Cornerstone Builders’ Bus Project provides a free monthly bus service for New Orleanians who have loved ones in eight Louisiana detention facilities:
- Louisiana State Penitentiary (Angola)
- Allen Correctional Institute
- Dixon Correctional Institute
- Hunt Correctional Center
- Raymond Laborde Correctional Center
- Rayburn Correctional Center
- Southeast Regional Re-entry Program
- Transitional Center for Women
At least once a month, the Bus Project rents a 55 passenger bus and makes the trek to different facilities from New Orleans, at an average cost of $1,000 per trip. There are two important objectives for the bus trips:
- to ensure the trips are free to those who cannot afford it
- the buses are coach-style buses with air conditioning and restrooms.
The rides often last more than two hours one way. The travel itself should be as stress-free and comfortable as possible for the family members.
To contact Cornerstone Builders about reserving a ride, please call 504.324.4432 during business hours.
More details via WWNO: http://wwno.org/post/
2020 Cornerstone Bus Schedule: New Orleans
2020 Cornerstone Bus Schedule: Shreveport
Parts of an interview with Leo Jackson, one of the founders of the Cornerstone Builders' Bus Project:
How the Bus Project started [2:25]:
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-leo1_history.mp3|titles=Cornerstone Bus Project History]About the correctional facilities that the bus visits [1:54]:
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-leo2_5.mp3|titles=Cornerstone Bus visits 5 facilities]How people find out about the bus [0:26]:
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-leo3_spreadingtheword.mp3|titles=how people find out about the Cornerstone bus]Why the bus project is necessary [1:05]:
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-leo4_purpose.mp3|titles=why the Cornerstone bus exists]Why the bus rides are free [1:40]:
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-leo5_free.mp3|titles=why the bus is free]These are some stories from riders who wanted to tell about the importance of the bus service:
“Last time I saw the person [I'm visiting] – before the bus – was in 2003…. I was one of those people on the inside. And I never had a visitor … for the same reason. No one could get to me.” [3:17]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-3.mp3|titles=aug-3]“My foot got crushed at work, and I can't drive long distances, so that's why I'm riding the bus today.” [3:44]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-2.mp3|titles=aug-2]“[I heard about the bus] from my son in Angola. I told him I didn't have a way to go up there, and he told me about this bus.” [3:21]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-4.mp3|titles=aug-4]one rider takes the LA Swift bus from Baton Rouge to New Orleans, then takes the Cornerstone Bus from New Orleans, back through Baton Rouge to Angola and back to New Orleans, and then takes the LA Swift back home from New Orleans to Baton Rouge. [2:52]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/aug-1e.mp3|titles=aug-1e]One of the bus chaperones talks about his re-entry experiences after being released from Rayburn CC. [3:50]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/july_2.mp3|titles=july_2]an interview with a rider in July 2012 [0:58]
[audio:https://nolatoangola.herecia.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/july_4.mp3|titles=july_4]