STORIES GO HERE##################-->

'Festival

of Hope' kicks off interfaith rehabilitation program for

parolees

Fayette

County clergy and other interested parties are invited to

attend a kickoff ceremony for a new

initiative/partnership formed between the Georgia Board

of Pardons and Paroles and the Catholic Archdiocese of

Atlanta which will encourage churches to assist offenders

as they re-enter the community.

The event,

called a Festival of Hope, is scheduled for Friday, June

11 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Georgia World

Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. WXIA-TV's Brenda

Wood will serve as host. Father George Clement, developer

of the interfaith concept, "One Church One

Inmate," will be the keynote speaker.

Fr.

Clements also is the developer of the nationally

recognized "One Church One Child" program which

is credited with the adoption of 90,000 children with

special needs.

Prior to

the festival, a workshop will be held to assist church

representatives and other attendees with developing

outreach programs to prisons and parole officers in their

communities.

"For

offenders who really want to change, we believe in making

opportunities for that to happen," said Walter Ray,

chairman of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

"This process begins with preparing them with such

practical issues as life skills training and other

measures designed to strengthen them after release from

prison. Spiritual support and the encouragement of the

faith community and others who will stand with them as

they make needed changes are just as important."

Charles J.

Topetzes, executive director of the Board of Pardons and

Paroles adds, "Programs such as One Church One

Inmate can play a key role in helping offenders who are

ready to make these changes."

Tickets for

the luncheon are $25 per person for clergy, church

groups, ministries, nonprofit organizations, senior

citizens and students. General admission is $35 per

person. The 10 a.m. workshops are free for those

attending the luncheon and cost $15 per person for those

not attending the luncheon.

For more

information, call 404-885-7238.

<!--##############