Marilyn Gambrell to Speak at Montagne Center

IEA –Inspire, Encourage, Achieve/Ben’s Kids welcomes Groves native Marilyn Gambrell, founder of “No More Victims,” to its Tuesday, May 6 Ben’s Kids Meeting, from 5:30 p.m.

to 7:30 p.m., in the Cardinal Club Room of the Montagne Center at Lamar University-Beaumont.

Gambrell is scheduled to address an invited group of nearly 30 youth and more than 35 parents, mentors, volunteers, and board members at 6 p.m.

“No More Victims” is a program for children of incarcerated parents at Houston’s M. B. Smiley High School.

Gambrell’s story was told in the Lifetime Moment of Truth Movie Fighting the Odds: The Marilyn Gambrell Story, starring Jami Gertz.

A former parole officer and administrator for the state of Texas, Gambrell was galvanized to action after witnessing firsthand the trauma that parental incarceration inflicted on children’s lives.

Since the program’s inception in 2000, hundreds of children have taken control of their lives under her leadership and mentorship.

Gambrell is also the author of a series of books entitled Cherish the Child Within, a curriculum used by educators, professionals, and social workers entitled Child Within on Fire.

IEA’s outreach program, “Ben’s Kids,” provides youth on probation or recently released from probation with additional support and guidance to help them in their efforts to make positive life choices in the community.

Young people meet twice monthly at Lamar University for sessions that include character development lessons, guest speakers, career fairs and community service activities.

They also have opportunities to participate in group and individual counseling.

IEA –Inspire, Encourage, Achieve, a collaborative effort with the Jefferson County Juvenile Probation Department, is a non-profit organization founded in 1997 by Regina Rogers and the late Julie Rogers to perpetuate Ben Rogers’ legacy of helping children achieve dignity and respect through knowledge, compassion, understanding and love.

Additional mentors and volunteers are needed to interact with Ben’s Kids’ participants.

For more information, contact Jackie Simien at (409) 839-8778 (office) or (409) 781-8404 (cell).