Lora McDonald grew up in rural Missouri and graduated from the University of Missouri in 1995 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work. While in college, McDonald worked at the Boonville Correctional Center for Men and McCambridge Center (drug treatment center for women). She has worked for public and private organizations including Division of Family Services, The Children’s Place, Metro Lutheran Ministry, and Cross-Lines Community Outreach, providing both direct service and macro level program development and administration McDonald has developed and lead the implementation of multiple new social service programs in our metro area and started the Coalition of Homeless Youth Service Providers in 2002. She has worked to facilitate change, throughout her career, for individuals and systems. In her current position at the Kansas City Metropolitan Crime Commission, McDonald organized the nation’s first bi-state multi-level public/ private coalition to address a broad range of topics related to prisoner reentry, known as the Kansas City Metropolitan Reentry Coalition. McDonald is an active member of Community Christian Church; Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Wyandotte Serves/ Wyandotte Works; and serves on the KCK Green Market Board. She has lived in Hyde Park for fourteen years and has a six-year-old son Ian.
January 10, 2010 ~ 10:00-11:45 AM AND 2:30-4:00 PM Why a SECOND CHANCE Program in an Environmental Conference
By Lora McDonald
I. Second Chance Programs Improves Public Safety
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Which is a major Concern for Urban Environments
II. Create a Saving for Taxpayers
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Another major Environmental Concern
III. Helps People
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Stimulus Money was allocated for Ex-Offenders
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More public Knowledge needs to be known of such allocations
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Helping people should also be a major Environmental Concern
The Mission:
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Support local Law Enforcement and other Justice Agencies to make the Kansas City
area a safe place to live and work through the success of our programs.
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To attract Green Manufactures, we need to have some kind of program in place to
create a safe place to live and work.
The Second Chance Program's Successes:
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Over 500 homicides have been solved as a result of hotline tips in support of
local law enforcement and the community
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Over half a million dollars raised for the families of
Officers/Firefighters/EMT’s who lose their life in the line of duty
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Over 1,500 Felons in Possession of Firearms have been Federally prosecuted and
taken off the streets in support of the US Attorney’s Office Violent Crime Initiative
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Over the past 10 years, over 2 million hours of Community Service has been coordinated
in support of the Courts and Probation & Parole Services
FYI:
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The mission of the Kansas City Metropolitan Reentry Coalition is to support the
success of ex-offenders returning to this area through ensuring a comprehensive
state of the art continuum of services and complementary public policies.
Next Steps:
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Crime Commission coordinates development and implementation of Reentry Center
with community partners
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Crime Commission funds a minimum of $600,000 per year for Reentry Center
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