ANN LAMBERT
One life that has touched so many others
by Cristi Sanchez
Ann Lambert spent 30 years making a difference in peoples' lives through her work as director of pretrial and probation rehabilitation programs in Florida and Chesapeake. For Ann, it was more than a career-it was a calling. As with most cases of fate intervening, Ann went to college to prepare for a career in a completely different field and, in a serendipitous encounter, was redirected to her true calling.
Originally wanting to become a physical education teacher, Ann was very disappointed when one of her major's core classes was canceled. She was at a bit of a loss regarding which classes to take when she ran into her high school football coach in the college cafeteria.
"We chatted, and Coach Huggins mentioned possibilities for women in the criminal justice field," Ann recalls. "He suggested I check it out, seeing it as a field that could eventually attract and hire women. At the time, female police and probation officers were unheard of, but being married with two children to raise, I gave the idea some serious thought!"
So, Ann decided to take an Introduction to Juvenile Delinquency and was fascinated. Thus, her journey changed course as she discovered her true passion. Committing to pursuing her Associate Degree in criminal justice, Ann graduated at the age of 28. She then went on to earn her Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice from Florida Technological University in 1976 and her Master of Science in criminal justice in 1979 from Rollins College.
After a devastating divorce in 1980, Ann decided to start fresh. Moving to Portsmouth, Virginia, she met and married Louis Edelstein, who fully supported her passion for criminal justice. In 1983, she was hired by the Tidewater Regional Group Home Commission to direct a local probation and pretrial services program funded by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice. After seven years, the program was transferred to the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department as the Chesapeake Community Corrections Agency. Although Ann retired in 2008, the program continues to this day.
"It's still a very worthwhile and effective program, with a low rate of recidivism, and it is funded by grants," Ann says. "I worried every year, wondering if our program was going to be funded. It's so important for the participants, and it's good for the community for people to be rehabilitated to become productive members of society. And it saves money, too. While I was there, it cost $83 per day to house incarcerated individuals where it was only $2 a day to put them through our program."
"It's still a very worthwhile and effective program, with a low rate of recidivism, and it is funded by grants," Ann says. "I worried every year, wondering if our program was going to be funded. It's so important for the participants, and it's good for the community for people to be rehabilitated to become productive members of society. And it saves money, too. While I was there, it cost $83 per day to house incarcerated individuals where it was only $2 a day to put them through our program."
Through the 12-month program, Ann worked closely with local judges in obtaining client referrals for the agency and ensured adequate supervision and follow-up for defendants and offenders. It wasn't always easy, though, for Ann to convince judges to allow offenders to participate.
"There's no doubt in my mind
that Ann and her program
saved my life...
I don't know how many other lives
she's made a difference in,
but I'm glad she made a
difference in mine."
- Mike Kelly
that Ann and her program
saved my life...
I don't know how many other lives
she's made a difference in,
but I'm glad she made a
difference in mine."
- Mike Kelly
Ann and her family
"I had to really fight and make a case for the judges that would let me have these individuals in the program," Ann recalls. "It was challenging because some of the offenders had long rap sheets, and the judge thought they needed jail time. But I would see their potential and tell the judge I really thought I could help them. Sometimes I was successful with the judge, and sometimes I wasn't, but I never let it stop me from trying."
As part of the program, individuals are required to sign a contract committing to personal development and accountability. "I would interview each candidate in jail and explain that they had to sign a contract committing to personal change and responsibility. Of course, they would promise me anything to get out of jail," she chuckles wryly. "I explained that it wouldn't be easy. They had to be accountable, get counseling, get clean, get their GED's and driver's licenses, and they had to accept full responsibility for their actions. We would have them pay their child support and go to family planning services, so they didn't have more children they couldn't support. For some, it was too hard, and they chose prison instead, but so many others worked hard and were successful. We did an outstanding job getting people into reading classes then applying for their GEDs. It was such a beautiful thing to see them graduate and a wonderful experience to see them grow."
"My motto for everyone
in every walk of life
is to reach beyond your grasp.
If you shift just a little bit to reach
beyond your comfort zone,
you can accomplish more than you think."
- Ann Lambert
in every walk of life
is to reach beyond your grasp.
If you shift just a little bit to reach
beyond your comfort zone,
you can accomplish more than you think."
- Ann Lambert
Four generations
One of Ann's many strategies was to have program candidates draw a picture of their prison cell before meeting with her, fold it and keep it in their back pocket. "When they asked me why, I told them, 'If you don't honor your contract, that's where you'll end up. Keep it with you always until you complete the program. It's a reminder to you to keep pushing forward.' My motto for everyone in every walk of life is to reach beyond your grasp. If you shift just a little bit to reach beyond your comfort zone, you can accomplish more than you think."
Mike Kelly is one of Ann's clients who reached beyond his grasp, is now a successful businessman, and is so grateful to her that he has stayed in regular contact with her for over 20 years later. "There's no doubt in my mind that Ann and her program saved my life," Mike says with heartfelt gratitude. "I know I would have died in jail or from an overdose. She worked so hard with me, and she never gave up on me. I just sent her a copy of our new family photo. I told her these kids and grandkids exist because she made a difference in one person's life and that life multiplies. You just never know how something like that will affect future generations. I don't know how many other lives she's made a difference in, but I'm glad she made a difference in mine."
Like ripples on the water, Ann's personal dedication to helping each member of her program succeed reaches far beyond her in ways she may never know or see. She devoted her career to touching peoples' lives and changing them for the better. That is indeed a noble calling.
Like ripples
on the water, Ann's personal dedication to helping
on the water, Ann's personal dedication to helping
each member of her program succeed reaches far beyond her in ways
she may never know or see.
she may never know or see.
Kerri-Ann Finan (Ann's Great
Granddaughter) wrote a tribute
for her Nanny's
80th Birthday
Granddaughter) wrote a tribute
for her Nanny's
80th Birthday
John Quincy Adams once said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader." As soon as I read this quote, I instantly thought of my great-grandmother, Ann Lambert, or in other words, my nanny.
My nanny is my role model, inspiration, and the person I go to when I need to gossip about my high school quarrels or cry when I feel like I'm losing myself. I have looked up to Nanny ever since I can remember. Everything that she has accomplished and done in her life has set a goal within me to achieve excellence. Almost everything I have learned in life has been from my great-grandmother. She taught me from an early age the importance of having goals and self-discipline. Nanny has very many famous quotes that float around in our family, but the one that has always spoken to me was "Reach beyond your grasp." This pushes me to do my best work, even when I have no motivation.
You may not have known this, but I have been with my great-grandmother since I was six years old. I was always her number one priority. My nanny has sacrificed a lot for me, and I don't even know the words to say to express how grateful I am. She sat down with me in elementary school and worked with me on my homework, making sure that I was always prepared. I went to private schools, and had everything I wished for except for a yacht. Any activity that I wished to participate in, I was able to. I have been a dancer, girl scout, pianist, swimmer, and so many more things that I can't even keep track of anymore. This was only because I was privileged enough to have the support of my nanny and the rest of our family, known as "The Tribe." The expression "It takes a village to raise a child" is the absolute truth for everyone raised in our family.
My nanny has been through many tough situations throughout her entire life, from the challenges of juggling a career, job, and family, to losing the love of her life, Lou. I have been told many times about the wonderful and kind man that Poppy Lou was. I am sad and honored every time I think about him. Sad because I never got the chance to meet him--and neither will my little cousin and little sister, yet I'm so happy that I have the stories that are told to me. I'm incredibly grateful that so many people in my family got the chance to love and cherish someone who made my nanny so incredibly happy. We have a picture right on top of our mantel that is a huge image of my nanny and Poppy Lou. That is my favorite picture out of all the pictures in our house. Whenever I have friends over, I take them to that picture and show them my great-grandparents.
What I'm trying to say is that my great-grandmother is the most important person in my life. In every way, I aspire to be her, and I hope that one day I can make her proud of who she raised. I hope to be like my nanny as I grow older, whether it's her kindness, her wit, her knowledge, or her sass. I want to thank her for everything that she has done for me, but if I list it out, I'll be talking for days, so in the words of William Shakespeare "Thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks."
The Shopper
1545 Crossways Blvd.
Chesapeake, VA 23320
757-317-5465
http://www.TheShopper.com