Give of Yourself

One of the most rewarding things you can do with your time is to give it to someone who needs it.

I participate in Community Restorative Boards for the Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program.  Adult Redeploy is a "second chance" program for non-violent offenders who would otherwise be on their way to prison.  It is an intensive probation program where participants must participate in "Moral Reconation Therapy" which is a 12 step programs to change decision making and thought processes for the better.  Community Restorative Boards are small community circles which seek to hold offenders accountable for their actions and the harm they caused the community, while acting as a support group for offenders who, all too often, do not have a strong support system in place.  

Today, one of my Community Restorative Board participants sat down with those of us from her Community Restorative Board and seven other community members to tell her story and to apologize for the harm she had caused the community.  This participant, a Registered Nurse, was in the program because of years of driving on suspended and revoked license (initially caused by  DUI).  She is a mother of two wonderful teenage daughters and has an incredibly supportive family.  She continued to drive on a revoked license for so long because she was so embarrassed to tell her family that she had lost her license.  She eventually spent 41 days in jail and, if she had not have entered the ARI program, would have spent time in prison.

What she did today was so brave and inspiring.  She sat in front of all those strangers and told them what she had done wrong.  Her tears were genuine, as was her remorse. Through this experience, she has learned not to hide things from her family and to trust that they will love and support her through anything.  

When she hugged me at the end, she smelled like my mom.  She is younger than my mom, but her hug was so heartfelt that for a second, I forgot that it wasn't my mom.  It felt really wonderful to be able to sit with her and support her as she told this room full of strangers all about what she has gone through (including strangers who represent law enforcement and the States Attorney's Office).

I love volunteering.  I volunteer on top of my full-time volunteer job.  As a matter of fact, I'm on my way to the Old King's Orchard After School Program right now!