Inmates to share stories with GR youth

IONIA, Mich. (WOOD) - Some of the inmates at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility have a message to spread that they hope will change lives.

They will share those messages live via broadband into the Wealthy Theatre on Thursday with Grand Rapids youth.

"I'm doing this to try and prevent - or try to reach out - to young people so they won't have to go through what I went through," inmate Kenneth Clark said.

Most of the prisoners are from Grand Rapids, but have not been in the area for years.

"A person would say that I'm institutionalized, because I know no other life other than what I been living here," inmate David Oliver said.

The inmates' main goal is to keep young people out of prison. The 6:30 p.m. event at Wealthy Theatre is sponsored by the Grand Rapids Police Department and open to the public.

"I just hope through this program, it (will) just touch somebody or someone," inmate Neil Ross said.

Added Police Lt. Ralph Mason: "I've seen so many people end up in jail and in prison, and their lives just turned around just horribly, and I, just for some reason, want to stop it."

24 Hour News 8 will have more information Thursday.