Last week I visited with Brant Choate from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Brant directs the educational based incarceration system that operates within the LA County J

ail and he is a true visionary. Rather than focusing on warehousing human beings, he works with a team to inspire the men who are serving time so that they prepare for law-abiding lives upon release. Together with Deputy David Bates, Brant oversees MERIT, a program that encourages inmate leaders to teach classes inside of the jail. I had the privilege of touring one of the jail facilities with Deputy Bates and a commander from the LA County Jail. Their work will go a long way toward community renewal and increasing community safety by lowering recidivism rates. I like the model of change from within that MERIT promotes.