Join Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), in collaboration with Kingdom Builders Network (KBN), on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day 2020 at 9am for a day of celebration and service as we remember those in prison whom are often forgotten and discarded from communities. Thank you to The City School (Poplar Campus) for hosting this event!
We will hear from a panel of returning citizens and professionals working alongside returning citizens as they share their stories discussing the impact of mass incarceration on relationships. Together, we'll explore the role of the church in reaching out to returning citizens and walking alongside them as they are reconciled into society.
We will also assemble donated basic hygiene items into care kits for those currently in prison as a way to meet their needs and restore hope and dignity in a place that often seems hopeless. This year, we'll be assembling men's AND women's prisoner care kits! Please bring along kit items or donate money before the event so that we can purchase supplies for both of these kits. Our goal for this event is to pack 400 men's kits and 400 women's kits. For a full list of men's and women's kit contents, keep reading!
Monetary donations for kits can be made here! Please be sure to indicate "East Coast Prisoner Care Kits" in the comments section.
At the event, we'll also enjoy spoken word poetry performed by Cornelius Daye and interpretive dance by Tyeshia Williams. Art pieces will be on display and for sale by local Philadelphia artists Suave Gonzalez and Mark Loughney (presented by Yvonne Newkirk, an advocate). (Visit Mark's blog here!) We also look forward to collaborating on the creation of a mural facilitated by local artist Lauren Vargas. (Visit Lauren's blog here!)
Light refreshments will be provided with thanks to our event sponsors, Clemens Food Group and Herr's Potato Chips.
There will be no supervised children's activities. We think this event is ideal for parents with children ages 5 and up.
To register online and learn more, click here.