Inmates and their Families Contribute Art to Mid Valley Mentors Fundraiser
Santiam Correctional Institution made in-prison family art event possible, creations contributed to Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser auction on April 8th.
Salem, OR – March 28, 2011 – On Saturday evening March 26th, 4 inmates, their collective 16 children and 5 caregivers participated in a family art night at Santiam Correctional Institution (SCI). SCI and Department of Corrections (DOC) staff worked with Mid Valley Mentors over the past several months to make this unique event possible.
Mid Valley Mentors hosts an annual fundraiser to support its free mentoring programs that serve children and adults affected by incarceration. This fundraiser, titled “Brilliant Rubbish” features art made from recycled materials among other items in their auction. “Engaging inmates and their families in the creation of art allowed us to give them an opportunity to spend quality time together. Maintaining relationships with parents during incarceration is important for healthy parent-child relationships after release from prison,” explained Suzanne Jorgensen, Communications Director at Mid Valley Mentors. “The art they produced also gives us a platform to share our mission with the community, by sharing this experience with our supporters; we can easily illustrate the essence of our mission.”
“We were happy to collaborate with Mid Valley Mentors on this effort,” Sam Villagomez, Transition Services Manager at Santiam Correctional Institution, “we believe in Mid Valley Mentors’ mission and thought it was a win-win opportunity to engage with a local nonprofit while giving our inmates an opportunity to connect with their children.”
The art projects included 2 large mosaic posters with recycled objects attached to the surface, collage picture frames, painted vases, pen and pencil holders made from tin cans and fabric remnants, and a salvaged magazine holder with a multi-colored decoupage.
The children ranged in age from 4 to 17 years old and were accompanied by their mothers and grandmothers. SCI staff assisted with the art creation and supervised the visit. Mid Valley Mentors staff Suzanne Jorgensen and Katie Haglund planned and facilitated the art projects.
Brilliant Rubbish Fundraiser Details:
Friday April 8, 2011 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Mission Mill Museum, The Spinning Room
Tickets available online at: http://midvalleymentors.org/brilliantrubbish Or Call: 503-584-4865
Special Guests Include: Dave Sweeney (master of ceremonies), Dave Dahl of Dave’s Killer Bread (guest speaker), Singer Song-writer Mark Seymour (musical entertainment)
Presenting Sponsor: US Bank Gold Sponsor: Portland General Electric
Silver Sponsors: Comcast, Les Schwab Tires, NW Natural, Salem Electric
Bronze Sponsors: Covanta Energy Corporation, Kuebler Learning Center, Rural Metro Ambulance,
The Lulay Group
About Mid Valley Mentors
Mid Valley Mentors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency that has provided mentoring services to Marion and Polk counties since 2004. Mid Valley Mentors recruits, trains and matches volunteer mentors with youth affected by incarceration through its Juvenile Enrichment through Mentoring program and formerly incarcerated adults through its Reentry Solutions Program as part of the Marion County Reentry Initiative. Mid Valley Mentors is dedicated to engaging system-involved individuals in programs that educate, motivate and empower participants to create a positive life for themselves.
For more information, please visit www.MidValleyMentors.org.
Mid Valley Mentors Media Contact:
Suzanne Jorgensen Suzanne@midvalleymentors.org 503-584-4827
Santiam Correctional Institution Media Contact:
Susi Hodgin Susi.A.Hodgin@DOC.State.OR.US 503-378-5558 x259