6 minute read
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
THE BIRTHDAY CAKE 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 signifcant 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.
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.
Top: Program participants* Chardonnay, Jennifer, Rickie, Ana Rutherford, Catalyst Cookies coordinator, Sharelle, Melissa and Amber stand in front of recently baked cookies.
Left: ReMerge launched in 2011 and added Catalyst Cookies to its program in 2021.
Top: Participant Chardonnay shows off cookie dough ready for the oven. Middle: Participants Sharelle and Melissa adjust cookies in the oven. Above: Pam Bracken, ReMerge director of workforce and Ana Rutherford, Catalyst Cookie coordinator, in the Catalyst Cookie kitchen.
–Brittany, Catalyst Cookie program graduate
two-year program.
“We think that adding these job skills will help moms move through the process,” she said. “We’d like to see a 75% graduation rate.
“Incarceration costs about the same as coming to ReMerge. But consider what we provide: food, transportation, sober housing, an addiction recovery program plus mental and physical health care. And that’s not all: Each mom’s team includes a case manager, therapist, health and wellness program manager, child reunifcation program manager, education and employment coordinator and a peer recovery support specialist.”
The help and skill building isn’t even the best part – successful completion of the program means their criminal case is dismissed.
“What makes ReMerge truly diferent from other diversion programs is that, upon graduation, our moms are eligible to have their charges dismissed, removing a substantial barrier to the rest of their lives,” she said.
Entrepreneurs in the Kitchen
That, of course, is good news to these moms who need jobs to sustain their families. The training provided at Catalyst Cookies lays that foundation. In the kitchen, moms learn in-demand skills like communication, problem-solving, entrepreneurship, customer service and marketing.
“Marketing includes cookie presentation,” Walton said. “Our customers love the enclosure cards that are individually signed by our moms.”
And entrepreneurship?
“We’re always looking for small business owners who want to talk about entrepreneurship while joining our moms for a Thursday lunch in our beautiful ReMerge dining space,” said Ana Rutherford, Catalyst Cookies program coordinator.
Brittany fnished packaging her last batch of cookies. The scents of oatmeal and chocolate and salted caramel linger in the air.
“I’ve noticed that a lot of people like to buy our cookies,” Brittany said. “I hope they know they’re helping to save our lives.”
That’s a mouthful, but it’s oh-so sweet.
Who is Full Sail Capital?
We are a team of fiduciaries, and we consider our clients family. As a Registered Investment Advisor, wealth management is our business, but our focus goes much deeper than that. We take personal interest in our clients’ dreams, and we’re commi ed to helping each of them reach their specific goals. at’s what true fiduciaries do. We are required by law to act in the best interests of our clients, and that is a point of pride for us because pu ing the interests of clients ahead of our own is a fundamental value sewn deep into the fabric of our culture.
What is the client experience?
ere is nothing be er than knowing you belong. When you feel welcome, familiar, and comfortable with the people around you. at’s when you know you’re home. at sense of family begins to form the first day we meet with our clients, listen to their unique stories, and begin to tailor pathways toward their goals. e feeling continues to grow over the months, and years we work together on estate plans, retirement savings, investments, real estate, or other objectives. We build our relationships with trust and integrity at the core, in an effort to provide our clients peace of mind.
How is Full Sail Different?
In addition to being investment advisors and market analysts, our team members are credentialed Investment Advisor Representatives who hold professional designations, including J.D., CPA, CTFA, CFA and CFP. is breadth of education, training, and experience allows us to do more than help people manage their investments. Together, we share a passion for meeting people where they are in life and helping them meet their financial needs and accomplish their objectives for the future, whatever they happen to be.
What is Full Sail Capital’s investment philosophy?
Investment opportunities seem to be proliferating with trendy prospects that have catchy names like crypto, SPACs, NFTs and meme stocks. People hear about them from friends, see them online or learn about them from television pundits. It’s our business to research every new twist in the ever-evolving world of investing. And rest assured, with decades of experience in the markets, we have seen the shiny objects rise and we have watched them lose their luster. At Full Sail Capital, we approach investing with an evidence-based philosophy. In our role, we look to develop a plan that is right for each client.
Full Sail Capital, LLC is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Te oral and written communications of an adviser provide you with information about which you determine to hire or retain an adviser. For more information please visit adviserinfo.sec.gov and search for our frm name.
If you have questions, give us a call. We want to help.
