MISSION

Interfaith Prison Partnership mission is to increase awareness and encourage change regarding the plight of those imprisoned in this country in what are often difficult and deplorable conditions. We strive to encourage and expand humanity’s connection with imprisoned men and women – and their families – in the areas of rehabilitation, reconciliation, reentry back into society, and spiritual development. We seek to do this work in conjunction with community members, area houses of worship and/or civic groups, and local government, in cooperation with the criminal justice system and prison authorities.

PRESENTER BIOS

Rev. Siobhan Sargent began her career in faith-based community organizing. For the past twelve years she has worked in parish ministry, both in NYC where she served as Associate Pastor of the Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew, and in White Plains where she currently serves as Senior Pastor at Memorial United Methodist Church. She has newly stepped into the role of  Director of Interfaith Prison Partnership after having served on their advisory board. Rev. Sargent’s gifts rest in developing leaders within the church community. With a heart for social justice, Rev. Sargent believes that the “Good News” of the Gospel is found in sharing Jesus’ radical message of love with the least, the lost and the marginalized.

Janet B. Donat, M.Ed. has been working for Family Services of Westchester since 2007 as a Program Coordinator within the Restorative Justice Department and Mental Health Specialist in the Head Start and Early Step Forward Programs.  In 2009 Ms. Donat created the EMERGE Program  (Educating Mothers to Embrace Re-entry and Gain Employment) a pre-release/re-entry program for incarcerated mothers at the Westchester County Department of Correction.  In this capacity she has worked with Westchester Department of Community Mental Health to launch the Bonds Beyond Bars Sub Committee, Resilience Coalition and multiple “Learn at Lunch” programs providing community education and advocacy around the impact of incarceration on the children in our county. Janet was instrumental in bringing the Coming Home – a re-entry program focused on the creation of restorative community – to women in Westchester County through collaboration with the Reformed Church of Bronxville, Rye Presbyterian Church and Memorial United Methodist Church in White Plains.

Pamela Zimba graduated from Bard College with an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts through the Bard Prison Initiative in 2017. Her personal experience inspires her to advocate for criminal justice reform and to be a voice for all formerly and currently incarcerated women. Shortly after being released in 2018, Pamela was accepted to the Ford Foundation Associate Fellowship. This led to her being hired directly by the Ford Foundation where she now works as a Program Assistant within the Gender, Racial, Ethnic Justice department. Pamela’s areas of focus are Reproductive Justice and Mass Incarceration. She is currently on the advisory board of Interfaith Prison Partnership working to address the lack of transitional housing available to individuals returning to the community after incarceration. In addition, Pamela serves on Assembly Member Chris Burdick’s Correction Advisory Committee and is a New York State Defenders Associate. Her future plans include more direct advocacy and policy change.

Zoom Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7217578038?pwd=N1RCZWhwcTRuU2gwYVY2ZjZ3K3hCQT09

Meeting ID: 721 757 8038

Passcode: inpeace

Dial in +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)

Meeting ID: 721 757 8038

Passcode: 7644637