Return To Honor engages other speakers, teachers and celebrities who speak and teach at jails and prisons, and who also provide inspiring talks, insights and lessons in living to audiences of all kinds and backgrounds. Following are bios of the more active instructors:
Don Kirchner
Don conducts workshops inside prisons and jails on such topics as "How To Show Up In The World," "Thinking and Acting Like A Man/Woman Instead of an Inmate," and "Turning Adversity Into Achievement." For groups outside of prison, other topics include "Compassionate Thinking and Acting," and "Transforming Negative Beliefs and Conditioned Behavior." The objective on both sides is to raise awareness of better, more effective ways to interact with people of different backgrounds and cultures and thereby create safer communities by reducing the likelihood of continued criminal behavior.
A 90-day Pilot Project is being reviewed and evaluated by the Secretary of Corrections for the Washington State Department of Corrections that involves a series of talks and followup workshops to be conducted in one or more of their facilities with the intention to demonstrate how improved attitudes and perceptions on the part of both inmates and officers and staff will reduce violations and incidents of violence. Upon completion of the project, a long-term contract is expected to be signed that will provide for ongoing talks and workshops to be conducted at all facilities throughout the state. It is expected that recidivism will be measurably reduced statewide within one to three years.
Bob Trask
Bob Trask is an author, actor, entertainer and seminar facilitator. He has taught over a half-million people in ten countries how to realize their full potential. His work with inmates in San Quentin and Shelton, Washington changed attitudes and gave both inmates and correctional staff new perspectives of themselves and each other, and provided opportunities for personal growth and achievement. For more information, visit http://www.arasfoundation.org/bob_trask.html.
Irene Morgan
Irene has been a resident of Bellingham, Washington for over sixty years, and has been actively involved in human growth and development and political and social reform for most of her adult life. In 2007, she was inspired by Don Kirchner's work enough to start her own nonprofit organization, the Whatcom County Re-Entry Coalition, which has been responsible for finding shelter, jobs and resources for former inmates and homeless people. A passionately committed individual, Irene warms hearts and inspires others who feel they have little hope.
Scott Degraffenreid
Everyone deserves a winnable game. Without hope, everyone loses. With over two million people incarcerated in America, and a recidivism rate of 70% to 80%, it is clear that its correctional system isn't working...even for those who are determined to redeem themselves and make positive changes in their lives. Return To Honor conducts workshops and talks inside and outside of prisons and jails, and publishes motivational books and training materials that teach more effective ways to change attitudes and behavior on both sides of the walls.