LANCASTER AREA VICTIMS OFFENDER RECONCILIATION PROGRAM

The Lancaster Area Victim Offender Reconciliation Program (LAVORP) has a sincere commitment to making life better for victims, youthful offenders and the community through a distinctive team approach to juvenile crime. In partnership with Juvenile Probation and Youth Aid Panels, LAVORP carries out its mission by providing “unique opportunities for victim restoration and offender accountability with a focus on reconciliation, healing, restitution and safe communities in Lancaster County.” The end result is victim empowerment, reduced recidivism, lower cost of administering juvenile justice and safer communities.

LAVORP, a nonprofit, faith based organization, was organized in 1994 to complement the juvenile justice system. The system works with juvenile offenders by assigning consequences for breaking the law, while LAVORP works with victims and offenders to address the harm caused by crime. This latter, innovative approach known as victim-offender conferencing, had it recent beginnings wihin the faith community of Mennonites, well known for their peace work. By addressing the harm and broken relationships caused by crime the community is drawn closer to the Biblical concept of Shalom (Peace); which is the existence of right relationships among individuals, the community and God.

Volunteer Mediators work with offenders and victims to ascertain their interest in “making things right” as a result of a crime incident. Only with the permission of both parties do volunteer mediators arrange face-to-face meetings, which take place in a safe, neutral location to discuss the actions of the offender and address the needs of the victim. Offenders come acknowledging their wrongdoing, offering apologies and taking responsibility for their actions. They work towards an agreement regarding the victims’ needs and to restore matters as much as possible to the condition they were before the incident. Victims tell their stories, get answers to questions about what happened to them and why, arrange for restitution and better understand the juvenile that violated him/her. Both work towards building trust for the future.

During 2001, LAVORP volunteers worked with 205 incidents involving more than 500 victims and offenders, an increase of 15% over the year 2000. In the last two years, the number of volunteers has grown from 20 to 55. Volunteer mediators receive 27 hours of instruction in understanding personal relationships, victim empathy, offender accountability, listening skills, case development and role-plays.

LAVORP’s impact on the community is very positive. By working together , agreements between citims and offenders have a success rate of completion from 85% to 90% compared to court ordered restitution of 30%. Victims and offenders, through their own evaluations, express 85% satisfaction with the LAVORP process. Research has shown that juveniles who work with LAVORP are 50% less likely to repeat another crime compared to those who do not work with LAVORP.

ILENE GORZITZE

Ilene Gorzitze (Mrs. “G”) is a retired physical education teacher; however, she is still involved in molding the lives of youth at Upland Terrace Elementary School. Her grandchildren attend the school, but instead of working only in their classes, she works with nine teachers in grades kindergarten through fifth grade. Though she cannot work with all the classes in the school, Gorzitze indirectly impacts all of them with her instruction.

Gorzitze has taken responsibility for supplying and maintaining the school’s physical education equipment She shops at thrift stores and buys quality used physical education equipment. Without her interest in the supplies, the school may still be dealing with a minimal amount of sub-standard equipment. Teachers applaud her idea and effort and wish they had the time to do the innovative things she does.

In addition, Gorzitze has worked to build the physical education curriculum. Instead of working with what was presented to her, Gorzitze decided to be innovative. She decided to use the school’s limited supply of bowling equipment (Gymbowl). Through the years she has helped the school acquire enough bowling pins and balls to teach 60 children at a time how to bowl. They learn proper technique as well as how to score bowling. After the bowling unit is completed, the classes, around 200 students, are able to go to a bowling alley for a real game.

Gorzitze believes the children need constant encouragement. She searched to find discarded and economical trophies and had them engraved to present to the highest scoring boy and girl in each grade after their tournament at the bowling alley. Without her assistance, this would not have happened.

Gorzitze worked with the school on a Fundraiser for the American Heart Association (Jump Rope for Heart). She has made folders for teachers with instruction techniques, general information for organizing games, jump rope skills, Fitness and testing, so the teachers could be informed and prepared.

For the last few years, Upland Terrace has also set aside a special day for “Focus On Fitness”. Gorzitze has served many hours to assist the teachers, PTA and others in creating, organizing and actually implementing the events of the day. She also gave of her time to teach one of the sessions. Upland Terrace Elementary does not have the budget for a physical education specialist. Gorzitze makes herself available to the school so the children do not miss out on another paid staff person. Though she is a volunteer, Gorzitze works as if she is earning a paycheck. She is an invaluable resource for the children and teachers at Upland Terrace.

SOLOMON’S PORCH MEDICAL OUTREACH

Solomon’s Porch Medical Outreach was started by a group of medical professionals from Faith Community Church in Tucson, Arizona, including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, a chiropractor and other ancillary volunteers, who wanted to help bridge the gap in the health care system for members of the Tucson community. They are assisting the working poor, the uninsured and under-insured, by providing and assisting in accessing medical care. Their first outreach was held in May 2000, and was followed by monthly clinic days through November 2000. They became a 501(c)(3) organization in April 2001.

In January 2001, the Healthcare Team held a Family Clinic Day, in March and June Well Woman Clinics were held and in August they participated with another faith-based organization at a community children’s health fair. In addition, they were the core volunteer staff for the Medical Area for the Tucson Festival of Hope, sponsored by Compassion in Action, held on October 27, 2001. Together with other medical professionals from throughout Tucson, they provided 2,300 individuals with care and services. This event was recognized in USA Weekend for Make a Difference Day under the newspaper awards – Tucson Citizen, Compassion in Action.

On March 2, 2002, Solomon’s Porch Medical Outreach held a Women’s Health Day, a community-wide event, for medically underserved women. The outreach was held at Faith Community Church. Solomon’s Porch Medical Outreach partnered with community agencies and organizations, as well as other faith-based organizations to help the women in obtaining needed health care and social services.

Along with the Solomon’s Porch Medical Outreach team and those coming from community agencies and organizations, individuals providing services and those working with the children, were 150 volunteers. Seventy women from throughout the Tucson community were served. At least 50% of the volunteers also received assistance, bringing an estimated total served to 150 served.

The scope of services during Women’s Health Day included a discounted health care plan for low-income working adults provided by the county, as well as other government sponsored programs, such as Kids Care. Other services included opportunities to schedule well-women health checks with the county or with Solomon’s Porch Medical Outreach, bone density screening, blood pressure checks, domestic violence information, smoking cessation, low cost mammography, chiropractic care, chair massages, facials and manicures. Other agencies there offered social services for the homeless and living assistance. Groceries and diapers were distributed to those in need. Vehicle and home repair services were offered, as well as tax preparation and budgeting information.

A Well-Woman Clinic Day was held on April 6, 2002, as a follow-up to the Women’s Health Day, to provide for those who did not qualify for community services.

SANDI MARTIN

On her own time as a volunteer, Sandi Martin leads the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.Ò) program for Intermountain Therapy Animals. Martin conceived and launched the program to address children’s literacy. She is a Friend of the Salt Lake City Library and a Board Member of Intermountain Therapy Animals. In combining her two passions, animals and a life long love of reading, Martin developed a literacy skills program for children utilizing certified therapy animals and their owners as literacy mentors. The program began in September 1999,and it offers a direct intervention to enhance children’s motivation to practice reading. Each child reads an animal related book to a therapy dog. When the child has completed ten books, he or she receives a ““pawtographed” book to keep which has been “signed” by the therapy dog.

The program was piloted in a program called, “ Dog Day Afternoons” at the Salt Lake City Library, where more than 100 children attended. It’s popularity quickly spread to all of the libraries in Salt Lake City and into Weber and Summit County. Public libraries across the country have also begun similar programs modeled after this one. Bennion Elementary School began a pilot R.E.A.D.Ò program with a small group of at risk students in April 2000 and it continues weekly. Martin and her founding R.E.A.D. partner, Olivia (adopted from the Salt Lake County Animal Shelter) volunteered weekly at Bennion. In the very successful pilot, all children increased their reading levels significantly and 2 children by almost 4 levels. The program continues at Bennion as well as in Clearfield, Utah at Holt Elementary.

Since the debut of R.E.A.D., more than 500 children have participated, many coming on Saturday afternoons to the public libraries to read with one of the Intermountain Therapy Animal R.E.A.DÒ teams. Others have been helped in public schools. A child at the library offered this observation: ““When I read, I stutter a little bit and when I read to the dog it didn’t make fun of me” stated Beatrice Flores. A child from Holt Elementary noted that the dogs “really listen” making reading more fun. With these kinds of observations, it is not surprising that the national media has noticed this Utah program. Martin has received more than 500 inquires from individuals across the country and as far away as South Africa and Israel requesting information about using therapy animals as literacy mentors or wondering how to start a program.

Since creating her idea for R.E.A.D.Ò, Martin has donated over 1500 hours to the community through this program. She has spent time educating the community about R.E.A.D., negotiating with organizations to introduce R.E.A.D. teams into their settings, working with over 30 other Intermountain Therapy Animals R.E.A.D. teams, orienting more teams, volunteering with her late Olivia and now her new R.E.A.D. companion, Zelda at Bennion Elementary School and the library, answering inquiries from across the country, negotiating with booksellers and publishers for book donations for the children in the programs, and assisting Intermountain Therapy Animals with R.E.A.D. fundraisers. She does all this while maintaining a very demanding full time position as a RN at University of Utah Hospital.

FRANK BARKER

Frank Barker served in a volunteer capacity in 1989 as the President of HabiJax, the Jacksonville, Florida affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International and was the Volunteer Coordinator on the first home that HabiJax ever built. He has worked with various volunteer committees throughout the past nine years.

Under Barker’s direction, HabiJax has been the number one Habitat for Humanity affiliate in the nation, out of over 1,600 affiliates, in the number of homes built starting in 1997 to the present. HabiJax showed a 40% increase in home production from 1997 to 2000. Plans to continue to build at a 54% increase have begun with goals of 202 homes in 2002, 303 homes in 2003, 404 homes in 2004 and 505 homes in 2005.

Barker has been responsible in developing relationships with hundreds of local corporations, churches and civic groups to partner with HabiJax through the years. He has also been instrumental in acquiring thousands of dollars in cash, materials and in-kind donations from within the Jacksonville community to support HabiJax home construction.

A historic habitat event occurred two years ago when HabiJax built 200 homes in 2000 with 101 homes being built in 17 days. Nearly 10,000 hands helped out during weeks of 10 to 12 inches of rain.

HabiJax has now built over 850 homes in Jacksonville since being founded in 1989 and will complete its 1,000th home by the end of the year.

Frank Barker and his wife, Sharon, have been serving as volunteers on the HabiJax Family Selection Committee since 1989 and have interviewed hundreds of prospective HabiJax families. Barker has also been instrumental in developing HabiJax’s Building on Faith efforts that has grown to include the participation of nearly 100 Jacksonville churches.

NONPROFIT FINANCIAL CENTER

Nonprofit Financial Center (NFC) strives to strengthen the viability of communities by enhancing the financial stability and management capacity of the nonprofits, individuals and organizations that support those communities. NFC provides a comprehensive range of financial support to community-based organizations in need.

Founded as a $20,000 dollar a year project, NFC has become an independent nonprofit, managing more than $3 million in assets. NFC’s financial supports are now available nationally. The Center has grown from one part-time administrator to employ eight full-time, three part-time and eight contract employees. NFC’s executive director, Delena Wilkerson, has led the organization for 19 of its 20 years. NFC’s CFO, Dottie Johnson, has 15 years of dedicated service.

The Center’s 20 years of achievement includes distribution of over $20 million dollars in working capital financing to nonprofits, direct financial management training and supportive services provided to more than 850 nonprofit organizations nationwide and direct engagement with more than 4,500 nonprofit leaders around responsible financial management for nonprofits. NFC continues to elevate its presence in the nonprofit sector through an informative website, www.NFConline.org – realizing 1.8 million points of contact this fiscal year.

Without NFC’s emergency loans and financial triage services, many nonprofits would have closed their doors – depriving community residents of vitally needed services. NFC meets the financial management needs of nonprofit and faith-based organizations of all sizes, from new emerging groups to 100-year-old social service agencies. The average NFC client is a nonprofit between 11 and 20 years old with a budget of just over one million dollars. NFC partners with local foundation and corporate donors to ensure that its services remain affordable for the nonprofit sector and to create scholarship funds for services.

NFC builds community by focusing its efforts on a vastly underserved market – nonprofit organizations nationwide. Nonprofit organizations continue to meet the critical needs of the most vulnerable citizens – impacting the lives of many children, seniors and low and moderate-income families. In turn, NFC continues to meet the vital financial management needs of these same nonprofits in increasing numbers. The demand for NFC services has never been higher.

JENNIFER CRAWLEY

Five years ago, as a contestant in the Miss Teen Arkansas pageant, Jennifer Lynn Crawley was asked to choose a critical issue that affects society in general, or young women in particular. In researching a subject that is near and dear to her heart, music, she discovered just how critical music is to the development of a child. She resolved that she would promote music education as her critical issue and broadcast its benefits. This dedicated young lady has done exactly that over the past five years. Jennifer is a volunteer for the Play It Again Arkansas Program. Play It Again Arkansas is a Department of Education program initiated in 1998 by Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. The goal is to assist students in participating in school band and orchestra programs by encouraging Arkansans to donate used musical instruments to their local schools. Since 1998, Play It Again Arkansas has provided more than 1,000 instruments to students across Arkansas; Jennifer began working with the program months before it started.

As a volunteer at the Capitol she mailed letters, made telephone calls, sent response cards, and developed contacts for the new program. In addition, she entertained at the reception at the Arkansas Governor’s Mansion, and served as spokesperson for the program. She spoke in front of College Presidents, Dean’s of Fine Arts, and Chairpersons of Music Departments from colleges and universities across the state, newspaper and television media, and introduced Governor Mike Huckabee.

Originally a piano performance major, and currently a speech communications major, Jennifer is involved in many noteworthy activities at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. She is the assistant to the Campus Activities Director of OBU, a member of the Campus Activities Board, a member of the EEE Women’s Social Club, a member of the Debate Team, the secretary of the Debate Club, the Academics Editor of the Ouachitonian Yearbook, a participant in Elder-Serve, and a member of the College Republicans. She was Vice-President of her freshman class, resident advisor, summer conference coordinator, and represented her student body in the Miss Arkansas Pageant, a preliminary to the Miss America Pageant. She was awarded the Miss America Community Service Award for the state of Arkansas in 1999, 2001 and again in 2002. Sam Beard, President and Founder of the American Institute of Public Service and Arkansas Lt. Governor Win Rockefeller presented Jennifer with the President’s Student Service Award in May of this year.

As you can see, Jennifer is a busy senior at OBU, but has continued to support Play It Again Arkansas and her own program, which she calls FACE the Music. F, A, C, and E represent the space notes on the treble cleft and according to Crawley, the benefits of music education as well – F is for Fun, A is for Academic Achievement, C is for Character, and E is for Expression. She created a web site in 1998 that presents the benefits of music education and provides a vast collection of research material. Please visit the web site at www.whymusic.org

Jennifer has also written several articles on the benefits of music that were published in an Arkansas magazine Protecting Our Children. In addition, she has been promoting both programs for diverse audiences such as civic groups, school assemblies, classrooms, pre-schools, Vacation Bible School, pageants, fashion shows, luncheons and conventions. In April, she was the guest speaker at the annual luncheon of the Arkansas Association for American Mothers, Inc.

Jennifer has a sincere commitment to the young people of Arkansas and to music in the schools. She has a vision and commitment that is rare for someone her age. Her volunteer service has helped significantly in the ability to support music education in Arkansas. She can often be heard saying, “It is my prayer that more children will be given the opportunity to reap the benefits of music education because let’s FACE it . . . Music Education is hitting the right note!”

JENNIFER SILVESTRI

Jessica Lin Silvestri participates in “Call to Protect”; a national organization that collects cell phones, reprograms them for emergency numbers and distributes them to victims of domestic violence. She was nine years old when a teenager from her church was stalked and killed by her ex-boyfriend. After remembering the pain the youth’s family went through and hearing about “Call to Protect”, Jessica contacted the national headquarters to find out that there were no collection sites in Ohio and decided to start a local collection.

She recruited local businesses to be drop off sites, talked local printers into donating fliers that she distributed to local schools, churches and organizations. She then alerted the media about her project. At the time, Jessica had hopes for a couple dozen of phones but stopped counting at the collection of 500 cell phones.

Jessica started work on this project in October 2000 and she continues to collect phones today. In January 2001, she was selected one of “20 People in Mahoning County Who Made a Difference in 2000” by The Youngstown Vindicator. She was featured in the October/November magazine Guideposts for Teens for her efforts. The Association of Fundraising Professionals named her 2001 Philanthropist of the Year in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Shenango Counties. This is the first time they have chosen a teenager for this honor. She has also been selected to receive a Distinguished Finalist medallion in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards on the state level. Currently, Jessica is 1 of 120 pre-med students at John Carroll University.

Every year, one to four million domestic violence cases are reported. About 98% of the victims are women. In any given year, almost half of female murder victims are slain by their husbands or boyfriends. In the greater metropolitan area of Youngstown, Ohio, the police estimate that 65% of the 911 calls made were related to domestic violence.

MARLEAU QUICK

Marleau Quick is legally blind, but she is a staunch advocate for education. She began working as a reading assistant at Lincoln Elementary in Salt Lake City School District in the fall of 1993. She was paid for four hours per day and divided her time between two classrooms. She read one-on-one with students, recorded their progress, and keeps the teachers apprised of students’ development.

The following year, she started in another classroom of second graders. After a few weeks, she and the teacher had become comfortable enough in their working relationship, Quick requested to work only with the second graders because she was able to help them directly with their reading skills as opposed to filing, making copies and checking papers. She felt her talents could be used to make a serious impact, so the teacher went to the school administration. They obtained approval from the principal, and she kept the paid two hours but also worked 8:00-11:30 as a volunteer daily.

Though Quick is legally blind, she perseveres through difficulties. She uses a battery operated, magnifying device to see the print and record progress. This past August, budgetary problems caused her job description to include a broader range of duties that did not include being a reading assistant. Again, she declined but asked permission to continue her reading duties in a voluntary capacity.

Quick has been coming in daily and staying longer. Her efforts are recognized and she is more respected for her dedication. She is patient, calm, soothing, and mature. Her presence makes the teachers approach problems more deliberately. She greets the students at the door with warm personal acknowledgments. She listens to the class’s opening on the carpet and adapts to any significant factor that might influence their performance such as health, breakfast, rest, etc. She gets students to the nurses, cafeteria, or a blanket and pillow until contact can be made with parents. She listens for personal conflicts, minor disturbances, and monitors the completion of their work. If a student is having a slow or troubled day, she sits with them until they are successfully finished. She is intuitive about how much work a student is capable of doing and knows when to reduce the load without being destructive for their future growth.

Quick helps tremendously with the effectiveness of the teachers by patiently teaching and re-teaching concepts from a slightly different perspective. She develops their sense of self-worth, capabilities, intellect, and desire to help others. Students begin answering questions or volunteering for tasks that are new and unfamiliar. She makes them feel they are valued and inspires their desire to learn. Her love and commitment to the children of Lincoln that have such varied needs and backgrounds is definitely evident, genuine and reaches far beyond altruism.

NATIONAL ROOFING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION

As a gift to the country, The National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) decided to coordinate the reroofing of the Pentagon. NRCA involved staff members, volunteer leadership, members at large and the office of Representative Nydia Velazquez, a Democrat for New York, to work with Pentagon officials to coordinate the project.

The Pentagon had no system in place to accept charitable donations of this multitude. NRCA appealed to its membership for monetary, labor and material donations. The Association also produced a video consisting of interviews with volunteer workers and showed the video at its annual convention in February. The luncheon’s keynote speaker was former President George H. W. Bush, who vocalized his support of the program.

NRCA helped identify a lead roofing contractor, James Myers Company, located in Beltsville, Maryland, to coordinate much of the project work. In addition, NRCA helped coordinate and collect material and financial donations, as well as guarantee housing at a reduced rate at nearby hotels for volunteer workers. NRCA has kept in constant contact with the roofing contractor, general contractor and Pentagon officials to ensure the project is proceeding as planned. The work, which encompasses about 60,000 square feet, has an anticipated completion date of September 11, 2002.

To date, 140 members have made financial contributions, totaling $154,000 dollars; 21 have made material donations and 17 provide labor. Home Depotâ donated nearly $100,000 dollars worth of lumber for the roof sheathing. NRCA donated about $10,000 dollars of in kind.

As a result of the rebuilding of the nation’s Department of Defense’s headquarters, NRCA has received support from members who contributed to the project, as well as from other roofing-related industry groups. The NRCA Pentagon Project created solidarity and brought together all industry segments, such as contractors, manufacturers, distributors, architects and consultants, to work toward a common goal. The NRCA Pentagon Project has received a great deal of interest from national, regional and local media.