PRESS RELEASE - March 27, 2000

Contacts:

Paul Gerald, Media Relations (503) 239-7324 or gerald@betterpeople.org

Chip Shields, Exec. Director (503) 281-2663 or shields@betterpeople.org

On the web betterpeople.org

From the Jailhouse to the Workplace:

10 Citizens to Graduate

as Better People

On Thursday, March 30, 10 people will officially be recognized as Better People, not just better workers.

In a 6 p.m. ceremony at Lutheran Inner City Ministries, 4219 NE MLK Blvd., these 10 people will be honored for completing Better People's 12-step program of recovery, known as Moral Reconation Therapy. They will give testimonials as friends and family show their support.

If you'd like to attend the ceremony, please call Better People at 281-2663 by Tuesday.

These 10 graduates have literally gone from the jailhouse to the workplace as a result of their participation in Better People's 12-Step MRT program. Once they were offenders, and all of them spent time in prison. Now they are working for at least $8 per hour plus health benefits.

Here is an excerpt from a written testimonial from Better People's last graduation:

"I am a 24-year-old single mother in recovery, and it is time for me to make a better life for me and my son. There was a point where I lost control over the crime and the drugs, and they gained control over me. When I started (MRT) I was on welfare, living with others, and not happy. Now I have a good paying job, a management position, have my own car and apartment, and am truly happy."

This is Better People's third graduation ceremony and will bring the total number of graduates to 30. Only one of those 30 has gone back to prison. KGW-Channel 8 did a story on the last graduation. The read that report, click here; to see it in RealPlayer format (2-3 minutes to download), click here.

If you'd like to find out more about how to get involved in Better People's program, click here.