By: Douglas V. Johnson
Congratulations to the participants of the victim impact-related “416-2-911 RUNNING CLUB” program at RNCC. Due to the years-long waiting list for the Victim Impact Program at RNCC, incarcerated military Veterans took the initiative to start a running club in honor of the victims in their cases, their families, and their own families. The running club also doubles as an empathy-building, mentoring/peer-support program.
On 4-16 (2007), there were 32 Virginia Tech students and faculty members killed in a mass shooting. On 9-11 (2001), there were 2,977 people killed in the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil.
In the five months between 16 April and 11 September, the twenty-man Veteran and non-Veteran running club ran a combined total of 2055 laps (222 miles) around their recreation yard. On 9-11, they closed out their run with an Army cadence.
The requirements to be in the running club:
1.) Request to be added to the RNCC Victim Impact Program wait list;
2.) Watch the VADOC Victim Impact video (on JP6 players);
3.) Participate in H.O.P.E. (Helping Ourselves Progress and Evolve) Self-Awareness Program discussions/conversations;
4.) Intend to stay infraction-free, and
5.) Most importantly, to realize that they are running with a purpose.
If we are genuinely striving towards personal growth, it is critical we realize our crimes still have a tremendous ripple effect on others. The greatest service that we can do now, is to not waste the time they are serving in prison.
Although program opportunities and mental health services may be severely limited while we are incarcerated, let us all continue to take the initiative in creating our own opportunities for our personal growth.
DOUGLAS V. JOHNSON, II (#1937011)
RNCC Veterans Support Group
Mentorship Committee Chairman
*RNCC Facility Leader/Lead Mentor/Education Advocate for The Forty STRONG, Brilliance Behind Bars, & TF CXJ III
Brilliance Behind Bars 