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Women's Reentry Symposium 2013
Lifetime Makeover: Reclaiming My Life
On Saturday, February 9, 2013, female returning citizens enjoyed a day of enriching programing in a pro-social environment at the Temple of Praise Church located at 700 Southern Avenue SE.
This event gave the ladies an opportunity to discuss mental health issues, drug treatment, trauma and personal relationships with the panelists.
Returning citizen, now entertainer, Lamont Carey, shared his own story of how coming up in a dysfunctional family led to him going to prison. He encouraged the women to "set realistic standards" for their partners.
Kemba Smith, author of the book Poster Child, spoke to the women, many with whom she actually served time in prison, about her experiences with the criminal justice system. She commended CSOSA for concentrating on previously incarcerated women and offering programs focused on their needs.
The Symposium featured a resource fair that brought the women together with community resource providers that can deliver some of the assistance necessary to meet their needs.
Samaritan's Feet shared a message of hope and provided free athletic shoes to the ladies.
A fashion makeover event allowed the reentrants an opportunity to select clothing, donated by staff and partner organizations that will allow them to appropriately dress for job interviews and work.
Some of the ladies modeled their clothing for the other program participants.
The Washington Post wrote a very favorable article about the participants: Former Inmates Get a Makeover Inside and Out.
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As a Federal agency with a distinctly local mission, CSOSA employees perform challenging work that directly affects public safety in the District of Columbia's neighborhoods.
