In an unexpected setting, the Missouri Department of Corrections has become the stage for leadership development.
Laura Fehrenbach has been with the state of Missouri’s probation and parole department for 26 years, serving as the district administrator for the last ten in southern Missouri. She works with justice-involved individuals who are either on probation or parole. These individuals have either just been released from prison with part of their sentence left to complete, or they have been given the opportunity to avoid prison by making better choices in the community.
Laura believes that people in trouble simply need better opportunities and the chance to be seen for who they are, not just their actions. That’s why she chose the career in the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Positive Changes in People’s Lives
Every day, Laura is making positive changes in people’s lives. Her belief in second chances is so strong that she refers to the people she works with as clients, not convicts or parolees.
At probation and parole, the mission is to improve lives for a safer community.
Historically, they’ve focused their attention and resources on high-risk, high-need individuals, often overlooking those who are doing well in the community. Then, Laura was introduced to Transformation Ozarks by the wife of the Branson Fire Chief, Ted Martin.
Ted believed probation and parole should be involved in this community initiative and he invited Laura to participate in a Transformation Ozarks Community Transformation Table. During Laura’s first session, focused on the value of initiative, she knew she needed to share this with her clients.
Transformation Ozarks aims to make the entire region between Stone and Taney County a better place to live and work for everyone. This movement focuses on unifying people around good values and collaborating for the common good. Through the Transformation Tables process, it provides everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate these values in a way that makes a difference in their own lives as well as the community.
As a participant, Laura experienced the positive difference the Transformation Tables made in her own life and was inspired to extend this opportunity to her clients, who she views as deserving of service rather than being labeled as broken or dysfunctional. She sees participation in the Transformation Ozarks Community Transformation Tables as an opportunity to engage individuals, who are still on supervision, as active and valued members of the community.
An Unexpected Journey to Leadership
Transformation Ozarks, using the Maxwell Leadership Foundation Transformation Framework is a community-wide transformation initiative that focuses on personal growth and leadership development around good values that creates powerful positive change in the community.
Everyone in the community is invited to participate in Community Transformation Tables where they engage in discussions focusing on a different community value every week for seven weeks. This process offers a moment of self-reflection, encouraging them to identify areas of improvement, which Laura believes is a key step towards becoming a leader in their community.
While the journey hasn’t always been smooth, Laura shares that the program has been the highlight of her week. Despite the occasional struggle of participants to attend sessions due to work schedules and life events, the impact on her life and the lives of her clients has been overwhelmingly positive. The Transformation Tables experience has instilled a sense of pride and confidence among participants, empowering them to invest and contribute to their community.
One heart-warming story Laura shared with me is about Josh, a participant in the program. Despite spending nearly a year in jail before being placed on probation, Josh has flourished as a result of the Transformation Ozarks Transformation Tables. He has rapidly progressed in his job at Chick-fil-A, receiving promotions, and taking charge of projects. The experience has helped Josh realize his leadership skills and potential. His journey is a testament to the powerful positive change that happens as the result of experiencing a transformation table.
Looking Toward the Future
Laura’s vision for making a positive difference through her role with the Department of Corrections is ambitious yet achievable. She plans to continuously run transformation tables in the three counties she oversees, showcasing the benefits to her leadership in Jefferson City, Missouri’s capital.
Her ultimate goal is to spread this positive impact throughout the state prisons. She firmly believes that through the experience at the Transformation Tables, individuals both in and out of prison can make significant contributions to their communities.
As Laura’s story shows, leadership development can occur in unexpected places. I encourage you to watch my full interview with Laura on Transformational Leadership TV.