The Algoa Prison Leadership Conference: A Reflection
The Inception of the Algoa Prison Leadership Conference for Incarcerated Leadership Development
On May 9, 2024, Second Mountain partnered with several justice involved organizations to plan and host the first ever Prison Leadership Conference at Algoa Correctional Center, the facility where Bo spent almost all of his sentence in the MODOC. The idea was born while Bo was still incarcerated as a greater means of leadership training for correctional center residents. After meeting our amazing partners in planning, supporters and great friends, Stacey and Bryan Kidd, the plan began to move. Bo and Stacey worked tirelessly, communicating many times per day, and working for months to iron out every detail. Without the collaboration of the ACC administration, particularly Deputy Warden Kyle Kempker, none of this could have happened and this conference was a wildly successful event that demonstrates the wealth of leadership potential in the people that are currently incarcerated.
The day began early as 75 visitors including guest speakers, family members, MODOC staff and organizational partners arrived at the facility and moved through the secure entry verifying identities and obtaining visitor lanyards from ACC staff members. The members of the GLA had the gym ready with 15 tables of 10. Everyone found their tables, enjoyed a catered breakfast with GLA members acting as hosts at each table, serving their tablemates and introducing themselves to visitors.
Warden Kelly Morriss started the conference with a warm welcome and by expressing appreciation and pride in Bo, Deputy Warden Kempker, and the work of the GLA. Mr. Kempker, Bo and Stacey spoke and welcomed the 1st speaker of the day to the stage. David Ashcraft is the President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network. His background is as a pastor and he spoke about the principle of speaking thoughtfully and quietly for others to listen. He shared with us that he had not been to a prison before and he really enjoyed speaking with residents about their transformational change in prison through leadership.
Leadership Panels and Talks: Transforming Lives and Building Skills in Prison
Following David’s talk, Josh Smith of Fourth Purpose led a panel with MODOC Director of Adult Institutions, Bo, and Kyle Kempker. They discussed the innovation of the GLA and the importance of programs that help build the residents into successful and contributing members of society. Josh asked the panel members to describe some of the changes that have happened at ACC and what results those changes have made. The mission of Fourth Purpose is to make prison a place of transformation and Josh and the panel helped to demonstrate the success of facilities working to change a very large and complicated system.
After a quick break for snacks, the day continued with another panel hosted by Aiden and Kenny, residents of ACC and members of the GLA. This panel had the goal of explaining the GLA, how it all started, and the journey that the group has been on since the beginning. This was the first opportunity of the day for the visitors to see the skills of GLA members in action and the guys did a great job of sharing the message of the importance and life-changing skills they use daily since becoming GLA members.
Next, the event transitioned into a series of segments featuring sponsors and members of the Global Leadership Academy at Algoa Correctional Center. Each speaker focused on a leadership talk from a previous Global Leadership Summit and addressed the impact that learning about each principle had on them. Ms. Hill, an ACC employee and GLA member, spoke about transformation, followed by Meechie, a resident, as he threw his prepared comments out the window and spoke about inspiration. These short talks were followed by GLA members Benji, Aaron, Blake and Will as they spoke about courage and discipline, conviction, self-care, and emotional intelligence. Each speaker included elements of their own life as well as the importance of the leadership principle as it pertains to incarcerated life and to civilian life.
Authentic Leadership, Empathy, and Personal Growth: Inspiring Change Behind Bars
After a catered lunch of chips, cookies, and sandwiches provided by Bush’s Catering, the afternoon continued with national leadership expert Dan Owolabi. Dan’s talk about authentic leadership, based on his book of the same name, focused on the idea of operating as one’s authentic self. Dan brought 2 residents to the stage to create a humorous illustration of the self an incarcerated person may portray, versus the person they really are. The presentation was enjoyed by everyone and Dan expressed that he was as moved by the day as the attendees were moved by his leadership talk.
Following Dan's impactful presentation, GLA Member Aiden Allen and GLA Sponsor AJ shared personal stories battling insecurities and the transformative journey they've experienced within the Department of Corrections. Aidan detailed his troubled upbringing, self-destructive behavior, and eventual incarceration, while AJ recounted his path from insecurity as a young corrections officer to embracing authentic leadership, influenced by supportive colleagues and DOC's culture changes. Both emphasized the impact of authenticity on leadership and conflict resolution through lessons learned as a result of their mutual involvement with the Global Leadership Academy.
The afternoon concluded with the final speeches from GLA members. Lou, Hersch, Eric, Stephon, Kenny and Butch. By speaking about empathy and humility, connection, influence, anticipatory leadership, life-skills, and gratitude. Stephon and Kenny had particularly popular speeches. Stephon told the story in 5 chapters made popular by Wayne Dyer as an example of anticipatory leadership while Kenny talked about the life-skills that incarcerated people lack and the importance of gaining and practicing those skills before returning to society.Hope Packs
During the dinner break, we heard about Hope Packs, a resource for correctional facilities that provide a book to residents, along with snacks, created by Willow Creek Community Church. The book that comes in Hope Packs is written every year by volunteers from Willow Creek through submissions from incarcerated people. We also had an impromptu dance party to help everyone be vulnerable and jump outside of their comfort zones. During dinner, the caterer served steak, chicken, roasted vegetables and some other delicious sides. One resident shared with us that he had not had steak in 30 years, since being incarcerated at the age of 16!
The conference drew to a close with a worship service from the Willow Creek Community Church Prayer Team followed by a talk from former Algoa resident and current pastor Louis Dooley. Louis was an extremely popular speaker as he understood the nuances of the facility after being released from MODOC in 2009. Louis shared his journey from incarceration to leadership, emphasizing the importance of environment, community, church involvement, and seeking help in personal transformation. His powerful testimony underscored the power of faith, community support, and the desire to make a positive impact through leadership.
The final speaker of the conference was Todd Henry, a leadership expert and the author of 7 books including Die Empty, Herding Tigers, and his newest release, Brave Habit. Henry shared personal stories highlighting the importance of bravery, leadership, and acting in courageous moments. Henry encouraged attendees to act bravely, live life without regrets, and seek fulfillment in their endeavors. He also donated a copy of his book to each resident in attendance.
A Revolutionary Day of Transformation
Overall, this leadership conference was the first of its kind held inside of a prison with as many guests as residents that we are aware of. The day was revolutionary for all involved as the goal of humanizing the incarcerated population was met and so many visitors and residents were impacted by the messages they heard and the leadership principles they interacted with during the day. Towards the end of the day, 4 Missouri representatives joined us and spent a lot of time hearing from participants about the day. The final activity of the day was to request feedback about future opportunities. For some, the entire event was impactful, from start to finish. The overall organization, the flow of the day, and the wealth of information presented were praised. Participants appreciated the comprehensive nature of the event, which provided a rich and fulfilling experience. In addition, the general atmosphere of love, kindness, and support allowed guests and residents to feel connected to each other and find immense value in the day. These components all combined to create an environment that was both uplifting and transformative for all who attended. This event demonstrates evidence of the true vision of transformational and cultural change that can take place in prison.
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