By Matthew Estes, Communications Director
Huntsville, Ala. – Growing through adversity often produces wise words, as it did for 11 Huntsville Day Reporting Center graduates at a commencement ceremony on Wednesday, August 21. Taking place at the Paradise Event Center, the small venue provided a close-knit atmosphere for graduates, DRC staff, and special guests to safely share their thoughts.
After a brief welcome by Huntsville DRC Administrator Arthur Mauldin, the audience welcomed Larry Miller, Instructional Service Center Director for J.F. Ingram State Technical College. He spoke about the unique perspective gained by the graduates through their time in incarceration. “You are the rightful caretakers of knowledge gained in adversity,” said Miller.
Miller cited the Martin Luther King Jr. quote: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.” He further encouraged graduates to continue their education, do their best in anything they set their mind to, and press on despite inevitable tough times ahead.
Afterwards, several DRC graduates gave their parting advice to the group. Nikki Howell thanked the group for their friendship during the journey and offered her support during the recovery process. Madison Greer reflected on the choices she made leading her to prison and discussed the mentality needed to actively make life changes: “I have learned that if you are willing to change and put forth the effort, you will succeed.”
“This is a very important milestone in your lives,” said DRC District Manager Stephanie Stewart in her closing speech to the group. “We want you all to be successful.” Indeed, if the low recidivism rates of the DRC programs are any indication, success is on the horizon for this group, and the Bureau is proud of their accomplishments.
DRCs provide counseling, educational training and supervision for probationers and parolees. With a focus on employment assistance, substance abuse treatment, mental health, and cognitive restructuring needs, DRC staff is committed to reducing recidivism rates and improving public safety through behavior change. Currently, full Day Reporting Centers are located in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, and Tuscaloosa. Day Reporting Center Lites, condensed versions of DRCs offering similar treatment, are located in Albertville, Bay Minette, Fort Payne, Opelika and Jasper.
