King's birthday celebrated at Wabash Valley Correctional Facility

It was an afternoon of joyous music and stirring excerpts from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches as King's birthday was celebrated Saturday at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility in Carlisle.

It was the 10th year that the Unitarian Universalist Church (UUC) choir of Bloomington, under the direction of Susan Swaney, and the talented African American Indiana University Choral Ensemble entertained at the event.

Guy Loftman, a member of the Bloomington UUC who has organized the event each year, says it is a day to recognize Dr. Martin Luther King and to respect everyone.

"One time, I was told that we Universalists like to talk about prisoners so why didn't we do something about it," noted Loftman. "After we started coming here, it became the high point of our year. Many people want to forget these people (offenders), but one day a year I like to remember them. I recognize they are like the rest of us out here but got caught making mistakes."

One of the ministers from the Unitarian Church, Bill Breeden, said he understands the feelings of some of the offenders.

"I was arrested and in prison for a non-violent disobedience and spent one night in solitary confinement," Breeden explained. "That convinced me that I should visit these people."

He added that the choir members were apprehensive about visiting the prison the first year they performed.

"Each year they come away blessed and honored to have had the opportunity to entertain the inmates," Breeden added.

Phillip Strowd, one of the inmates enjoying the program, said everyone has to work together to make Dr. King's dream come true, and on a personal level focus on his (King's) role in trying to stop crime.

The King celebration as well as all special events at the WVCF are organized by Linton resident David Wence who is the prison's community service director.

With a program such as the MLK celebration, Wence has to have all names of visitors attending and the musical instruments they are bringing in.

"That was a large groups coming in at one time today," Wence said. "It is also necessary to have all names of offenders who are attending the program. Twenty percent of the prison's population are here today."

In addition to organizing special programs, Wence helps recruit and maintain volunteers for other programs such as the Inside/Out Dads program and trains interns from local colleges.

"WVCF has several different programs that help reintegrate offenders back into the community, and a lot of those programs are co-facilitated by volunteers," Wence explained. "Wabash Valley has the lowest recidivism rate in the State of Indiana with 97 percent of prisoners released. That wouldn't be possible without volunteers."

For additional information regarding special programs or volunteering, call Wence at (812) 398-5050, ext 3205.