History
Blue Jacket, Inc. is an independent 501c3 nonprofit, originally a spin-out agency from Allen County Community Corrections, where a few of its original programs were developed. Much of the entity’s inspiration came about through the Allen County ReEntry Court, a widely acclaimed initiative that is overseen by Honorable John F. Surbeck. It officially launched in October 2005.
Blue Jacket, Inc. was created, in large part:
1) To fill the gap in local workforce programs and services.
2) To provide services to people with criminal records also not active in the adult criminal justice system.
3) To provide real transitional job opportunities.
4) To eventually self-fund through enterprising efforts.
5) To offer these services to other jurisdictions.
The recidivism rate for the state and federal systems are between 40 - 44% within 1 year. Blue Jacket's recidivism rate is 18% (2008) within one year. Recidivism is defined as return to prison for any reason or re-arrested for any reason within one year, regardless if found guilty. It is Blue Jacket's goal to reduce this to 12% within 1 year of graduating from the Blue Jacket training.
Typically, upon leaving the prison system, offenders face many barriers. Employers are reluctant to hire them, landlords will not rent to them, many do not have a driver’s license, many have child support obligations with little means to pay, and few can manage a simple budget.
so•cial en•ter•prise (n.)
Any earned-income business or strategy undertaken by a nonprofit to generate revenue in support of its charitable mission. "Earned income" consists of payments received in direct exchange for a product, service or privilege. Blue Jacket launched a construction enterprise that was tabled until the right time and resources are available, and now a staffing enterprise that gives employers a "try before you buy" opportunity, while giving clients a transitional opportunity to refine skills and work ethic, and Blue Jacket a new way to fundraise while charging a competitive rate for the service.
Board of Directors:
President - David Gutting
Vice President - James A. Federoff
Treasurer – Martha Murray
Secretary – Jennifer Winkeljohn
James Aschliman
Jane Avery
State Representative Phil GiaQuinta
Jeff Hartman
Bennie Lewis
Magistrate Marcia Linsky
Stan Pflueger
Becky Teagarden
John Tippmann, Sr.
Jennifer Winkeljohn
Staff:
Anthony Hudson, Executive Director
Stephanie Rothrock, Accounting Manager
Lance Stiver, Program Operations Manager
Jennifer Harvey, Intake Coordinator
Breanna Jackson, Career Developer
Maurice King, Facilitator
Tina Shull, Administrative Assistant
DaVonna Kirk, Opportunity Staffing Specialist
Eric McCarrol, Mentoring Coordinator
About Shawnee Chief Blue Jacket
Blue Jacket, Inc. is named after Wayapiersenwah, or Chief Blue Jacket; an intelligent, strong entrepreneur and diplomat and one of the greatest Shawnee war chiefs.
He fought on the banks of the Wabash River in 1791 delivering the worst defeat the United States Army ever suffered at the hands of Native Americans. Chief Blue Jacket led the confederated Shawnee, Miami, Delaware, Huron, and Potawatomi nations alongside Chief Little Turtle with their strongest resistance in Downtown Fort Wayne. Later in 1794, he again tried to push the Americans from the same area and was defeated by General Anthony Wayne, ending organized Indian conflict east of the Mississippi River.
The story of Chief Blue Jacket surrounds the legend that he was an abducted white settler named Marmaduke Van Swearingen, then adopted into the Shawnee Nation rising through the ranks to become Chief and was known to be friends with Daniel Boone. Recent DNA testing concluded that the Chief Blue Jacket was not white but actually Shawnee.
Logo design donated by Ferguson Advertising
