North Campus Alums Meet at The Riverside Church

AN EVENING OF REFLECTION AND FUN

AT THE RIVERSIDE CHURCH

 by Randy Outlaw

    On Thursday, August 27, members of NYTS faculty, alumnae and friends attended a dinner hosted by The Riverside Church.  The event recognized the 26 years the seminary has sponsored a unique graduate program in a correctional facility and the accomplishment of the graduates who attended the program.

    Dr. Dale Irvin, President of the seminary gave the key note address.  Dale reaffirmed the seminary’s commitment and talked about the real challenges confronting the seminary in order to continue operating a program that receives no grants or student loans.  On behalf of the seminary in its continuing effort to support the graduates, Dale revealed the seminary’s plan of developing a resource center.  The resource center will be of tremendous assistance to graduates being released after long terms of incarceration.

    Other speakers included Rev. Dr. Eleanor Moody-Shepherd, NYTS Vice President for Academic Affairs, Academic Dean, and long-time professor in the MPS Program, and The Rev. Bob Coleman, Chief Interim Program Minister and host of the evening, of the Riverside Church.  Both speakers provided personal experiences and information on the valuable services provided by the formerly incarcerated in the community and pledged their continued support.

        Randy Outlaw talked about the pivotal role the seminary played in his life and the lives of countless other men and the need for this story to be told.  He announced a project of compiling the stories of the graduates of the North Campus.  This project will tell the story of the men who have gone through the program and the impact it has had on their lives.  

    John Ducksworth, spoke about several ideas and the need for the graduates to support NYTS.  He committed to taking a leading role in forming a process group that would meet monthly and work on developing new initiatives.

    Several other members of the alumnae spoke.  This included, but is not limited to the Rev. Dr. Lonnie McLeod, Julio Medina, John Ducksworth, William Eric Waters, Joseph Jazz Hayden and James Cagle.   Everyone shared their experiences of integrating back into society and how they currently work to transform the community they once victimized.  These men who were all formerly incarcerated shared how they are executive directors, ministers, social workers, businessmen and fathers.

    NYTS through its efforts to offer educational opportunity to those who would have not had the chance has transformed lives, shed light where there was no light and created hope where there was none.  The dinner hosted by The Riverside Church is testimony to this fact. 

    The seminary offers special thanks to Lauren Grey Outlaw, who video taped the event.