Ex-prisoners hold free carwash in New Haven to give back to community

NEW HAVEN >> After 20 years in prison, William Outlaw knows what it means to have a support group made up of his fellow prisoners and, together, give back to the community.

Outlaw, who runs a support group for ex-convicts called Men Empowering Men, and other former prisoners hosted a free carwash Saturday at the Dixwell Fire Station, with all donations going to benefit the state Office of Victim Services.

“The goal for the group is to not get these guys to re-offend, and for them to face any issues they may have,” Outlaw said, who ran the support group when he was in prison and continued it after he was released. “When I came home, I knew they needed it. It’s very powerful.”

Bending down to polish a car’s hubcap, Nathaniel Moore of New Haven stressed that the carwash was meant to give back to the community — an idea that formed in the weekly Men Empowering Men support group.

“A lot of people have got the wrong idea of people coming out of prison,” he said. “They think, once a criminal, always a criminal.”

Former prisoners from the Men Empowering Men support group wash cars for free at the Dixwell Fire Station Saturday. They took donations for the state Office of Victim Services. Former prisoners from the Men Empowering Men support group wash cars for free at the Dixwell Fire Station Saturday. They took donations for the state Office of Victim Services. Photo: Kristin Stoller - New Haven Register Photo: Kristin Stoller - New Haven Register Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Ex-prisoners hold free carwash in New Haven to give back to community 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Group member David Miller said, as “ex-felons,” group members try to do the right thing. He said it was their opportunity to try to help someone, because everyone helped them.

“The group helps me in the way of maintaining my focus,” Miller said. “It allows me to not only look at my past but to focus on the present and the future.”

Wesley Thorpe, who also helps run Men Empowering Men, said the group members came up with the idea of a free carwash on their own. They want to work and they want to make a contribution to the community, he said.

The men also wanted to collect donations for the Office of Victim Services and surprise them with the money collected, Thorpe said.

Tracey Fulton, of New Haven, stopped by the carwash shortly after 10:30 a.m. and said she was pleased with the effort the men were putting in. She said her son, William Baines, was killed in front of her, and the man who did it recently went to prison.

“I think it’s nice they are giving back to the community,” Fulton said. “They should be talking to younger boys and telling them to give back, too.”

The carwash was a collaboration of Easter Seals Goodwill Industries, the Project Moore re-entry program, the state Department of Corrections Community Services and New Haven Fire Service.