Category Shakopee Show all
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Shout Out: Ms. Jerry and Black History Month
By Shahna Fredrick, AWA
Ms. Jerry has put in a phenomenal amount of work organizing events at MCF-Shakopee during Black History Month. From researching and organizing movies, documentaries, trivia, and speakers, Ms. Jerry made it important for people to understand why this month is celebrated and the impact that African-American people have had on this country and throughout the world.
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Shout Out: Shakopee MNIT Staff
By Lori Timlin
I am so grateful for our IT staff, particularly Jeanette Stodola and Matt Hetland. It can be embarassing and intimidating to ask for technology help. Jeanette is the most calm and competent person I've met, and Matt has solved some connectivity issues with little warning. So appreciated!
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MCF-SHK Prison Fellowship Academy Class 35 Graduates
By Pamela Rubash
PFA, which is fully funded by non-government dollars, works with incarcerated men and women to explore their identity and the factors that shaped them, to examine faulty thinking, and to form new goals. Based on decades of experience and best practice learning methodology, Prison Fellowship Academy is a voluntary program IPs can choose which encourages participants to replace criminal thinking and behaviors with renewed purpose and values based on the life principles of integrity, responsibility, affirmation, productivity, restoration and community. (www.prisonfellowship.org/about/academy/)
On December 19, 2023 the year-long, 300+ hour, transformational journey came to an end with a graduation celebration for Class 35. Pictured above are 11 of the 13 graduates with their instructor, PFA Program Manager Pamela Rubash. For some of them the next step was release and the ability to join a PFA Alumni Network on the outside. For some graduates, the next step is the Challenge Incarceration Program or working toward a higher education degree or certification. All graduates still housed within MCF-SHK have joined the Prison Fellowship Academy Graduate Leadership program where they will continue their transformational journey and also dedicate time and energy to service projects for the prison and PODs in which they reside.
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Shakopee Holds Food Drive to Honor SGT Kevin Foster
By Michael Crego
On January 18, 2024, Charlie 40 brought 200 pounds of donated food to the Community Action Partnership in Shakopee.
This donation was made possible through the efforts of Ali Beckman, Special Teacher, at MCF-Shakopee. Ali organized this month-long food drive for staff in remembrance of our co-worker Sgt. Kevin Foster.
After bringing the donation, Charlie 40 spent the remainder of the day volunteering in the warehouse.
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At Shakopee, tech skills promise a new future
By Kevin Delaney, Cisco Networking Academy, December 4th, 2023
Cisco Networking Academy empowers incarcerated women to re-enter society successfully.
“Things happen in life, and you can’t go back,” said Amie Stier, who was recently released from the Minnesota Correctional Facility at Shakopee. “All I can do is go forward.”
Helping Stier go forward is Cisco Networking Academy. After entering prison in 2019 on a non-violent drug charge, she was able to complete three levels of Networking Academy courses. Today, she’s facing the outside world with newfound confidence and hope. For Stier and other recently incarcerated women, life after prison can seem daunting. Job searches, sobriety, finding a home, and regaining custody of children are just a few of the challenges they may face. And the social stigma of prison time can undermine it all. That’s why real-world skills are so important — especially for an in-demand field like technology.
“At first, it was like learning a whole new language, a whole new world,” Stier said of her courses. Click here to read more of this article on Cisco Networking Academy's website.
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Shakopee 3rd Watch Thanksgiving Potluck
By Lt. Cory Felda
I just wanted to give a HUGE thank you to the MCF-SHK 3rd Watch staff who contributed to the Thanksgiving Day potluck. I was a bit uncertain initially if we would have enough food for everyone; I was very very wrong. THERE WAS SO MUCH FOOD. We even had staff who weren't working that day bring in food to contribute (Thank You AWO Wheeler and Lt. Haskamp!). All staff were fed, and refed, and some even fed a third time. And the amount of gratitude shown by everyone was overwhelming. I am extrememly grateful to be working with such a giving group of officers. THANK YOU!
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Shout Out: Thank You Paul Klemme
By Rachel Melvin
Caseworker Paul Klemme is a professional, hardworking individual in Monahan that constantly goes above and beyond. He is an optimistic person that comes in everyday with a kind greeting and asks how you are doing. He genuinely cares about everyone in the facility.
CSM Klemme always has a positive attitude and is willing to help with many different tasks. He looks out for the officers in Monahan when things get overwhelming. CSM Klemme is always checking to see if we need help, and he takes charge of affairs that arise. He volunteers for extra shifts to help, even overnights on 1st Watch. CSM Paul Klemme is a mentor and role model, and I am proud to have him working with us in Monahan.
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Shout Out: Shakopee Captains Kim Evans & Angie Michel
By AWA Shahna Fredrick
Shout Out to the MCF-Shakopee Captains Kim Evans & Angie Michel.
Any time a tour occurs at the facility, both captains are present to provide escorting and information about the history and operations of Shakopee. They speak with pride about the work their staff do and the positive happenings throughout the facility.
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Shout Out: Shakopee Security Staff
By Janet Rodriguez-Ricci
Shout out to SHK security staff for their kindness and understanding towards multiple IPs who have experienced deaths lately. Going the extra mile is not going unnoticed by others!
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Shout Out: Shakopee's Lt. Hartmann
Submitted Anonymously
Everyone is aware of how critical staffing has been in the facilities so this is to recognize Lt. Brady Hartmann at Shakopee for stepping in whenever possible to help ease the number of people forced or to fulfill a critical role in the facility. He has stepped out of the role of Watch Commander and Lieutenant to help in officer roles multiple times and he is greatly appreciated.
