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| New Hair, Makeup, Outlooks -- In Jail |
| By Miami Herald |
| Published: 10/07/2002 |
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Five months ago, Meredith Schwartz was sleeping with men and women for cash. She was addicted to crack and would do anything to get it, including pawning her father's wedding ring. ''I couldn't stand the daylight. I stole from my parents, my son, anybody around me,'' the Miami Beach resident said. 'I didn't want to hear the birds sing. I didn't want to hear people going to work in the morning. I didn't want to hear any sounds of society.'' Now sober and nearing the end of a six-month jail sentence at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami, Schwartz is faced with this frightening reality: her release. To ease the transition from inmate to working woman, a local nonprofit company called The Look for Success visits jails offering women free makeovers and tips for fitting back into the community. 'You're here because you got caught. But if you are ready to work on yourself you can turn around. The makeovers help us in that direction. They leave you feeling good about yourself. You like what you see and say, 'I'm not going to give up on myself.' It gives us hope,'' Schwartz, 43, said. Kim Goedde, founder of The Look for Success, and two volunteer makeup artists taught soon-to-be freed burglars, drug dealers and drug users recently how to bronze their cheek bones, line their lids and gloss their lips. Goedde started the organization in 1999, after spending years unemployed and on welfare. A woman's first steps toward realizing her potential or lifting her spirits often starts with improving her appearance, the single mother of two said. ''I realized the need was really there,'' she said. ``I can't fix their entire life but I can lead them in the right direction if they want to move forward. '' Goedde recruits professional salon stylists and makeup artists like Glenda Larrimore to help with the transformations. ''They're down and a little depressed,'' said Larrimore, who works in cosmetics at Macy's in Aventura. ``They're looking for something to lift them up. It's amazing the change you see in these women.'' Among them: Sybil Thomas of Cutler Ridge. The 44-year-old grandmother of four has been behind bars since April for grand theft. Thomas said she was stealing clothes and cologne from department stores and reselling the merchandise. ''I can't go back to where I came from,'' she said. ``The makeup reminds you of that. By working on the outer appearance, it changes your inner appearance of yourself.'' Goedde's group has been meeting with inmates at correctional facilities for the last two years. The Look For Success seminar is offered to women who are scheduled to be released soon. ''They provide them with a head start to get them back in the work force,'' said Janelle Hall, spokeswoman for the Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation Department. ``We love having the program. We don't see [the inmates] coming back to us as readily as they might have.'' Once the women are released, they can contact Goedde for free Estee Lauder makeup. Goedde also tells them about grants and helps them make plans to get a job or go back to school. ''It's a real boost for your self-esteem,'' said Robyn Dombeck, 43, who is serving six months for dealing prescription drugs. ``We tend to lose that in here. I'm in a 3X jumpsuit, wearing no makeup, and haven't styled my hair in ages. When they come in here and make you over, you are reminded that you are worth something. It makes you believe in second chances.'' |
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Excellent article. Very interesting to read. I really love to read such a nice article. Thanks! keep rocking. Ottawa Rims
These fashion trends for jail look quite abusive to me. I think that it would be better if all the trends in jail included permanent makeup tattoo, don't you think so? I know it's not the best idea, but it's at least better.
I consider this as a trend and people follow it a lot. When a new hair cut came on essay writing lab uk every person try to get it. And want to look beautiful with it.