M. H. West & Co., Inc. associates Julian House, Erica Cage and Joe Armstrong attended the Making Second Chances Work: A Conference for Grantees Committed to Successful Reentry. The event was held at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC and was sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice through the National Reentry Resource Center and the Justice Center. Being the first national Second Chance Act conference, it provided participants from across the nation the opportunity to network, discuss challenges and share experiences.
Making Second Chances Work: A Conference for Grantees Committed to Successful Reentry gave attendees a chance to learn from many reentry experts including:
- United States Senator Brownback (KS)
- United States Representative Danny Davis (IL)
- United States Representative Bobby Scott (VA)
- Director of Bureau of Justice Assistance, United States Department of Justice - Jim Burch
- Member of Council of State Governments Justice Center Board of Directors – Pat Colloton
- Director of Council of State Governments Justice Center – Michael Thompson
Joe Armstrong remarked that the lunchtime presentation; a conversation between Andres Idarraga, who was previously incarcerated but has gone on to graduate from Yale Law School, and A. T. Wall, the Director of Rhode Island Department of Corrections, was an inspiring example of what is possible when the system and individuals work together towards reentry.
WEST associate Justin House was one of 8000 people to attend a motivational seminar at the Richmond Coliseum on May 20th. The all day event included many high profile speakers such as: Terry Bradshaw, Rudy Giuliani, Sarah Palin and Colin Powell. Increasing productivity, setting goals and achieving them, take-charge leadership and making it through a crisis were all discussed during the day.
M. H. West & Co., Inc. associate Erica Cage is a member of the Greater Richmond Red Cross Leadership Development Council Class of 2010. Recently, she toured the American Red Cross Disaster Supply Warehouse. Erica commented on the size of the facility, noting that it is as large as 12 football fields. The warehouse can hold enough supplies for 500,000 people for 3 days.