Going the Extra Mile for Your Team & Your Town

Inside any large company, corporation, or agency, you often see and hear the word team. There are some people in the workforce who love being a part of a team but the idea of a team building exercise, particularly outside of the workplace, can seem awkward.

What if your workforce team was a basketball team and your opponents were the local heroes of Livingston? Or what if your team building exercise involved a casual walk, or fast run, on a gorgeous April day where you’re splashed with bright colored powder?

Recently, volunteers at the Polunsky Unit and other TDCJ facilities in the surrounding area experienced just that. TDCJ’s basketball team, The Polunsky Point Guards, played the Polk County Go Getters in a basketball event that’s nearing its twentieth year of existence. The Go Getters team is made up of Special Olympics athletes of all ages. These games are a terrific way to promote local Livingston athletes with special needs to engage in community activities and sports. CID Deputy Division Director Daniel Dickerson played in this year’s game. “We got stomped!” Dickerson said with a smile. “I can’t remember what the score was, but we were just having fun.”

Dickerson, a former warden at the Polunsky Unit, sees these games as a way for the agency to get more involved in the community.

“The public may not understand how things are at TDCJ because they only know about prisons from what they’ve seen on Hollywood TV shows and movies,” Dickerson said. “Of course that is nothing like what it really is. So, if we can get more involved in our local towns that will show the community that we are all normal people and just like any other person in that community.”

The way employees interact with one another after a social event creates a positive attitude in the workplace, as well as in their interactions with inmates. The people may then think of new ways to connect with the community and the cycle continues. It can even be something as simple as a gift for the community members.

“Polunsky Unit made these nice gift bags for every one of the Go Getters. So, after the game we handed out the gift bags to everyone on the team,” Dickerson said.

Dickerson knows it can be a struggle for TDCJ employees to get events up and running.

“It can be a challenge because everyone is busy. We all have responsibilities and families, and you feel like you can’t volunteer any time, but you need to make the time, because once you start, you immediately see the good that can come from it and becoming a positive part of these communities.”

Although Mr. Dickerson is no longer at Polunsky, he knows that unit is in good hands.

“There are some correctional staff there who go above and beyond when it comes to community engagement and TDCJ employee fundraising activities. Shari Hendry is one of them. She is always full of energy. I think a lot of the activities are going strong because of Shari Hendry,” Dickerson said.

Correctional Officer Shari Hendry coordinates Polunsky Unit events, the most recent being the 5K Color Run. It’s not every day that an employee can throw powdered paint at their supervisor, but on April 4 at the Polunsky Unit the 5K Color Run allowed employees to do just that.

Hendry promoted the event, “I knew I wanted to do a physical type of event. Something that could boost morale. We ended up having 105 people sign up and give their donations. Out of those, we had 75 people doing the run.”

“There were team members there to throw powdered paint at the runners. We all had our shirts that we’d ordered, and they were white, and they say Polonsky Color Run on them. It just brightens the mood. We had stations set up around the unit where the volunteers could throw paint at the runners. We also had gold, silver, and bronze medals for the winners of the race,” Hendry said.

The color run and other events keep Hendry busy. “That’s why I love to do it. I love to see people building their bonds and friendships. That always helps with understanding and getting to know people on the unit. Some of our employees never even see one another because they work in different departments on different shifts, and they’re like, hey, you work here?” The money raised from this event will go into the Polunsky Unit’s petty cash, which is used for family emergencies if needed and for events during the winter holidays.

If a TDCJ employee is interested in getting their unit or office involved in community events, it can be helpful to attend local city meetings. Also, contact your local police department and sheriff’s office. Use social media to find out about upcoming events in your area and who to contact about volunteering.

“Get involved in your community, motivate your staff and get them involved in the community too,” Hendry said.