BLACK CHURCH LEADER OFFERS HELP TO VICTIMIZED WOMEN
More than one in every 100 U.S. adults are imprisoned, and the female prisoner population is growing faster than the male population. -Pew Center on the States, 2008(1)
DALLAS, -- In an effort to reduce recidivism and help formerly incarcerated women transition back to their community, Bishop T.D. Jakes along with the Texas Offenders Re-entry Initiative (TORI), is reaching out to female ex-offenders during the Woman Thou Art Loosed conference held Oct. 15-17 at The Potter's House in Dallas. Woman, Thou Art Loosed is designed to uplift and strengthen all women despite their circumstances and encourage them to find support and hope in one another and in God.
Through TORI, 100 women will be given an opportunity to attend Woman, Thou Art Loosed for no charge. In preparation for the conference, TORI clients are participating in a free, eight-week Woman, Thou Art Loosed workshop. The courses take a spiritual and holistic approach to addressing key issues and teaching women how to access resources to help break cycles of substance abuse and domestic violence. The curriculum incorporates a message of hope, which is the vital ingredient to initiate change.
Other assistance for women falls under MegaCARE, a non-profit organization that addresses educational, health, and social issues in communities worldwide. For this year's Woman, Thou Art Loosed conference, MegaCARE is partnering with several Dallas-based organizations that provide counseling, intervention, housing and case management services for women facing domestic abuse and chemical dependency. In conjunction with partnerships with various organizations, including, The Family Place, LifeNet, Center of Hope, Genesis Shelter and In The City For Good, MegaCARE is sponsoring more than 200 women to attend Woman, Thou Art Loosed.
Registration is required for Woman, Thou Art Loosed. Attendees can register by calling 1.800.BISHOP.2 for pricing, specific event information and hotel accommodations or by visiting www.wtal.org.
A globally recognized church of more than 30,000 members located in Dallas, The Potter's House strives to be the voice and hand that encourages all people to change their lives with hope, comfort and peace. The church is led by Bishop T. D. Jakes, twice featured on the cover of Time magazine as "America's Best Preacher" and as one of this nation's "25 most influential evangelicals." Jakes founded TORI and MegaCARE.
(1) http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/One%20in%20100.pdf
SOURCE The Potter's House
