| Updated: 9/10/2012 9:46 am |
Published: 9/08/2012 11:33 pm
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It’s taken a lot of prayer for Edith Shoals to reach a point of healing.
Twenty years ago, a car jacking turned fatal for Shoals' daughter.
"If you can't communicate, you can't heal,” said Shoals.
Every day since then, she's set up meetings over the phone; written letters even organized community meetings. "I want everyone to feel like I feel. I feel that no matter where you are there's someone who cares."
Shoals got people to pack Tulsa’s police academy. For a few hours, they sat and listened. 20 years ago, she never imagined anything good would come from her story.
"We're going to be here to help; we're here to help, starting today," said Shoals.
She organized Tulsa Healing Communities, a non-profit organization. The idea is to help prisoners re-enter the very communities they caused pain.
"More conversation between the harmed and those who did the harming needs to take place,” said State Representative Seneca Scott. "Violent crimes have really taken a toll on families and communities."
Really, it’s everyone's problem. Oklahoma has the third highest incarceration rate. Oklahoma's female offenders lead the country. When they go away they leave behind children for family members or the state to care for. The state spent more than $450 million on female offenders last year.
The plan is to get every church in Tulsa involved.
"We aren't going to stop until we get as many people as we can," said Shoals.
