Corrections_Today_September_October_2021_Vol.83_No.5

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never-ending inflow of new of - fenders into the prison system? One obvious answer is the often- neglected intersection of poverty and prison. IPP, which serves as the United Nations representative for the International Prison Chaplains Association (IPCA) has for several years conducted annual UN events on the intersection of poverty and prison at the UN Headquarters in New York City. With the newly es- tablished cooperation with the Hour Children organization, a next step is to seek partnership also with orga- nizations dedicated to poverty relief. With the newly established cooperation with the Hour Children organization, a next step is to seek partnership also with organizations dedicated to poverty relief. IPP is anxious to share its Adopt- A-Prison model, and assist in sowing seeds of inspiration, duplication and dialogue with correctional facilities, chaplain’s offices, municipalities and volunteer organizations in other parts of the country.

If we are ready to embrace the nothing is permanent except change proverb, and begin to see the need for acceptance of infrastructure, climate and social justice changes, are we not soon ready to embrace real and all-encompassing prison reform based upon an AAP com- munity model and other creative variations? When the new wind has blown through, peace will rule, and new joy will prevail. Such a promising future was envisioned long ago in poetic, biblical language; The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling togeth- er; and a little child will lead them. — Isaiah 16:2 (NIV), … and the child will no doubt be of the Hour Children tribe. Hans Hallundbaek, Director of the Interfaith Prison Partnership, earned his MA from Maryknoll School of Theology, his M-Div. and DMin. at New York Theological Seminary. He has served as an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City and spent twenty-five years as a volunteer teacher and service chaplain in local NYS prisons, including Sing Sing, Bedford Hills and Taconic Correctional Facilities. He is the co-founder of Rehabilitation Through the Arts (RTA), the UN NGO representative for the International Prison Chaplains Organization (IPCA) and CURE International, and can be reached at hanshall@optonline.net

These care packages give hope for a successful reentry. Photo courtesy Sharon Griest Ballen

independent and secure lives. This sentiment is captured by Sr. Tesa when she announced the newly established cooperation with IPP, by saying, “Relationships are at the heart of human growth and enable us to dream and act together in the spirit of God’s inclusive love for the common good. This captures the new relationship between Hour Children and IPP. Possibilities are limitless!” If we imagine the AAP commu- nity adoption model expanded into the close to 2,000 state and fed- eral prisons scattered coast-to-coast across this country, then Sr. Tesa’s reference to “limitless potential” takes on a bold vision of achievable proportions, even before the global prison potential is viewed. Poverty and prisons A key question lingers. What is the pipeline that feeds the seemingly

Sharon Griest Ballen, MSW, LCSW is the Program Coordinator, Interfaith Prison Partnership; Chair, Prison Relations Advisory Committee to the Town

of Bedford and NGO representative to the United Nations for the International Prison Chaplains Association

10 — September/October 2021 Corrections Today