Jail Brakers Offers Story Time at Woodstock Public Library

On Saturday, June 22 Jail Brakers will present Our Story, a special story time for the children and families of incarcerated individuals at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 West Judd Street from 10 to 11 am.

Cheryl Niemo, the Executive Director of Jail Brakers said, “When a family member is involved in the justice system it can be hard to connect to other who understand.  Our program connects families with shared experiences by listening to each other’s stories to build community.”

Jail Brakers is an organization of people who have been or are in prison as well family members of incarcerated individuals which offers support, increases awareness of special needs to develop more meaningful resources and policies for this under-served population, and aims at reducing the stigma of incarceration to remove barriers to a health reintegration into society. It is an independent ministry of the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation in McHenry.

The program will include a story time and craft project.  Refreshments will be shared.  It is free and open to the public.  Drop-ins are welcome.

For information contact Cheryl Niemo at 224 422-7431,  e-mail   jailbrakers@gmail.com or visit the Facebook Event .

Jail Brakers Presents True Life Stories of the Recently Incarcerated and Their Families

On Saturday, April 8 from 10 am to Noon a panel of members of Jail Brakers present a compelling series of stories related to being in prison and being a mother of a child in prison at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

The panel members are “Inspired to use their personal experience as a vehicle for change,” according Jail Brakers founder Cheryl Niemo, “Their stories help to illustrate many common themes and prophetically inspire a paradigm shift, on an individual scale as well as on societal and institutional levels.”

Jail Brakers founder Cheryl Niemo.

Jail Brakers is an organization of people who have been or are in prison as well family members of incarcerated individuals which offers support, increases awareness of special needs to develop more meaningful resources and policies for this underserved population, and aims at reducing the stigma of incarceration to remove barriers to a healthy reintegration into society.  

 

The program is co-sponsored by the Tree of Life UU Congregation Social Justice Team and is funded by a grant from the McHenry County Foundation.

The program is free and open to the public.

For information visit the Facebook Event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/1915365392083507/  or call the Tree of Life office at 815 322-2464.