Oct 092010
 

Yesterday was a very special day for 7th Step.  While we are happy to help any prisoner transition into the community, our primary activity is supporting 7th Step members.  It had been over two years since one of our own was released from prison.  So Terry, Sandi and I were thoroughly pleased to be standing outside OSP yesterday morning watching a new dawn of freedom for Danny Walker.

Danny-freedom

Danny went to prison in 1989, a year before I did.  I came to know him well over the years before my own release in 1999.  He worked hard to change himself, and yesterday, he received the reward for his efforts.  After twenty one years, he walked out the door, a free man.  It was an honor to be the first to shake his hand.  (He’s the tall one with the ear to ear grin.)

Danny and Tom

Terry and Sandy were thrilled as well, but Danny had  the biggest smiles of all.

Danny and the ladies

I asked him how he felt, and he was clearly overwhelmed, as all he could say is “really good.”   We took him to breakfast and introduced him to real food again.  The pleasure on his face was most evident.  His quote of the day was, “It’s surreal.  I can look out the window, and there are no bars.”

Sandi and I took him to Portland, helped him check in with his Parole Officer, ran several errands with him, so necessary for that first day, and got him settled in temporary housing.

Danny faces some major challenges ahead.  He will have to find work, no easy task in an economy ravaged by greed.  He will have to find a permanent residence.  And most of all, he will have to learn to manage his own time.  In addition, the world has changed dramatically.  He has much to learn.  7th Step will be there to support him.  That’s what we do.  Helping prisoners learn to change in prison and helping former prisoners establish themselves as productive citizens makes our communities safer places to live.

  6 Responses to “Danny Walker: Dawn of Freedom”

  1. Thank you so much for printing this beautiful article about my brother Danny!!!!!! I had not heard from him since his release and was totally going out of my mind with worry…..so thank you so much. The pictures are worth a thousand words…..Thank you for everything you are doing to help my brother. Wendy

    • Hi Wendy and welcome!

      I’m sure I speak for all of us whan I say that helping is a pleasure. I just approved your comment, and from now on your comments here should go through without needing approval. I have emailed Danny to let him know you responded here and will call him in the morning.

      My coworker told me he is doing very well.

      We never give out an email address without permission. Would you like me to send him yours or email you about him?

  2. Danny, My Friend….I am so, so pleased to see a free bird of you ! I cannot express my thoughts and could only guess how happy you may be ! Thanks to your awesome friends that could be there for you, upon your day of freedom !! I wish I was there !
    I wish you good luck in all you do, and, with God as Your “warden” now…He will always keep you “free” if you follow the ways he asks of you to follow !
    You have a friend in me, And I will continue to pray and help you with all I can ! Hope to see you soon !!

  3. This is really amazing. We are so glad you are out Uncle Danny. Mom is so excited. Hopefully soon we can see you again and start a new relationship. Good luck!

    Your Neice,
    Brooke

    • Hi Brooke and welcome!

      I spoke to Danny yesterday and told him about the responses from Wendy and Randy. I was thrilled, as I’m sure he will be to hear from you too. It’s difficult for him to access a computer right now, as getting to the library is a walk of several miles for him, so he hasn’t replied yet, but he said he will.

      Holler if there is anything we can do to help.

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