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Forty-two graduates recognized
by Colleen Kinney –
The Salvation Army’s Southeast, Mich., Adult Rehabilitation Center (ARC) joined with the Wayne County Adult Drug Treatment Court in mid-May to mark 42 program participants’ successful completion of the county’s drug rehab program; six of them also graduated from the ARC program. Designed to give non-felony drug offenders a second chance, the county’s 24-month program expunges the related criminal record, allowing the participants to go forward with a clean slate.
The graduation ceremony, held in the ARC chapel, began with a welcome by Zené Frances Fogel-Gibson, program coordinator, who introduced speakers Hon. Timothy M. Kenney and Cory Williams. In the keynote address, Williams shared address his inspiring story of making the most of his own second chance. As a law school graduate, Williams said his current path was made possible in part because his offenses were expunged through his completion of the Drug Court Program.
The 42 participants received graduation certificates, presented by Judge Kenney, Judge McCree and Judge Robbins before roughly 200 friends and family members. Each of the judges reflected upon the trials, tribulations and ultimate successes of the individual graduates who had completed the program through their courts.
Michael Brock, a previous graduate of The Salvation Army’s ARC program, sang a dynamic rendition of “My God,” to the melody of the Motown hit “My Guy.”
A celebration luncheon followed the ceremony in the ARC cafeteria. The graduates and their families are now looking forward to a brighter, newly opened future.
