It was cold and wet outside, but inside it was warm, welcoming, and festive at the MOSES Transformation Celebration Gala on December 14 at the Brassworks in Goodman Community Center. Our focus was celebrating three justice-impacted persons whose perseverance and talent helped them successfully transform their own lives as well as others who are or have been incarcerated. Our honorees have given people hope, skills, and tools for restoration and wholeness.
A delicious buffet greeted the arriving guests. It was prepared and served by members of TEENworks, a vocational program that offers marketable work skills and experience to teenagers. The program began with a welcome from Saundra Brown, President of MOSES, followed by a farewell reflection from Sister Joan Duerst, who is relocating to Racine. Carol Rubin, founding president of MOSES, was honored with a plaque and a standing ovation. James Morgan, MOSES Community Organizer, spoke on the theme of transformation. Judge Everett Mitchell came forward to praise James for his achievements in his own transformation and in his work for justice among the marginalized of the community.
Carmella Glenn, former honoree and current Violence Intervention Supervisor at Public Health Madison and Dane County, served as the emcee for the awards ceremony. Each of the honorees told their story through an inspiring video produced by Dee Star of Star Media Productions. Saundra Brown then presented each of them with a beautiful blown glass piece.
The honorees are: Kingston Robertson – Brand owner, Holy Godz clothing and gear, and mentor to young adults in youth groups and prisons; Jessica Jacobs – Dane County Community Organizer for FREE and advocate for women’s issues; Action Jackson – Owner of Jackson Yard Care, the largest Black-owned landscape business in Dane County, and underwriter and trainer in a workforce development program for youth.
Special Guests included Judge Everett Mitchell; Greg Jones, President of NAACP Madison Branch; Rebekah Jones of the County Deferred Prosecution Unit; Linda Ketchum, Executive Director of Just Dane; David Liners, WISDOM State Coordinator; several Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa; Diane Ballweg of the Madison Justice Team, with special thanks for her generous donation; and10 previously incarcerated individuals, welcomed with the hope they, too, will be inspired to keep working to achieve their dreams.
The evening concluded with a raffle drawing for prizes including original artwork by James Morgan, Buck & Honey’s gift package, Ian’s Pizza coupons, Willy Street gift cards, 2 pair handcrafted earrings, and 2 tickets to a performance at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Quotations from our honorees
Kingston Robertson: “In the midst of pain, struggle, life, love – be careful who you give your heart to”
Jessica Jacobs: “The … women I’ve met through Narcotics Anonymous and support groups … and my mother [are] my big inspiration now. After all those things that I lived through, I feel like I have become an effective person.”
Action Jackson: “I had to prove myself. The type of things I did to prepare myself were to start working on my GED, to read the Bible, and really get into books and the dictionary.”
Gala Sponsors
- American Family Insurance
- Summit Credit Union
- Dick Goldberg
- Madison Gas & Electric
- Forward Community Investment
- Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa
- Alison and John Mix
- Lake Edge Lutheran Church
Media
Dee Starr: Interview Videographer
Terry Gibson: Photographer
Gala Planning Team
Mary Anglim, Sister Joan Duerst, Sister Fran Hoffman, Eric Howland, Ann Lacy, James Morgan, Ken Warren, with assistance from Rachel Morgan and the volunteers who set up and cleaned up