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GIVING BACK
Life-saving Cookies Catalyst Cookies, a ReMerge program teaching job skills to moms with nonviolent felony charges as a part of its two-year program, is helping to keep women out of prison and reunite them with their children. BY LORI WILLIAMS PHOTOS BY LOGAN WALCHER
cookie is soft in the middle and crusty on the outside. At second bite, the rainbow sprinkles dance in your mouth. Come to think of it, this cookie could be named after Brittany, who just celebrated her graduation from Catalyst Cookies’ 12-week program. “It’s kind of bittersweet,” Brittany said. “I love making cookie dough. But now I get to transition to a regular job.” Looking forward to a regular anything is significant for this mom who, like everyone in this program, is facing non-violent felony charges in Oklahoma County. Without substantial intervention and support, these moms are unlikely to break the cycles of imprisonment, poverty and drug or alcohol abuse, as 58% of incarcerated women are rearrested according to the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences. Catalyst Cookies is designed to be part of the solutions for employment issues and high recidivism rates. It is part of a larger program known as ReMerge. T H E B I R T H DAY C A K E
Rebuilding at ReMerge “ReMerge is a two-year program that’s a lot of hard work,” said Melissa Walton, ReMerge Director of Community Engagement. “The moms have to completely rebuild themselves and their social networks.” Since its launch in 2011, ReMerge has graduated 166 women who parent a total of 404 children. “That’s a 62% graduation rate,” Walton said, “which is good for a diversion program.” ReMerge added Catalyst Cookies in 2021, which means Walton will soon have updated graduation data for ReMerge’s enhanced
Top: Program participants* Rickie and Amber stir in ingredients to the mixer while making cookies. Above: A participant boxes a dozen freshly made cookies.
*Last names withheld at the request of ReMerge for the safety of program participants.
