Prison Ministry Team Report for January
UUS’s Prison Ministry Team (PMT) “endeavors to become informed advocates for justice and build relationships to decrease isolation of those confined in the Iowa Justice System.”  In November, the Team sent members to two events sponsored by other organizations supporting the incarcerated. First, about 15 people answered our call for volunteers to participate in Inside Out’s Trivia Night fundraiser, which took place in the UUS Fellowship Hall on November 6. That was enough for three tables. We didn’t win but were proud to do our part for a group that does incredibly valuable work helping the formerly incarcerated and their families adjust to life after prison.   Then at the end of the month, Team members and other volunteers attended an event called Artlinks, sponsored by the Prison Learning Initiative at Coe College. We viewed a virtual exhibit of artwork by individuals incarcerated in institutions around the country and were given the opportunity to write them and tell them what we thought of their art. The creativity on display was amazing, and truly inspiring.
Artlinks fit especially well with our own mission because one of the main ways we’re active is through our Pen Pal program. Members regularly correspond with incarcerated individuals either by “snail mail” or through the Iowa Department of Corrections’ o-mail system, CorrLinks. We are always looking for volunteers to write to inmates.  Incarcerated persons tell us over and over how important it is for them to hear from those of us outside. Just knowing that there are caring people who haven’t forgotten them and are willing to spend time writing to them is a deeply meaningful, positive experience for them.   And it is very rewarding for volunteers, too.  We can set you up with contacts, instructions for using CorrLinks and postal mail, and a sample introductory letter to use or modify as you see fit.  If you think you might be interested, please email prisonministry@uusic.org, and one of us will get back to you.
The UUA has a prison ministry through the Church of the Larger Fellowship, the Worthy Now Prison Ministry Network. They’re also looking for people to become pen pals to incarcerated individuals nationwide. For more information, go to worthynow.org.
The UUS Prison Ministry Team meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm in the UUS Conference Room. You are welcome to join us at our next meeting on January 2, 2024, either in person or via Zoom (Meeting ID: 848 0842 4430; Passcode: 193553).
