Bringing Good People Back -The Challenge of Re-entry

Dallas, TX, January 12, 2015 (Newswire.com) - The Greater Dallas area averages 7000 inmates re-entering the metroplex each year. These individuals often face negative attitudes and difficulty in adapting to life outside prison walls. Instead of asking, "How do we keep 'bad' people out of our communities?, the question should be redirected. "How do we bring good people back?"

Mercury Bynum, area director for Prison Fellowship Ministries comments, “Crime is nothing new, and urban areas are particularly challenged since a majority of ex-prisoners return to cities looking for employment, housing and a second chance. Confronted with the high toll that incarceration takes on individuals, families, victims and the economy - cities need help. We are eager to be part of that effort in Dallas”.

Movement Day Greater Dallas leaders aim to provide that assistance. They desire to see communities fully collaborating in building and implementing effective strategies to reintegrate formerly incarcerated men and women returning to their cities. In a city wide effort leaders expect to witness a rise of "restorative churches" within communities who form an integral part of the re-entry continuum. With careful collaboration between organizations, each working within their own areas of expertise, new ways to address the ongoing needs of individuals and their communities impacted by incarceration can be developed.

On January 22, Movement Day Greater Dallas will address this and several other issues facing urban populations today. This interactive track hopes to shift the focus from simply discussing urban problems to exploring effective solutions. They intend to do this by offering caring ministry, biblical counseling, quality mentoring and accountability that begins inside prisons - and continues through a prisoner's release.

This interactive track is led by a local team dedicated to a positive re-entry experience:

Mercury Bynum, Area Director for Prison Fellowship Ministries, overseeing ministry operations for Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Tina Naidoo, MSSW, LCSW, Executive Director of the Texas Offender Reentry Initiative, a prisoner reentry program of The Potter's House church in Dallas, TX led by Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Harden Wiedemann, Regional Director of Alpha USA for the Dallas-Ft. Worth region.

Christina Melton Crain, President and CEO of Unlocking DOORS, Inc., a comprehensive statewide reentry network that provides case management, referrals and resources to individuals.

Candy Bradshaw, Program Director at Harmony Community Development, a faith-based community non-profit whose mission is to strengthen families and revitalize communities.

The track is designed for business leaders, public policy makers, educators, along with church and community leaders interested in learning how their organizations can creatively influence the culture and bring hope and healing to people affected by crime.

Movement Day Greater Dallas is a collaborative leadership initiative of The New York City Leadership Center founded by Dr. Mac Pier. As the first replication of Movement Day in New York City, MDGD is a model for expanding gospel movements in cities around the world. Our mission is to accelerate city transformation through Christian communities working together in the Greater Dallas area.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT

Movement Day Greater Dallas

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Dallas Convention Center

For more information visit www.MovementDayGreaterDallas.com