From Imprisonment to Inspiration

Empowering Returning Citizens
and Creating Pathways to Success

 COMPASSION WORKS FOR ALL is sponsoring a 4-hour workshop on Wednesday, April 22nd from 1-5pm at Red and Blue Venue, located at 1415 West 7th Street across from the Arkansas State Capitol. While we are still in the planning process, we would like to share with EBS our ideas and welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

EBS and CWFA evolved throughout the 1980’s to the present as sister organizations with many of the same participants bringing a focus on meditation, healing and growth both to an ecumenical meditation center and to the prisons. We both became non-profits on the same day thanks to our participant, Caran Curry, and now both organizations are having our 20th year of collaborating and supporting each other, and all those we serve.

The event will begin with two men who spent years in Arkansas prisons discussing the powerful changes which can occur when we change our vision of people’s humanity as reflected in our communication and relationships. We want to encourage all people to see a mirror of the best of themselves when others interact with them, rather than being looked down on. The panel will be called RETURNING CITIZENS. This phrase is an excellent example of the difference we project with “returning citizens” versus “inmates out on parole.” Their stories are powerful and should be enlightening to all in attendance. They found healing in very difficult circumstances. 

Following their presentation, there will be nonprofit groups who will briefly discuss how they are involved with “citizens” that are often challenged with incarceration and will shed insight on why they may struggle with going in and out of prison. We hope The Ecumenical Buddhist Society would like to host a table and speak to those in attendance about the offerings of EBS. Other non-profits invited will be: Wolf Street, Prison Yoga, Centers for Youth and Families, Compassion Works for All, Land Management, and DecARcerate. There is no cost for the table, participants may hand out your flyers, and there is no cost for attending the event. 

The second panel will be led by Dr. Mary Parker, former ADC Board of Corrections Board Member. The panelist will include representatives from: Arkansas Department of Parole, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, Canvas Community Church and WOLF Street. The purpose of the panel is to give data and explore why our prison population continues to grow in Arkansas. Presently, the ‘working title’ for this panel will be “Humanizing Those in Our Prisons.” (We are open for title suggestions!)

The event will close by awarding the Arkansas Democrat Gazette the CWFA Community Leadership Award. During 2025-26, the Democrat Gazette has covered over 20 stories about prisons in Arkansas and educated Arkansans about multiple areas of concern. If you have any thoughts that might help us in developing our event, please contact Doug or Renie. We would welcome your input and hope to have many EBS members there.