Also taking part will be musicians, speakers, comedians, athletes and ex-offenders associated with Chuck Colson's prison fellowship organization. The 10-day blitz is designed to introduce Operation Starting Line to inmates and corrections officials and pave the way for ongoing ministries that will provide training, Bible studies and counseling to those in prison now and aftercare services when they are released. Some of the musicians, singers, comedians, athletes and speakers who will visit the prisons will entertain the public. There is no admission fee, but guests are asked to bring toiletries and other personal items such as toothbrushes, combs, socks or soap that can be given to incarcerated men, women and youth in Georgia. Operation Starting Line began last Easter in Delaware and has since expanded to 163 prisons in six states.
Organizers plan to introduce the program in every U.S. prison during the next five years.
They hope that its Christian outreach services will help cut down on in-prison infractions and stop former prisoners from becoming repeat offenders. Mothers Take Your Children Back, a group working to restore unity in homes and the community, is hosting a membership drive Saturday. The event, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Rosa Jackson Community Center on Maynard Street, includes speakers, entertainment and refreshments. Andy M. Drury School board to meet The Bibb County Board of Education will meet at 6 tonight for a regular meeting. The board will discuss and likely vote on new retention and recruitment initiatives, summer academic and vocational program schedules and a few minor administrative policy changes.