The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
ANGEL TREE
Winter wonderland: Angel Tree project at Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church aids youth of jailed parents
MIDDLETOWN >> As part of the Angel Tree project, Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church plans to create a winter wonderland Christmas extravaganza for children of incarcerated parents in December.
Sana Cotten knows well the childhood pain, fear and loneliness harbored by enforced separation. Now a mother of two and wife of Joshua Cotten, church youth director, and daughter in law to the Rev. W. Vance Cotten and copastor Rev. Kim L. Cotten, Sana Cotten recalls seeing her parents while in foster care.
“As a young child, most of my memories of my parents are visiting them in the correctional facility,” said Sana Cotten. “I
spent many Christmas holidays wishing that I could spend it with them, but unfortunately, that was not the case.”
At Shiloh, the couple also leads the church summer camp and a recently launched after-school enrichment program.
As a mentor to many children and young adults in the community, Sana Cotten responded enthusiastically to the chance to partner with the Angel Tree project, a program sponsored by Prison Fellowship, which supports children of jailed parents.
The organization, based in Lansdowne, Virginia, “seeks to restore those affected by crime and incarceration by introducing prisoners, victims and their families find new hope” through faith, according to the website.
The Dec. 10 Christmas party will celebrate 20 local children whose parents are serving prison sentences at four state facilities. The project aims to connect jailed parents with their children by delivering them Christmas gifts. Church volunteers have stepped up to purchase and bring gifts to the children’s parents.
“They sent us a list earlier this month,” said Sana Cotten. “We know the children’s town, ages and gift ideas that are provided by guardians.”
The creation of a winter wonderland-themed party is the main objective and help is sought from the community, especially donations of services or goods that can help create a stellar experience for an especially vulnerable youth population, Sana Cotten said. Local chefs or bakers might offer a meal or sweet desserts, and balloon artists, theme characters, face painters and decorators are all welcome to contribute their talents, too. The church’s Youth Dance and Choir ministries will perform at the event.
“I see snowflakes, blue and silver balloons, maybe an arch. That would be nice,” envisions Sana Cotten, who has reached out to families of selected children to introduce herself and asked them to save the Dec. 10 date.
The congregation’s parishioners jumped on board immediately and even canceled other holiday parties to wholeheartedly support this event, Sana Cotten said.
“I’ve organized a lot of events for youth but this is one of the most important to me,” said Sana Cotten, who was just 3 when she entered foster care with her twin brother. “It’s strictly about giving back to kids.”
Usually when one considers vulnerable populations, the homeless or victims of domestic violence typically come to mind, she said. “We don’t necessarily think of kids of incarcerated parents.”
Adopted at 9 with her twin, Sana Cotten says she was “hardened” by the early part of this separation expereince from her parents. Today, though, her heart has softened again.
“I want to share my story with others,” said Sana Cotten, adding that too many people expected her life to have a negative outcome after growing up as a child of drug-addicted and incarcerated parents.
Sana Cotten finds strength today as a role model and plans to shine her light brightly. A rare statistical outcome, she seeks to show other youth that they, too, can strike out on a path far beyond the low expectations others may have for them, she said.
The Angel Tree project offers a ladder of hope, starting with about two dozen children for the first year. There are an estimated 2.7 million children across the nation affected by parental incarceration, according to Prison Fellowship.
In addition to their two children, daughters Janai, 8, and Jamir, 14, the couple serves as mentors to dozens of other children through their various ministries. As small business owners, the couple plans to donate the use of a photobooth during the party set from 5 to 8 p.m. in the lower level of the church at 346 Butternut St.
An advocate for children of incarcerated parents, Sana Cotten is included on an upcoming panel discussion, “The State of Women and Children in Mass Incarceration,” Nov. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m at the Bridgeport City Hall Annex, 45 Lyon Terrace. The panel includes author/motivational speaker Lucinda Cross, Howard University Professor of Criminology Dr. Bahiyyah Muhhamad; former children of incarcerated parents, Sana Cotten and Kywuan Warren, and will be moderated by re-entry activist Daee Muhhamad McKnight. Proceeds will benefit the completion of the film, “Served,” intended to drive awareness and resources to “the forgotten demographic, children of incarcerated parents.”
The couple does sometimes offer temporary shelter to kids at risk and Sana Cotten has high hopes for the future of others that she might help. “We have a dream of foster care but we live in an apartment,” she explained. “We’re praying. If it’s God’s will, He will bless us with what we need to do that.”