An organization that supports women and youth involved in the court and justice system is hosting the inspiration behind a popular book and TV series for a major fundraiser.
The Elizabeth Fry Society of Calgary is hosting Piper Kerman, author of Orange is the New Black, My Year in Women’s Prison on April 14 at the Telus Convention Centre in Calgary.
Kerman wrote the book after spending 15 months in prison for money laundering and drug trafficking.
The book inspired the popular NetFlix series Orange is the New Black.
Kate Joseph, a prison community outreach caseworker with the society, said proceeds from the event will support the organization’s programs, from its work with incarcerated women to outreach work in courts in Okotoks, Calgary and other communities.
“As far as I know it’s one of the largest events that we’ve ever had in our agency,” she said. “It’s quite an exciting event for us.”
The society provides programs to help women transition from prison to the community, and supporting women and youth in the court system. The society offers programs and assistance in the Foothills community in Okotoks.
Joseph said the society empowers its clients to have the resources and knowledge to move forward with their lives.
“We work with women that are impacted by poverty, legal issues, justice issues, and I think we offer a support that is really safe to them and very unique as we work primarily with women in the criminal justice system,” she said.
The society is funded by the Alberta Law Society and the United Way and the event is a major fundraiser to support the agency’s work.
Joseph said Kerman’s book has strong themes of providing support for women who are incarcerated and once they are released from prison.
“She’s got a really powerful voice in terms of the work that she does and bringing awareness and we’re hoping to educate not only Calgarians but those from the Foothills, Okotoks, anyone that’s able to attend the event on how they can help offer new hope to women who have experienced trauma, poverty and incarceration in their lives,” said Joseph.
Bernice Olivares, a legal information specialist for the society, works in Okotoks two days a week serving the Foothills area, and in Airdrie.
She said she currently has 13 files for clients she is working with, and most of them are from the Okotoks and Foothills area.
Olivares said funding and donations are essential to helping the society’s clients and not just through its programs. She said the funds allow the society to provide bus tickets, vouchers and even simple supplies like socks, underwear and journals for clients. Transportation, be it to and from Calgary or Eden Valley, is one of the top needs for clients, she said.
Olivares meets with clients in libraries in Okotoks, High River and Turner Valley providing legal information, whether it’s filling out legal forms, parenting application orders or connecting with lawyers.
She is also working with a growing Foothills immigrant community that isn’t familiar with the Canadian courts system.
“We’re seeing that there needs to be some sort of information for people to understand what our laws are and what it’s going to be like if you get to court and mitigating that rather than having court being the last-case scenario,” said Olivares.
For the last three years, she has been at the Okotoks Provincial Court during regular docket days every Friday.
Olivares does not provide legal advice, she provides basic legal information to accused, victims and witnesses. It could be calling legal aide to helping someone get a lawyer or facilitating conversations with duty council at the court and legal aid. While the agency’s programs are focused on helping women, she helps men during her work in Okotoks court.
“We want to connect them with as much legal information as possible so that they can make the best possible decision and deal with their matters,” said Olivares.
Tickets for the event are $50 for general admission or $100 for VIP seating. Tickets are available at www.eventbrite.ca by searching for Piper Kerman.
