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HOPE COMMUNITY MODEL
AGAPE* CITY
May
2007, the third in a series of 10 city dorms
for females and 5 city dorms for males, was established
at the Dawson State Jail, Dallas, Texas. 52 female
inmates live in a structured environment called a city.
The female residents held an
election to select a name for their city. They voted to name
it Agape City.
*Hebrew
word for "love."
Residents held election
for city officers.
Group time
See
2007 HOPE Dorms Photo Album
Following the election, the
ladies worked as a team to form the HOPE system of government.
Giving
inmates autonomy teaches them to co-exist in a community
comparable to the free world. They are empowered to:
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Practice appropriate attitudes and behaviors while
incarcerated
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Plan and think beyond their sentence
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Learn to be positive leaders and role models
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Learn to live in "Biblical Covenant
Relationships"
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Problem solve their differences by
learning to "disagree without being
disagreeable"
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Improve themselves educationally
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Explore new interests through holistic
classes taught by HOPE collaboration.
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Develop life skills necessary to
compete in the home, workplace, community, and church.
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