By Amber Van Schooneveld
When Bo Cornelius walked into the International Management Summit at Algoa Correctional Middle in Missouri, he was handed a reputation tag. That straightforward gesture sparked the start of transformation.
“Would I even be protected round my household, after studying find out how to survive in a totally completely different world inside?” he fearful.
A Likelihood at Humanity and Identification
Bo’s bunkmate, Spencer, attended the International Management Summit in jail. “He got here again glowing.” He challenged Bo to get out of his consolation zone and be part of restoration and restorative justice teams. The subsequent yr, in 2019, Bo attended the Summit himself. He says the expertise was transformational.
“These two days felt like one big inhalation of humanity — of identification, neighborhood,” Bo says. “I used to be reminded I had infinite dignity, given by God, due to the Summit.”
Extra than simply one other quantity, Bo’s identification was woke up.
“The talks jogged my memory of who I was… I used to be being labeled ‘offender,’ however God was reminding me that I used to be greater than that.”
All the things Bo realized from the audio system — about belief, service and battle decision — was deeply related to life in jail, but utterly at odds with the fact round him. He knew the Summit couldn’t be only a fleeting second of inspiration — it needed to spark lasting change.
Growing an Ongoing Jail Management Program
Decided to hold that momentum ahead, Bo envisioned a program to maintain the dialog going. What if they may discover management ideas each week — not simply two days a yr? Throughout visiting hours, his spouse, Abby, who has a Grasp’s in Tutorial Design, helped him develop a curriculum and a proposal. It was accredited.
On January 5, 2022, the primary International Management Academy (GLA) launched.
GLA is a 22-week, peer-led management improvement program. Every week, two completely different residents current and lead discussions based mostly on International Management Summit content material. They deal with relationships, engagement and vulnerability.
“We would like actual, uncooked conversations,” Bo says. “We are saying management is ‘knowledge’ — the talent of dwelling. In jail, it’s laborious to dwell properly, so this helps guys follow and replicate in neighborhood.”
Altering the Tradition of a Troubled Most-Safety Jail
In December 2023, a resident at Jefferson Metropolis Correctional Middle in Missouri died whereas restrained and in isolation. 4 officers had been fired and charged with second diploma homicide, and the warden was changed.
Thank You for Planting Seeds
Bo is deeply grateful to the donors who’ve made this attainable:
“Thanks for being keen to plant seeds the place you don’t get to see what grows… I’m so grateful to individuals who donate based mostly on the blind love of God.”
He closes with a thought:
“Change and progress are solely impressed. You’ll be able to’t obtain it via menace or authority. The one method to get individuals to take accountability for their very own life is to encourage and encourage it. That’s what GLS did for me and so many others… And there are 1,000 extra like me sitting in jail who want encouragement.”
If you need to be a part of planting seeds that can result in restoration and transformation, give to the International Management Community at the moment!