Marin County Recognizes 'Wall Of Change' Probationers

PRESS RELEASE AND PHOTO SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION BY COUNTY OF MARIN:

MARIN COUNTY, CA – People on probation don’t normally want to have their photo posted up on a wall. But it’s different with Marin County Probation Department and its Wall of Change display.

The department’s third annual Wall of Change celebration took place at the Marin County Civic Center on Dec. 13 to recognize individuals who made above-and-beyond progress through accountability, treatment and opportunity. The new Wall of Change honorees were Kelvin Judson, Richard Lopez, Alexander Ordonez-Vargas, David Ford, Jackson Calderon, Seeger Gehrau, Damian Lopez, Csira Mead, Steve Hirai, Sondra Bonspille, Chad Wycliff, and Quinn McIntosh. To date, 38 people have been honored on the Wall of Change since December 2012.

“It was so nice to see the families show up to support and celebrate the hard work of their loved ones,” Probation Chief Mike Daly said. “It was especially nice for me to hear how grateful they all are for the role our probation officers played in assisting their recovery. … Our entire criminal justice team was there. Our (Marin County Superior Court) judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and probation officers celebrated their success.”

The event in the Board of Supervisors chamber featured motivational speaker and comic Michael Pritchard, who has worked many years with probationers and young people who have experienced extreme personal challenges. Pritchard and several other speakers saluted the Wall of Change honorees for committing to lead safe and sober lives, subsequently leading to stability and personal triumph. The ceremony also marked the debut of a short film about the Wall of Change by Oakland-based filmmaker Vincent Cortez of Mitchell Street Studios.

Photo: Marin County Superior Court Judge Kelly Simmons (third from left) and Probation Chief Mike Daly (third from right) pose with the Wall of Change honorees for 2017. / Photo via County of Marin