Scranton’s St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is set to launch a transformative program this January aimed at equipping formerly incarcerated individuals with essential workplace skills. By introducing Cypress House Bakery, the church hopes to foster a supportive community for some of Northeast Pennsylvania’s most at-risk populations.
“We are affirming their dignity and their ‘worthwhileness.’ I mean, these folks coming out of prison … they’ve paid their debt to society,” said Ken Goody, a board member, during a recent interview at the church.
After a decade of planning, the church’s initiative aims to empower former inmates by reinforcing their self-esteem. “In addition to them learning how to bake and manage a kitchen, we’re hoping to provide a real, constructive part of their personal recovery journey,” Goody added.
St. Luke’s will open its doors to the public on Friday, Dec. 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., inviting the community to explore its newly refurbished kitchen and engage with regional criminal justice experts. The event aligns with Scranton’s First Friday celebrations, promising warm snacks and coffee for attendees.
Pennsylvania’s Incarceration Challenge
With Pennsylvania ranking 28th in national incarceration rates and Lackawanna County at 23rd within the state, the issue of imprisonment is significant. The U.S. also leads globally in incarceration rates, setting a stark backdrop for initiatives like Cypress House.
Goody, alongside other board members, envisions a supportive network for program participants. Alejandra Marroquin, a board member and social worker, emphasized the initiative’s aim to offer referrals and support to those with challenging histories. “Most of the individuals (formerly incarcerated people) sometimes have difficult backgrounds, so we want to be a support for them,” she noted.
The Cypress House Baking Program
Unique in its approach, this program pays participants a “living wage” during their six-month training, estimated between $20 to $22 per hour. The initiative plans to host two annual sessions, each accommodating eight participants split between morning and evening classes.
Participants will be selected based on their interest in baking and culinary arts, with a focus on attaining a PA Certificate in Food Handling. The program also ensures flexibility for medical and legal appointments, as highlighted by Marroquin: “[We] give time for that person to go to that appointment … [unlike] regular employment … This will give space for that to happen.”
St. Luke’s envisions expanding its services and possibly adding a retail outlet in the future. The church collaborates with Mary Brotzman, a community reentry parole agent, to identify suitable candidates for the program. Reverend Tyler Parry, St. Luke’s Priest-in-Charge, noted, “As soon as we’re ready to go, she (Brotzman) has folks who are in need that she’s ready to send our way.”
Building a Supportive Network
The program is aligned with the State Transition Reentry Incentive Validating Endeavors program (STRIVE), which aids former inmates at risk of reincarceration. For more information on similar initiatives, explore the 2021 WVIA Documentary, A Call to CARE.
Thomas Vanaskie, a board member and one of the STRIVE program’s pioneers, emphasized the importance of ongoing support beyond parole. “We want to have that support network in place afterwards,” Vanaskie stated.
Affiliations and Broader Impact
Cypress House is part of the Homeboy Industries network, the world’s largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program. Homeboy Industries, led by Father Gregory Boyle, advocates for “radical kinship” and provides comprehensive support services.
Mike Jenkins, a Cypress board member, remarked on the program’s impact: “Whoever comes through the doors, we see them, and we see the goodness and godliness in them. And that changes the way that they interact [with themselves and other people,]” he said.
Reverend Parry reassured that the program is open to all, regardless of religious affiliation. “We look at people and say, you belong and I belong,” he concluded.
