Point of Change celebrates parenting program graduates

In a night filled with hugs, tears and smiles, the Point of Change parenting program celebrated those who participated in its second session.

On June 12, the participants of the program were showered with praise and awards for their efforts in learning and reform from those who run the program, Maryland delegates and the Charles County commissioners.

“Point of Change Jail and Street Ministry Inc. is a product of my 1998 prison ministry calling,” the Rev. John Lewis, founder of the program, said. “I started offering re-entry support to individuals coming home from the Maryland Department of Corrections and D.C. jail whose initial residence was in Southern Maryland. In 2008, I incorporated Point of Change Jail and Street Ministry and was contracted as the chaplain of the Charles County Detention Center.”

The program is currently contracted to serve the Jude House Addiction Treatment Center in Bel Alton and the Alpas Wellness Maryland Recovery Center in La Plata.

“The program helps parents to foster more cooperative behaviors with your children, and teaches us how to not reinforce unacceptable behaviors,” Meta Mayne, the facilitator of Point of Change’s Parenting Now or Later program, said. “It helps you be a more authentic communicator.”

“When you share time and tears with each other, it means a lot,” Mayne said, showing her emotions over the topic.

Sen. Arthur Ellis (D-Charles) did not attend the event, but his wife, Rosalind Ellis, spoke on his behalf and distributed awards from the Maryland General Assembly to those who ran and participated in the parenting program.

Rosalind Ellis said that she had heard people say to be their “child’s friend”, but she disagreed and said that she believed it is responsible to be a parent first.

Zavara Bromery, a graduate of the program, said, “Now that I’m sober, I’m able to help my sister with my niece and nephews.”

For Bromery, the program opened conversations on her relationship with her mother and how she was raised. She said Point of Change gave her better insight on how to work with children, and she is now a lead teacher at a preschool.

“I’d like the ladies to remember to encourage themselves,” Bromery said to those who were in the program with her.