Adult in Custody Desserrey Cheney poses with her award certificate
This quarter’s STAR award, given to a Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) DMV agent for outstanding work at the call center, was presented to Desserrey Cheney. Cheney is an adult in custody (AIC) at Coffee Creek, and her role as a DMV call center agent is made possible by the Oregon Department of Correction’s (DOC) partnership with Oregon Corrections Enterprises.
Coffee Creek Correctional Facility’s (CCCF) cosmetology program is about more than manicures and dye jobs. For many of the women incarcerated at CCCF, the program is the first step in making a better life for themselves. Whether they are training in the Hair Design program or having tattoos removed that remind them of a painful past, the program offers hope for a brighter future.
The messages below were submitted by three adults in custody (AICs) at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility who have experience with the cosmetology program. They have been edited for clarity by the Oregon DOC Office of Communications.
Two of the artists pose with one of the DMV call center murals
This article was written by agents at the Customer Assistance Call Center located at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) and modified for the DOC blog. The agents, who are all incarcerated at Coffee Creek, hope there is a shared enjoyment when reading about their journey and the artwork it produced.
The mural that started it all
The journey of the murals began when the DMV Coffee Creek Call Center (CCCC) was preparing to celebrate 30 years of success as part of the Customer Assistance team. The team floated many ideas for the theme and decorations, but ultimately the final decision was made by vote. The result: a bridge, linking CCCC with the larger DMV operations and the slogan, “Driving the bridge to success for 30 years.” Spanning the bridge is a vehicle for every CCCC agent, with salmon swimming in the river below. Decorated with paper, colored pencils, crayola markers, kindergarten scissors, and tape, this became the team’s first mural, and remained up (with facility approval) for an entire year.
On June 12, adult in custody (AIC) Niya Sosa-Martinez received the STAR award for her outstanding work at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility’s (CCCF) DMV call center. The STAR (Star to Agent Recognition) award is given quarterly to an AIC who demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, leadership, and initiative; and goes above and beyond the standard. AIC Sosa-Martinez was nominated and voted on by her peers, other phone agents at the DMV call center, and enjoyed a commendation and luncheon with Superintendent Paula Myers, Section Manager Connie Crapser, and Center Manager Tammy Matthews.
Spring Celebration is a First Foods ceremony held by every tribe in the Plateau region. The four sacred foods—salmon, deer meat, roots, and berries—are gathered and prepared traditionally using ancient teachings, songs, and prayer.
These four foods are high in nutritional value and were the main staple foods of the Native American diet. This ceremony is about renewing the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional self. It is a time of forgiveness and gratitude for Native American people in the region, including Native American adults in custody (AICs) at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF).
Many of Oregon Department of Corrections’ (DOC) 14 institutions have dog training programs. DOC partners with local organizations to house, raise, and train puppies and dogs–sometime to give them a better chance at adoption, and sometimes to prepare the dogs for work as assistance animals. At Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF), the prison partners with Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) to train puppies who will then provide independence to a person with a disability.
These dog programs not only benefit the puppies, but the adults in custody (AICs) who work with the animals. In the case of CCCF, AICs train the puppies onsite for approximately 18 months before they move on to more expanded training. Recently, a woman who was matched with a canine companion who was trained at Coffee Creek shared this amazing story…
Say cheese! An AIC who levelled up poses for a picture.
Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) has started a new event they are calling “Leveled Up.” Leveled Up will happen monthly on the units to celebrate adults in custody (AICs) whose incentive level has increased in the last month becoming a level 2 or a 3!
AICs will be recognized within their communities by receiving a certificate, a free photo with their certificate, and a tasty bag of popcorn. Oregon DOC wants to celebrate AICs who work hard to make their community a safer place by having clear conduct. We are so excited by this new program at CCCF!
CCCF’s first round of recipients was awarded on Thursday 2/7/19. The next event will be 3/15 to celebrate those who leveled up in February.
When presented the award, it brought tears to some AICs and the acknowledgment was much appreciated. Some AICs are proudly sending their photo home to friends and family!
Congratulations to all of the recipients! This is truly an accomplishment to celebrate.