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2009 CEC Alumni Association Annual BBQ on July 18 in Iselin, New Jersey
The Community Education Centers’ Alumni Association will hold its annual Alumni BBQ at Merrill Park in Iselin, New Jersey on Saturday July 18th. The day’s events start at 10 a.m. and will include activities for children, food, and entertainment.
“Last year’s Alumni BBQ saw hundreds of CEC ex-offenders who are now living law-abiding lives return and celebrate their freedom and sobriety. I cannot express what a good feeling it is to see these men and women taking full advantage of their second chances. Our alumni have shed the name ‘ex-offender’ and are now fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, and are giving back to their communities,” said Arthur Townes, Director of the CEC Alumni Association.
The CEC Alumni Association assists offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community through the provision of supportive services as they face the obstacles and difficulties associated with remaining pro-social members of their families and community. The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program.
The Alumni Association remains very active in the community through local service projects at churches and also speaking engagements with at risk youths. Later in the month, the Wyoming branch of the Alumni Association will hold its annual barbeque in Casper, Wyoming.
The BBQ Begins at 10 a.m. and goes until dusk.
Location: Merrill Park, Iselin, New Jersey at Groves 1 a,b,c
The Alumni Association
The Alumni Association represents the aftercare component to CEC'S continuum of care reentry treatment model. CEC’s Alumni Association offers resources and support services to assist graduates of CEC’s New Jersey and Pennsylvania based reentry programs so that they may successfully reenter society.
“The Alumni Association provides a resource for all the residents who leave our facilities, helping them find jobs, housing, education, and self help groups like NA, AA, and GA. The Alumni Association also helps get participants reintegrated in the community,” said Arthur Townes, Director of the Alumni Association. “Anyone who has been incarcerated wants to change. CEC and the Alumni Association provide a window of opportunity to help them through the process,” added Mr. Townes. Residents interested in joining the Alumni Association meet with association staff prior to their release to determine their long-term career aspirations.
The Alumni Association helps place individuals in the Essex and Hudson County College Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) programs, which provide educational opportunities to ex-offenders. Those interested in vocational training can connect with DeVry, the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, auto-mechanic schools, and culinary arts classes. Providing alumni with linkages to these programs redirects individuals away from a life of criminality by providing the security of a job or an education.
Partnering with the Community
The Alumni Association partners with local businesses and organizations, local construction companies, and the City of Newark to help alumni find jobs. Recent holiday seasons have foud the Alumni Association partnering with the Newark City Council to distribute over 3,000 turkeys to needy people in Newark and also holiday food and gift drives for local families.
“We are trying to show that we (the alumni) are different people than we were the last time we were out in the community. The alumni want an opportunity to work,” said Mr. Townes. Last year, the Alumni Association held a job fair for ex-offenders—the first of its kind in New Jersey—which drew over 300 CEC Alumni. Among the sixteen vendors in attendance were the City of Newark, Dunkin Donuts, and the Newark Mayor’s Office of Employment and Training.
Alumni Provide Hope and Understanding
Ex-offenders face many situations upon returning home that challenge their continued freedom. Some return to situations where enablers increase the likelihood of a relapse. Others feel isolated after their incarceration, finding it difficult to share their feelings with family and friends who may not understand the emotions involved during a period of incarceration.
“The Alumni Association provides a foundation of support and helps residents get through the process of change. It also helps residents to know that there are other people who can relate to their experiences,” said Mr. Hooper. The Alumni Association also holds monthly meetings at CEC’s New Jersey facilities, including Tully House, Delaney Hall, Talbot Hall, and Bo Robinson, as well as at the Coleman Hall facility located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. "When residents hear alumni talk about how they’ve changed their lives, it helps them buy into the process,” said Mr. Townes.
Alumni meetings have been instrumental in the continued recovery of many program graduates, including Jenette Thomas, a former Delaney Hall resident who attends the majority of the alumni meetings.
“Somebody told me that if I chased my recovery like I chased drugs, I would survive, so that’s what I do,” said Ms. Thomas, who has been drug-free for two years, is a Certified Public Accountant, and operates her own business. “It’s important that people know that I’m clean and sober and I’m showing up because that consistency might help somebody.”
While the Alumni Association is a crucial aftercare component for the residents, the meetings are also beneficial for CEC staff, according to Mr. Townes. “I think it’s very important that the staff comes to these Alumni meetings and picnics so they can see how they have helped in the residents’ recovery,” said Mr. Townes. ”Seeing a resident reconnect with their family or just doing the right thing is an amazing experience. It is rejuvenating to witness a resident’s success. Their success is our success.”
ALUMNI NEWS
January 2009
CEC Alumni and Tully Residents Volunteer to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
CEC alumni and current parolees at Tully House joined the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy through volunteer work at the Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday. Lead by Arthur Townes, CEC Alumni Association Director, the volunteers cleaned up the streets around the church and served as mentors for local area addicts.
“Each offender that successfully reenters society represents a realization of the world Dr. King strove to create. The Alumni Associations’ takes great honor in continuing Dr. King’s work by providing resources to ex-offenders so that they may realize their dreams of leading productive and meaningful lives. The parolees and CEC Alumni here today are perfect examples of the spirit behind Dr. King’s legacy of compassion and understanding,” said Arthur Townes.
The volunteer work was preceded by a ceremony where nearly 200 guests listened to speakers including CEC Alumni, New Jersey State Parole Board officials, Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, the Rev. M. William Howard Jr. of Bethel Church, and the Rev. Reginald Osborne of Bethel Worldwide Ministries.
“As today’s volunteer work was about looking back to honor Dr. King’s work, it was also about looking forward. I would like to thank all of the Alumni and residents of Tully House who dedicated their time to this effort,” added Director Townes.
The CEC Alumni Association assists offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community through the provision of supportive services as they face the obstacles and difficulties associated with remaining pro-social members of their families and community. The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program.
July 2008
Alumni Association Holds Annual Barbeque
The CEC Alumni Association held its annual barbeque at Merrill Park in Iselin, New Jersey. The event celebrated the successful reentry of Community Education Centers’ (CEC) program graduates back into their communities.
“CEC takes great pride in the aftercare of the individuals we provide treatment for. The Alumni Association continues to provide resources for our residents to ensure their successful community reentry,” said Arthur Townes, Director of the Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program. The Alumni Association assists these ex-offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community. As mentors, alumni are available to offenders, before and after release, to provide referral assistance and encourage them to set goals, find jobs, and utilize social services.
This year the Alumni Association has participated in numerous volunteer projects that have bettered the communities and lives they have touched. In March, the association shared their experiences and provided inspirational messages to New Jersey youth at a Juvenile Detention Center in Paramus, New Jersey. Lead by Arthur Townes, CEC Alumni Association Director, the alumni lead discussions on decision making, choices, substance abuse, goals and aspirations, and peer pressure. In January, the Alumni Association teamed up with the New Jersey State Parole Board to volunteer at Bethel Family and Youth Resources in Newark, New Jersey to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
The Alumni Association holds monthly meetings at CEC’s New Jersey facilities, including Tully House, Delaney Hall, Talbot Hall, Logan Hall and Bo Robinson, as well as Coleman Hall located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the meetings, alumni return to speak with current residents and share stories about their journey toward successful community reentry.
July 2008
Wyoming Alumni Assocaiton Holds Second Annual Barbeque
Over one hundred and fifty people attended the second annual Wyoming Alumni Association Annual Barbeque in Casper, Wyoming. Alumni of the Casper Re-Entry Center (CRC), Community Education Centers’ 400-bed residential reentry center in Casper Wyoming, were joined by family and friends to celebrate their successful reentry.
“I am very proud of the journey these men have taken. To see so many living productive lives is a testament to efforts of all the staff at the Casper Re-Entry Center,” said Jim Piro, Deputy Director at CRC.
The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program. The Alumni Association assists these ex-offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community. As mentors, alumni are available to offenders, before and after release, to provide referral assistance and encourage them to set goals, find jobs, and utilize social services.
“Carrying the momentum from our first barbeque, our second one had an even greater turnout and we look forward to continuing the great tradition of the Alumni Association at our Western Operations,” added Mr. Piro.
ALUMNI NEWS
January 2009
CEC Alumni and Tully Residents Volunteer to Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
CEC alumni and current parolees at Tully House joined the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and legacy through volunteer work at the Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday. Lead by Arthur Townes, CEC Alumni Association Director, the volunteers cleaned up the streets around the church and served as mentors for local area addicts.
“Each offender that successfully reenters society represents a realization of the world Dr. King strove to create. The Alumni Associations’ takes great honor in continuing Dr. King’s work by providing resources to ex-offenders so that they may realize their dreams of leading productive and meaningful lives. The parolees and CEC Alumni here today are perfect examples of the spirit behind Dr. King’s legacy of compassion and understanding,” said Arthur Townes.
The volunteer work was preceded by a ceremony where nearly 200 guests listened to speakers including CEC Alumni, New Jersey State Parole Board officials, Newark City Council President Mildred Crump, the Rev. M. William Howard Jr. of Bethel Church, and the Rev. Reginald Osborne of Bethel Worldwide Ministries.
“As today’s volunteer work was about looking back to honor Dr. King’s work, it was also about looking forward. I would like to thank all of the Alumni and residents of Tully House who dedicated their time to this effort,” added Director Townes.
The CEC Alumni Association assists offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community through the provision of supportive services as they face the obstacles and difficulties associated with remaining pro-social members of their families and community. The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program
July 2007
Alumni Association Holds Annual Barbeque
Hundreds of ex-offenders from across New Jersey gathered at Merrill Park in Iselin, New Jersey for the Alumni Associations’ Annual Barbeque. The event celebrated the successful reentry of Community Education Centers’ (CEC) program graduates back into their communities.
“The Annual Alumni Barbeque is truly a celebration of the success stories for individuals that have been through our programs. To see their accomplishments in the face of such obstacles is incredible,” said Keith Hooper, Director of the Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association is comprised of former offenders who have successfully completed a CEC program. The Alumni Association assists these ex-offenders in their transition from treatment back into the community. As mentors, alumni are available to offenders, before and after release, to provide referral assistance and encourage them to set goals, find jobs, and utilize social services.
“To see the faces and hear the stories of those who have succeeded and are living productive lives is a remarkable experience,” added Mr. Hooper.
Under a perfect summer day children got their faces painted, alumni listened to music, and enjoyed food barbequed by Robert Felder of The Harbor. Alumni Association staff Deynia Edwards and Joseph Moore were in attendance. The Alumni Association also handed out voter registration forms.
CEC Honors Alumni Director in Dedication Ceremony of Logan Hall
Newark, New Jersey (January 13, 2006)—Community Education Centers (CEC) held a dedication ceremony in honor of Abdussalaam Logan on January 4th for his enduring commitment to helping fellow alumni successfully transition back into their communities. In recognition of Mr. Logan’s devotion to the alumni program, CEC has renamed Toler Hall as Logan Hall. Since overcoming many personal challenges and leaving Talbot Hall in 2000, Mr. Logan provided a source of strength and inspiration to countless CEC alumni in their effort to reenter society.
“CEC is pleased to dedicate and rename Toler Hall as Logan Hall in recognition of Mr. Logan’s efforts and the profoundly positive influence he has had on alumni,” said John Clancy, President and CEO of Community Education Centers. Mr. Logan passed away on January 11, 2006 and his presence will be deeply missed
