The Hot Sheet

Roxanne Banks-Williams, Director of Education & Training

As an organizer for the PA League of Young Voters Education Fund, one of the most rewarding experiences has always been the outreach we do at the jails (like the Allegheny County Jail and the Schuman Juvenile Detention Center). Most often we have found that the inmates or residents are genuinely happy to have us visit them. They are not only happy to see us, but they appreciate the message that we are bringing to them. They are happy to know that we care enough to make sure they know their rights as citizens, and that we are helping to make sure their voices are heard and their votes are counted.

Every once in a while we get a special request. Usually people ask if we are hiring. We are not usually able to help much there. Sometimes we are asked for connections to resources. We are sometimes able to assist with that stuff. Then, sometimes we come across someone who just needs a little love.

This time around we met a young lady named Tracey. She was especially receptive to us when we visited with her and the other ladies in the Second-Chance Parenting program at the Allegheny County Jail. I think she may have felt the friendly vibe and the unconditional love that brings us to this work. She went out on a limb and wrote Carly and I both letters. She basically told her story, and how she appreciated our work, and asked for help…she asked for a friend. She has no family here, and the family she has left has disowned her. She is away from her native home of Philadelphia, and her mom passed away while she was incarcerated here in Pittsburgh. She gets no letters, no visits, has no one to call… More »