CAPPS community meetings were held in Detroit on June 13 and in East Lansing on July 18 to discuss the report 10,000 Michigan prisoners: Strategies to reach the goal as well as pending reform legislation. The American Friends Service Committee and the State Appellate Defender Office provided workshops on MDOC parole procedures and legal issues. Both meetings were very well attended and we thank all who provided support and participated.

On June 30, Laura Sager, CAPPS executive director, was the guest speaker of the Huron Valley Correctional Facility Chapter of the National Lifer Association.

We are very grateful to all those who made these events possible, including:

  • Our Detroit host organization, the Detroit Action Center, and Mary Naoum, CAPPS SE Michigan outreach coordinator, who coordinated the Detroit event with the help of Leah Ouelett and MoReno Taylor.
  • Our East Lansing host organization, the Unitarian Universalist Church, and Gary Ashby, CAPPS faith relations coordinator, who coordinated the East Lansing event with the help of Lynn Scott.
  • Rev. Diane Smalley, sponsor of the National Lifers Association Chapter of HVCF. We especially thank all the officers and members of the NLA who sacrificed a Saturday afternoon to participate in the discussion.
  • Pete Martel of the American Friends Service Committee, for conducting a workshop on how to help your loved ones prepare for parole.
  • Attorneys Marilena David-Martin, Desiree Ferguson and Christopher Smith of the State Appellate Defender Office for their very informative workshops on the appellate appeals process, MDOC policies and commutations.
  • Guest presenters: Clark Washington, Mary Naoum, Gary Ashby, Jim Dankovich and MoReno Taylor.
  • Dena Anderson, CAPPS executive assistant, and volunteers Therese Hercher, Leah Ouelett, Ethan Soblosky and Mitchel Kuhlman.
  • Our many cosponsors, food donors, and the Jackson Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Church, who all helped make these events possible.

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