A community where mistakes don't exist and Elkhart County inmates thrive

Mar 13, 2025 by Vanessa Padilla

GOSHEN — Art, passion, potential and inspiration filled the Goshen Theater Friday evening when Elkhart County Jail Ministry and the theater collaborated in showcasing the artwork of work release inmates after two weeks of attending an art class.

Cory Martin, chaplain for Elkhart County Jail Ministry, his volunteers, and assistant chaplains have worked together to provide a way for inmates to express themselves and learn new hobbies.

This class in particular, actively praised their art teacher, Brooke Rothshank, and the work release chaplain, Karen Hochstedler, for giving them the opportunity to find talent and passion in a two-week class that opened their minds to the endless amount of possibilities to help them move forward.

“People who are coming out of incarceration probably haven’t spent a lot of time at the Goshen Theater,” Martin said. “It’s just fun to see people mingling in places where they wouldn’t normally be and to see different communities of people talking to each other.

“That’s the only thing that’s gonna break down walls and stereotypes,” he said. “It’s easy to have a stereotype of a group of people you’ve never met and know nothing about. But once you get to meet them and talk to them and see the art that they produce, it starts changing the way we think about each other.”

The Goshen Theaters’ Executive Director Susan Visser was excited to feature the work at the theater as part of their Visual Art Series, where exhibitions are introduced every four to six weeks.

“We were really pleased to be able to work with the Elkhart County Jail Ministry on the show,” Visser said. “You can tell from the photos the kind of warm, creative atmosphere that was created.

“We love being able to support various groups in the community,” she said. “I think this is just really special, and I love that so many people have come out. All the artists who participated are here. It’s just a great celebration and we’re so happy to host it.”

Rothshank, a nationally renowned artist, spent the two weeks working with work release inmates on fundamentals of drawing and painting. For Rothshank, it was more than just an art class. She described it to be a community where inmates began to form a sense of trust and humanity while learning and discovering new interests and forms of expression.

The art class is one of the programs that Jail Ministry offers along with other programs that promote healthy hobbies and a way to connect, as the inmates move closer to being released. Hochstedler managed the program and attended the art classes as well. She saw first hand the benefits of providing a space for creativity and community.

“I really see the benefit in a sense of community and that benefit is for all of us, it’s not just the students,” Hochstedler said. “I was a student too, in this class, and so we were learning together. I think this also really can build confidence. Hopefully, as they get out, they can still have some relationships, connections, and that source of community.

“I think people that are in the system are just often ignored by society, we don’t want to see them or we’re worried or afraid,” she said. “And so I think this is a way of honoring our shared humanity and another way of saying we all belong here together in community.”

Larry Ray, a participant of the art class, said that he loved the class but initially thought he wouldn’t like it but as he continued he found it to be an unexpected passion.

“I fell in love with drawing,” he said. “Brooke is a great teacher and she’s amazing. I told her that I was going to come back up to her class to learn more and more. Because you can’t get enough of drawing and painting. I am going to be an art teacher next.”

Antoine Adams, another inmate participant, also enjoyed the art class and had taken art before in Minnesota. However, he found validation in his ability to create art while working with Rothshank.

“I didn’t really do too well, but she made me feel real good about the painting that I did,” he said. “I also paint canvases at home in my free time. I feel great when I paint. I was able to learn a lot of different things, things that I didn’t know I could do.”

For all participants, they went in with a doubtful mindset, some feeling nerves, but with guidance, the mindset shifted. Jamie Morrison, said going into it was nerve wracking but gained confidence in the process.

“It made me feel good, especially when it was done and I could do it but the best part of it was the group,” she said. Morrison also told everyone at The Goshen Theater as they were presenting that during the time they were attending, she had gotten sick and was cared for and brought back to health by her classmates.

Each participant had invited friends and families to view the showcase of their art and see them receive their certificate of completion.

Charity Slusser, another participant, had the opportunity of sharing the special moment with her daughter, Natalia Slusser. Charity locked arms with her daughter while she explained the colors of her painting and the details of what she did. Natalia said that she was proud of her mom while she laid her head on Charity’s shoulder.

As many of the other participants, Charity was proud of herself, too. She didn’t realize that she had talent in the arts. She didn’t realize that it would be a way to express herself nor accomplish what she had done within the two weeks.

“To be honest with you, I’m amazed,” she said. “I look at it and I don’t even see that it’s me that did it. It’s actually empowering because I really didn’t think I could do that, so I really enjoyed it.”

She continued, “I think it was a great program that they brought to the work release. I mean every day I went to class, I was so calm once I got back. It boosted my spirits like, OK, I can get through this next day with work release. And it just made my overall day better.

‘“It was the one time in our lives where we heard ‘There are no mistakes.”’