An all-prisoner jazz band swung through a few jams in the on-site church before Redlitz gave an opening speech, explaining that Last Mile participants have to show years of dedication to their education before being admitted to the program.
In a show of unwavering dedication to his craft, Canadian photographer Keri Wilk managed to capture the experience on film.
"We trust startups with millions of VC money and encourage a culture of 'failing fast,' yet somehow the idea of giving to volunteers who may have showed years of dedication is undesirable?" he said.
Some initial reviews were blatantly racist: "I remember one that said, 'They show a lot of dedication, not normally seen in a heritage troupe.' There were others that talked about 'ballet done their way'".
"The discipline of being committed to something five or six times a week shows a sense of dedication, which is always very positive".
Evans, who recently has shown the kind of dedication lacking earlier in his career, won 6-3, 6-7, 7-5, 7-5 for his first Wimbledon victory.
"It's about showing dedication, lots of dedication, to study the prayers, learn to read Hebrew," said Meyer Sanchez, 37. "You have to sacrifice other things, like time with your wife, time with your family, and other things you may like, video games and music".
Last year's winner, director of Doncaster prison John Biggin, impressed the judges by showing a level of dedication to improving the lives of prisoners far beyond the requirements of his job.
While some commentators claimed the incident proved Mr Modi could not be trusted and had little empathy for women, his supporters claimed his actions showed the sort of dedication and single-mindedness that could help the nation.
Syrian Red Crescent workers "have shown a lot of dedication and determination and they are really doing a tremendous job," Dibeh Fakhr, a Red Cross spokeswoman said last month by telephone from Geneva.
