Jail Brakers to present true life stories of the recently incarcerated and their families

On Saturday, April 8, a panel of members of Jail Brakers present a compelling series of stories related to being in prison and being a mother of a child in prison from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tree of Life Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 5603 Bull Valley Road in McHenry.

The panel members are inspired to use their personal experience as a vehicle for change, according Jail Brakers founder Cheryl Niemo, "Their stories help to illustrate many common themes and prophetically inspire a paradigm shift, on an individual scale as well as on societal and institutional levels."

Jail Brakers is an organization of people who have been or are in prison, as well family members of incarcerated individuals. The group offers support, increases awareness of special needs to develop more meaningful recourses and policies for this underserved population, and aims at reducing the stigma of incarceration to remove barriers to a health reintegration into society.

The program, which is co-sponsored by the church's Social Justice Team, is funded by a grant from the McHenry County Foundation.

The program is free and open to the public.

For information, find the Facebook event page, "Jail Brakers Present Story Time," or call the Tree of Life office at (815) 322-2464.