Former professional athletes were among the motivational speakers who met with Lake County jail inmates Saturday, officials said.
Former NFL pro-football players Mike McCoy and William Green, along with Tanya Crevier, a former pro basketball player and Paul Wrenn, a former pro weightlifter were keynote speakers during the event.
They were a part of a Dallas-based ministry called “Behind the Walls,” led by Bill Glass, also a former NFL player, according to the website, http://www.behindthewalls.com
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.For the past eight years, Sheriff Mark Curran has invited the group to speak. Over 500 of the approximately 670 inmates voluntarily participated in either the group sessions or spoke with counselors in one-on-one sessions, according to Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Christopher Covelli.
Although there are no studies gathering data about how such motivational speakers impact inmates, Curran said the high participation rate is encouraging.
“When hearts are hard, they are going to be cynical about this, and not leave their cells,” Curran said. “When they are willing to come down and admit they need this message, that speaks volumes about the possibility for conversion.”
Curran’s goal is to continually provide programs to inmates that may help them leave jail as better people than when they arrived, he said. Faith-based programs, like Glass’ “Behind the Walls,” resonate with the inmates, he added.
“Some of the inmates get emotionally teary,” the sheriff said.
“The feedback to correctional officers was very positive,” Covelli said. “The inmates genuinely appreciated the opportunity to experience these motivational speakers in the jail.”
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Lake County News-Sun.