ABOUT CIRCLE OF CHANGE
Circle of Change is an organization whose mission is to help formerly incarcerated men and women develop positive life skills. We aim to provide great leadership within our families and communities to facilitate positive change.
Circle of Change believes that we have a duty to heal the wounds of victims in our society, created by those who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated.
We provide classes on facilitation, communication, Mentorship, and moral behavior. We also teach problem solving skills, financial management, home ownership fundamentals, professional development and business start-up.
We also work to keep our communities safe by focusing on the at-risk populations. This includes mentoring, consulting, youth outreach division, adult outreach division, and working in the society to reduce violence.
We partner with other likeminded departments, groups, non-profit organizations, and companies.
We provide society with better leaders in the home, and in our communities.
“For years I thought to myself as I watched communities suffer, “Why haven’t people called on the men and women formerly incarcerated to fix the problem they've caused?” I thought often about the similarities in great leaders from the past that have been jailed or incarcerated. i.e., Nelson Mandela, Malik El-Hajj Shabazz formerly Malcolm X, Prophet Jesus, etc. The vision they were blessed with to identify fallen communities, and the passion to revitalize their community life. The world needs to be reminded that everyone who has been incarcerated are not bad seeds, and can be rehabilitated.
So my mission was to assemble formerly incarcerated men and women living a positive lifestyle who share the same passion for success and change. Giving these men and women a mission. Giving these men and women a voice. Giving these men and women an opportunity to show the world a healing and rebuilding process. Giving these men and women a pathway to greater success. And, most important, to give these men and women an opportunity to give back. Giving our communities greater success. This is the key principle Circle of Change was founded on.”
Karlton Daniel, President & Co-Founder
So my mission was to assemble formerly incarcerated men and women living a positive lifestyle who share the same passion for success and change. Giving these men and women a mission. Giving these men and women a voice. Giving these men and women an opportunity to show the world a healing and rebuilding process. Giving these men and women a pathway to greater success. And, most important, to give these men and women an opportunity to give back. Giving our communities greater success. This is the key principle Circle of Change was founded on.”
Karlton Daniel, President & Co-Founder
In 1991 life took a very unpredictable turn for Karlton. To make the long story short, 4 men went on a crime spree. One man was arrested. That one man went to trial. That one man was not of the four. Yet that one man was convicted and sentenced to 25 ½ years in prison. The 4 men were never charged.
Karlton still maintains his innocence, but has accepted the path that God has laid before him. This would break most people, but Karlton refused to become what society deemed as the “problem”. Instead, Karlton sought out to become the solution. Karlton refused to become the stereotype of a felon. He began to mentor men at 5 different prisons, set out to change his environment, and help to create safer communities. 1995 - Chairman of the Activity Agenda Planning Committee, with Jerry Young CIPC, which was tasked with creating a schedule and program pertaining to cultural events for Washington DOC.
1997- Co-chaired McNeil Island’s first Food Fundraiser with Belinda Stewart, Superintendent, and Rick Jordan, CIPC to raise money for a Battered Women’s Shelter.
2002 - Elected First Vice President of the NAACP National Prison Project @Shelton, WA.
2002 -Founded Washington’s Prisons 100% donation to charities food raisers, in which hundreds of thousands of dollars have been donated for cancer research, youth education, homeless shelters, victims of domestic violence and sexually abused victims.
2003 - Elected Chairman of WCC Restorative Justice Committee. This committee concentrated on ways for offenders to heal the wounds they created in society, assist victims and families of victims in their healing process, and effectively find ways to help the offender become a more productive member of society.
2003-2005 - Vice-President of Cultural Awareness through Pride and Education Club (CAPE Club) WCC @Shelton, WA. This club was responsible for making higher learning and cultural
educational opportunities available for men who were incarcerated. 2003-2007 - President of Brothers Keepers Movement. This club was responsible for providing children and adults under hospice in Hospital as well as homeless shelters with handmade knitted hats, socks, and scarves. The men recorded Books on Tapes for Thurston County Preschools and Kindergarten students.
2007-2008 - Began Food fundraising in Florence, Corrections Center (FCC) located in Florence, Arizona. Karlton was responsible for bringing together offenders from Washington, California, US Marshall's, ICE, and INS together for religious programming.
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2008 - Co-founded Redemption Project @ Stafford Creek Corrections Center.
2010- Karlton was elected Vice President of Education of Toastmasters. He was tasked with fostering the communication & leadership skills of the members and facilitating weekly membership meetings.
In 2010 Karlton was named Toastmaster's Speaker of the Year for his excellent communication skills and dynamic speeches. 2010-2013 - Chairman of Redemption Self Awareness Branch. Karlton was he overseer of the Self Awareness curriculum in which the classes were designed to change the culture of prison from a negative environment to a positive environment. Karlton prepared the facilitators for those classes. Karlton introduced and began teaching Redemption’s Mentorship and Acquired Communications (MACS) class. This class gave the students a look at how to mentor others, and provided a platform for them to learn to be powerful motivational and inspirational speakers.
2013- Two weeks after Karlton was released from prison he was hired as night manager for Regency Inc. One of the state’s largest commercial dry cleaning plants.
2014- Became Plant Manager of Regency Inc. Responsible for daily operations and Day Shift staff.
July 2014 - October 2015- Karlton became General Manager of Regency Inc. His new position allowed him to create, negotiate, and oversee such contracts from major hotels, casinos, Port of Seattle Police, Cruise Lines, plus overseeing the operations of Regency Inc.’s 5 retail stores as well. One of Karlton’s biggest tasks were client and customer relations.
He conducted interviews, and job hiring. Karlton was tasked with finding creative ways to improve the company’s progress. Karlton helped Regency Inc. save money by switching to environmental friendly products and by switching the company’s water filtration system. Karlton learned about sustainability from Stafford Creek Correction Center’s “Roots of Success” class taught by Bob Aleksinski. October 2015-Present- Became Sales & Operations Manager for PIRTEK
June 2016- Founded Circle of Change
“I have been to the lowest point of my life. How can I let anyone, or anything bring me down any further than I have already been? My past does not define me for I do not look backwards. When a man loses everything, he can accomplish anything. I do not look to follow another’s path, instead I will blaze my own, and leave this one I know to be pure for others to follow.” Karlton Daniel #don'tlimitme
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“It is not what I go through that defines who I am- it is how I handle what I go through that determines who I am.” Words penned by Shannon Thomas during one of the toughest periods of his life- serving over two decades in prison. Raised in a middle class, two-parent home-the first row of a church pew next to his father, a minister, is where he spent the most formative years of his life. It was during his teenage years that curiosity and the desire to live life without rules lead to hanging out with the wrong people and a series of bad decisions that would change the course of his life. Dropping out of high school in the eleventh grade- at 19 years old he was sentenced to 24 years in prison. It wasn’t until a few years behind bars that Shannon began to reflect on his life and the choices that got him incarcerated. He looked around his stark environment and realized he did not fit in- so he decided to take the steps to prove to himself that he was not his mistake. While in prison, Shannon attained his high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree and immersed himself in leadership opportunities. He also recommitted himself to his faith and pursued religious studies. It was this new mindset that helped to prepare him for reentry and success in the free world. Now, a licensed Minister himself, Shannon spend time regularly mentoring men and boys and serving his community as founder of a community-based outreach program called Man-Up Project.
After winning two unanimous recommendations for Clemency (2009, 2014), in Washington State, he was finally granted Clemency, after serving 18 years and the journey to help men understand their purpose and vision began.
Aaron has lived with the decisions and choices he has made. The path that it led him down impacted him in a way that changed his life. He has dedicated his life to transforming not only his life but also those around him. His heart is for criminal justice reform and our juvenile population.
His desire is to be a living example of what can happen when your actions align with your vision leading to a destination beyond expectation.
Aaron and his wife, Mari Borrero are co-founders of AMB Mentoring Minds, a non-profit organization helping the previously incarcerated, families, and our communities’. Aaron and Mari have six children and reside in Washington State.
Aaron has lived with the decisions and choices he has made. The path that it led him down impacted him in a way that changed his life. He has dedicated his life to transforming not only his life but also those around him. His heart is for criminal justice reform and our juvenile population.
His desire is to be a living example of what can happen when your actions align with your vision leading to a destination beyond expectation.
Aaron and his wife, Mari Borrero are co-founders of AMB Mentoring Minds, a non-profit organization helping the previously incarcerated, families, and our communities’. Aaron and Mari have six children and reside in Washington State.
Stephen received his training in Communications from Grays Harbor College and Toastmasters International and is currently teaching Youth Leadership & Communications Programs in the inner Seattle area. His professional interests focuses on effective communication, at risk youth program development, violence prevention, transitional Re-entry and cultural issues both abroad and within his community.
His current projects include speaking at multiple events (i.e. The New Direction Project Event, The African American Achievement Awards and Meeting of the Minds). In addition he is an active member of Toastmasters International, a two-time President, two-time Vice President of Education, and was honored with the Toastmasters of the Year Award for his contributions in mentoring, chairing and influencing the overall direction of the organization.
His current projects include speaking at multiple events (i.e. The New Direction Project Event, The African American Achievement Awards and Meeting of the Minds). In addition he is an active member of Toastmasters International, a two-time President, two-time Vice President of Education, and was honored with the Toastmasters of the Year Award for his contributions in mentoring, chairing and influencing the overall direction of the organization.
Mickeil was incarcerated 10 years in the Washington State Department of Corrections. He was just 22 years of age when that journey began. Early in his incarceration Mickeil realized that to never find himself in this position again, he needed to make a positive change in his life. It was during that time of development Mickeil enrolled in programs such as Auto-Cad, ITC, Graphic Design, University Behind Bars and Waste Management. Realizing his gift to help others, he began to facilitated classes for the Ready for Release Program, Fitness Workshop, and Waste Management.
Mickeil is dedicated for change within himself and for others. He has a great attitude and has become a powerful motivational speaker.
"Because of this realization, I adhered to a progressive mindset and my incarceration turned out to be the most enlightening and life changing experience in my life to date" Mickeil Silvera
Mickeil is dedicated for change within himself and for others. He has a great attitude and has become a powerful motivational speaker.
"Because of this realization, I adhered to a progressive mindset and my incarceration turned out to be the most enlightening and life changing experience in my life to date" Mickeil Silvera
President of GS Hydraulic Hose Corp, a Kent based service and manufacturing company with 10 employees. Former treasurer of Post Prison Education Program, managed budget and developed financial plan for $1 million award to organization. Gregory has mentored several young men during their incarceration and continued mentorship after their release, and is passionate about helping formerly incarcerated individuals find financial success through a meaningful contribution to society. Gregory has a BA in Russian Literature from the University of Washington and an MBA from INSEAD.
Gilda L. Sheppard, PhD is a member of the faculty in sociology, cultural and media studies at The Evergreen State College Tacoma program. She has received local, national and international academic fellowships in media arts and sociology and has taught internationally at colleges in Ghana, West Africa and volunteer teaches college level courses at men and women’s prisons in Washington State. She is an award winning filmmaker who has screened her documentaries in USA, Ghana, Berlin and the Cannes Film Festival. She is currently in post-production of her documentary on education and activism within men and women prisons in Washington State. Sheppard’s recent 2013 publication is Culturally Relevant Arts Education for Social Justice: A Way Out of No Way.