Category: Support Groups

Support Groups

Service Project and Picnic

July 13, 2024

United Voices for Sex Offense Reform (UV4SOR), an advocacy organization for people charged with violating a federal sex offense law, has taken on a service project, keeping a stretch of Michigan highway litter-free. They invited Michigan Citizens for Justice (MCFJ) to join them on a road clean up day July 13 to be followed by a pot luck picnic.

There will soon be a sign along the side of the road announcing to those who drive by that UV4SOR is keeping the roadside clean. MCFJ thinks the service project is a wonderful idea. We see at least three benefits: it gives our members a chance to improve their community; it lets potential members know about the UV4SOR organization; and it shows the public that people cannot be defined by the worst thing they have done.

MCFJ has a tradition of a summer picnic, and so this invitation fits right in. It even took place on the same day as our regular Ann Arbor support group meeting. Kim, who lives along the stretch of highway being maintained and who is a member of both organizations, kindly offered her house for the picnic. She and her husband provided lemonade and cooked hamburgers and salmon burgers for everyone. Fourteen people participated in the clean-up with a few more joining for the food. It was a warm day, but otherwise the weather was perfect.

Support Groups

The Support Groups are Growing

April, 2019 – The Kalamazoo group is successfully transitioning to two new co-leaders. The new leaders have ideas for improving the group. The effect of their ideas was evidenced by the fact that in March, there were 21 attendees — the largest meeting to date. Kalamazoo is also interested in working with the Michigan ACLU to improve Michigan’s sex offense laws.

The Washtenaw group is also growing. In April, there were 32 attendees. Attendance was boosted by a guest speaker, a psychologist. However, numbers are consistently going up. So much so, that there is talk about when it will be necessary to split into two groups.

At the Washtenaw April support group meeting there were people from Traverse City and Port Huron who hope to start similar support groups in those areas. There is definitely a need for these types of groups. Every week we receive enquiries from family members or people forced to register.