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| Ariz. Prison Program Helps Women Cook Up New Life |
| By Arizona Republic |
| Published: 04/01/2003 |
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Their classroom is a fully equipped kitchen with a stainless steel counter. They chop vegetables, plan menus and clean the kitchen. But the knives are attached to the counter with metal cords, and other utensils are locked in a gray metal box, because in addition to serving appetizing meals, these students are serving time for their crimes. Since June, 26 women at the Arizona State Prison at Perryville have joined a four-month Prison to Work program conducted in association with the Northern Arizona University School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. 'They know they have made mistakes in the past and they are getting whatever this place has to offer,' program Manager Barbara Carlton said. 'But the students move with the knives. The knives don't move with the students.' Inmate Julie Hollibaugh, who said she couldn't even boil water before the classes, said the program has given her confidence. 'It doesn't matter what kind of day I have. It will always end my day on a positive note,' said Hollibaugh, 35, a mother of two boys. 'A lot of people get depressed in here. It is an easy thing to fall into. I go to class each day and come out with self-esteem.' NAU Associate Dean Galen Collins spent three years visiting prisons, writing the program curriculum, raising funds and working with prison officials to bring the program to fruition. He became interested after his brother, Daniel, ended up behind bars. 'With a strong community effort, someday we can have prisons viewed as learning centers without revolving doors,' Collins said. The program is geared to help smooth the move from the restrictions of prison life to the freedoms of public life. 'They really need to have a game plan and it starts in the prison,' Collins said. And the work-study has had some success, with 100 percent of the students passing the ServSafe test and receiving a nationally recognized certification card for food handler's safety that exceeds Arizona standards. 'When I give out the certificates, you can see the look of accomplishment on their face,' Carlton said. 'We try to teach them it is all about choices. We want them to grow to become successful members of society and we want to take away their excuses.' Of the 15 graduates, 11 have been released from prison and three have full-time jobs. Three others are working part-time for Smokey O's Roast Pigs & Catering Inc. in Phoenix. 'We hired them to let them know there are people out there who will give them a second chance and give them a little hope so they don't lose faith in themselves,' said Ben Villa, the manager of Smokey O's. Even though the prison offers other programs for certifications in construction and automotive work, the culinary program stands out because it teaches life skills, including making decisions and managing stress. 'They roll everything into one,' said Tracy McAra, 26, who was released in February. 'It is comprehensive, everything you will need when you leave prison.' McAra of Glendale is working full time as a customer service representative and part time at a retail store. Women like McAra leave prison with customer service training, interviewing skills, a resume and a gift basket with personal hygiene items donated by local businesses. 'Honestly, for some of these women just to have a resume to take out of here is huge,' said inmate Tina Horner, 29. 'It is a big deal for them to have interview skills.' Horner, who graduated from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale with a bachelor's of science in health care administration, never thought she would land in prison. 'I have a good family life, good educational background. You think you are living life but I was really just going through the motions,' said Horner, in prison on drug charges. The program helped her deal with personal issues that got her in prison, Horner said. The women meet three times a week for group counseling and they are encouraged to keep journals to discover and resolve personal issues. The program also offers support after the women are released. Staff member Corliss Rodgers helps them find jobs. She calls them at least three times the first few weeks they are out and continues to track the women as they settle into their new lives. But the women say they are worried that having a criminal record will make it more difficult to find good employment. 'It is not easy,' McAra said. 'I cried when I got out. I am a very smart individual and I have a lot of skills but I was denied a job so many times. I was frustrated because all they see is the felonies. A lot of companies can't see past that.' Horner said she expects to have a tough time finding a job but plans to use the challenge to her advantage. 'It makes you push yourself,' she said. 'OK, life isn't going to be that easy now. I really have to push myself for something I really want to do. Eventually I want to work with teenage women to build up their self-esteem so they don't end up in the same position.' The program is funded by a $333,000 Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE) grant, and a $50,000 donation for equipment and food from Canteen Correctional Services, a food service company for prisons. |
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