy Richter, Linda Salter, Lupe Gonzalez, Elva Rood and Jarome Finley, and 2nd row (L to R) Barbara Arteaga, Marvin Richter, Andy Gonzalez, April Jameson, Donald Newsom and Tammy Holland.
Pictured above: Holli Fenton and Lane Dryden
