Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/211425
STOPPING THE REVOLVING DOOR Inmate Ministry Foundation founder Dave Norris says family literacy programs like Read to Me can ease recidivism rates. Photo by mikecogh, via Flickr NEW FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM FOR JAIL INMATES AIMS TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER By Cooper Levey-Baker Associate Editor The idea for Read to Me started off pretty sim- here. Jail staff knew exactly whom to call: ply: Selby Public Library Manager Liz Nolan Dave Norris. read an article. The piece, published in Public Libraries magazine, detailed a New York Norris began volunteering in the county jail Public Library program that promotes literacy four years ago, when the Rev. Fausto Stampiglia at St. Martha Catholic in jails and among the Church challenged his children of incarcerThey all realize, all of a sudden, 'I congregation to take ated adults. The story "captured my imagi- don't have access to my children.' And Lent more seriously. nation," Nolan says, this is a way to keep the family "He inspired me to think about what else so she reached out to unit together. the Sarasota County I could do," Norris Dave Norris Co-Founder jail about launching says. He looked in the Inmate Ministry Foundation something like that church bulletin and