Our purpose is to build bridges instead of walls. Inmates,
correctional officers, teachers and students come together as equals to
share voices and choices in order to learn from our life experiences and
support each other in creating a safe and fulfilling future for all of
us. (written by Dale Correctional Facility women, Thetford Vermont high
school students and other participants in YES!)
High school students and women offenders come together at schools and at the Dale Facility in Waterbury, Vermont. Through conversation, drama, art and humor we share our stories and create strategies for living safe and just lives in supporting communities.
We are capable of learning a lot about human nature without books. It is good to go out in the world and explore and learn."
You are not going to be sitting in a classroom all your life. That's not how you are going to learn. You are going to learn by what's in your life by getting out and actually doing.
At the same time Jean was involved in a project interviewing women at the Dale Correctional Facility for Women in Waterbury, Vermont. The interviews focused on Dale women's past and present sources of strength within themselves and within their circles of families and friends. Impressed with what the women had to say, Jean began helping organize conferences and community forums at which incarcerated and ex-incarcerated women spoke. She witnessed how riveted audiences were by the women's stories and struggles and how quickly these face to face encounters broke down the stereotypes about prisoners. She started talking to her colleague, Carolyn, and Barbara Thorenson, a Thetford Academy (public high school) literature teacher, about bringing Dale women and teens together. As we talked we realized that such encounters had the potential to engage teens in the most basic issues of our society which could in turn lead to community service learning projects. At the same time we were talking with the chief of security, Michael Bellizzi and the superintendent, Terry Rowe at the Dale Facility about the possibility of bringing students and inmates together and about the positive impact these encounters could have.
During the fall of 2000 we began arranging meetings between high school classes from two schools and Dale women. Classes toured the facility (At that time led by Michael Bellizzi. He has since turned that over to the women inmates involved in YES!.) and afterwards met with incarcerated women in a combined discussion and activity format. A group of 8 Dale women visited Thetford's literature class.
The intense and serious interest that these sessions generated in the teens and women inmates was more than we had anticipated and exciting for all of us. Teens and the women inmates engaged in serious and analytic discussions that began with talking about their individual lives and moved to what they could do in their communities to promote productive lives for themselves and others. Teen after teen said how they had expected the women to be scary people in orange suits and instead saw people like themselves with similar struggles. Some teens spoke about the meetings as the most meaningful thing they had done all school year.
It was a lot different than I had thought it would be. I thought it was going to be scary but once we started talking to the girls I felt dumb because they were just normal people. The jail, itself, wasn't at all what I had imagined either. When I got home yesterday I was thinking about it and one thing I thought was interesting was the fact that 3 of the girls had grown up together. It made me think of that saying "it takes a whole village to raise a child" because it seems that since they all ended up in prison that couldn't have just been their families but a whole town that raised them since they all ended up the same way.- student
During the summer of 2001 we called together inmates, students, teachers and organizers, the Superintendent of Dale and Chief of Security at Dale, for three days of planning for the next school year. We invited Justin Steil Director of the City School's Prison Empowerment Project in Boston, Massachusetts whom we had met along with some of his teens at the NYC Critical Resistance: the Prison Industrial Complex Conference. We started our time together hearing about the Prison Empowerment Project and being led by Justin in some of the activities he does with the inner city and suburban teens who meet with women and men in Massachusetts' prisons through his project. At the end of the three days we were all excited and committed to continuing YES! but with a more sustained and in depth look at our communities and possible community service projects.
Throughout the 2001/2002 school year we tried a variety of formats with a variety of high school classes from different high schools. In September weekly meetings began at Dale attended by Dale women, teens from Cabot High School and Twinfield Union, and the YES! organizers. At these meetings, Dale women facilitated and the women and teens planned, implemented and evaluated YES! activities. During the same period of time, Dale women and teen students from Thetford Academy's women's literature class began a semester long class of day long monthly exchanges. One month Thetford students would come to Dale and the next a group of inmates (under supervision) would visit the Thetford class These day long meetings occurred away from the school, first at the town community center and then at a beautiful round meditation center. Between times students and inmates exchanged written reflections. (As protection for the Dale women and the teens, correspondence between Dale women and students go through the adult organizers and can't contain exchange of addresses or telephone numbers.) In January, students and inmates presented action plans to each other to meet the challenges of the transition from jail to parole for the women, and from high school to after high school for the students.
One of the exciting things about YES! is the unusual mixture of people that are brought together. As is true nationwide, Vermont incarcerated women tend to come from economically stressed and often abusive backgrounds. High school students are from all backgrounds but teachers, administrators and the organizers tend to be middle-class. The Dale YES! women self select as long as they meet the criteria set by Michael Bellizzi, the key YES! person at Dale. Michael has been adamant that women don't get any "credit" for participation in YES! as they do for many other activities in the jail. Often Dale women's own teen years were particularly difficult. Many are mothers determined to understand how they can help their children avoid the troubles they had (or are having) as teenagers. The age of Dale women in YES! ranges from 17 to mid forties with most in their mid to late twenties. Often in the YES! encounters it is impossible to tell who is the inmate and who is the high school student.
It's good to interact with a part of society that otherwise you wouldn't think much about. A part of society I didn't know much about.- student
It's time we break down the walls that separate us from each other and in some cases from ourselves. We need to realize how we shape and mold our youth today also determines the kind of future they will have. I am gratefully and passionately involved in this project that we proudly call YES! Youth Engaging Society. The women involved in this project come from different backgrounds, with different beliefs, but all with the same hope and dream. They range from schoolteachers, high school students, college students, inmates, as well as representatives from various community organizations who care about our young people and their future. We are all unique individuals with our own collective voices that would like to make a difference.- Dale woman
Some exincarcerated women have continued their participation in
YES! Coming from as far away as two hours, they have returned to Dale
for weekly YES! meetings and sessions at schools. They felt so strongly
about the project that they were willing to subject themselves to strip
searches at Dale. One woman convinced her grandmother to drive her 45
miles for the weekly meetings. These women's participation has been
particularly valuable for all of us. They extend the dialogue about what
happens to women with criminal records when they return to their
communities. Since her release from Dale almost a year ago, Shakera
Cooperwood has continued her involvement with YES! Her testimony was
critical to YES! receiving a $10,000 grant. Now she attends all YES!
school sessions and participates with Dale women and Carolyn and Jean in
planning and implementation. She has also been doing the groundwork
towards establishing YES! in her part of the state. Because she has a
job organizing in her community she is able to participate in YES!
activities which are during school hours. Unfortunately because many
women get daytime jobs soon after release their schedule doesn't allow
them to participate in the school visits.
Shakera talks about YES! from her perspective:
YES! helps me to see how far I have came through all the things I have been through and all the things that I have put other's through. When I am talking with the teens, I understand a lot more when I hear myself, and especially when I hear other people speak. I can tell who's heart is hurting, and how I can be of use to uplift them, and in the process, I can be uplifted as well.What YES! does for me, is strengthen me to press forward, take hold on my life as it is today. I want to become a positive force in this negative world, and to be able to do that I need to walk what I speak, I need a setting where I speak, so there I can be challenged to move ahead, and as I am moving ahead, I can be used to bring people with me. I, no longer just live for self.
My heart has been freed from the arrows it has had hidden for year's, and I want other's to be able to be freed as well. I feel freedom, releasement, joy, and everlasting peace. I want that for other's as well. There is no fun rejoicing all by yourself. The more people the better the party. Aha aha.
What YES! does for other Dale women? I believe that it takes them to a place where they have to be accountable for there actions, and deal with there wrong choices head up. The way you receive freedom in the inside is to be honest, and take hold of the bad and turn it into GOOD, There is no bad people, there are people who make bad choices.
Our ability to take hold and to be honest with ourself, and other people takes strength and courage. It is not easy to admit some painful situation's that we have done or didn't care at the time. That is not easy to admit that, but once a person does their life begins to move into a direction that is incredible.
I believe that the women at Dale are strong, willing, and people who are really remorseful for the things they have done. I respect all the women who participant in YES!, and especially those that stand accountable for there actions. That's takes courage.
Beside the women and the teens other people and organizations have been important in making YES! happen. Carolyn, Jean and Michael Bellizzi are the three main organizers and Shakera's role is increasing. Carolyn and Jean bring in the schools and community organizations and Michael brings Department Of Corrections and the women inmates. Shakera besides her considerable wisdom brings her understanding and connections with incarcerated and ex-incarcerated women. Dale's superintendent, Terry Rowe, has supported YES! most essentially by allocating a portion of Michael's time to it. Carolyn and Jean are known and trusted in a number of schools and that is essential for the school aspect. We and Michael work closely together on the dates and times, and all the details. Thetford Academy, in particular the literature teacher, Barbara Sorenson and also the head of school, Martha Rich, have been important visionaries and willing to commit their time. The John Dewey Project of the University of Vermont supported 15 hours a week of Jean and Carolyn's time to developing YES! The Haymarket Foundation is our major source of funding for this year.
Another important component is our belief that
everyone can change. Michael Bellizzi, says, "In YES! people get
to know each other. Everyone has good in them; its just finding the
good. We help the offender population to recognize they have good in
them and then we work with that rather than focusing on the mistakes.
That's the way we can make a difference."
What we are
not is a kind of "Scared Straight" program in which inmates tell
their "horror" stories in order to scare teens into avoiding certain
behaviors that could lead to jail time. Everyone in YES!, including
those involved from Vermont Department of Corrections, are adamant that
the Scared Straight approach is ineffective and disrespectful. Instead
we believe teens and released women are the important people in building
a more just and humane future society. Our name "YES!" reflects our
belief in creative engagement rather than "just say no" kind of
approaches.
It was nice that they weren't there to just tell us what they did and not to screw up. They were there to learn about us just as we were there to learn about them.- Student
Sessions with inmates and students range from one session for two hours, to two sessions for 2 hours, to one whole school day and to regular monthly meetings for a semester. We meet in schools, community buildings and occasionally at the jail. Our goal is to have sustained contact with students over six months but often the scheduling logistics and lack of resources of the schools and the jail make that impossible. For example the Dale Facility can only transport women once a month for YES! . Carolyn and Jean come to the jail every week for an hour and half to meet with Dale YES! participants. Sometimes teens from the school we are working with also attend. At these meetings we plan for next school sessions, and discuss and evaluate completed sessions.
To give an idea of what we do, below
is the format that Dale women developed for a recent 2 hour encounter
with a class of twenty 15 year olds (many labeled by their school as "at
risk"). Longer sessions have more activities that use art, and role
plays, thinking about thinking work (led by Dale women who have learned
this in jail), theater games.
* From the beginning we heard from students
and inmates that the small group unstructured discussion was the best
part of the day. As we evolved we cut back more and more on the more
structured activities to give the discussion a central role.
When we
have longer contact with students (all day or monthly sessions over a
semester) activities build on one another, depending on what students,
teachers and Dale women decide. In each meeting, we incorporate time for
discussion, writing and art work, planning implementation, and
reflection (evaluation).
We believe that YES! is an excellent vehicle to increase community understanding about the cause of rising rates of incarceration. It encourages youth to become concerned and involved citizens. It teaches youth about the consequences of high risk behavior. In addition, it helps youth become more compassionate and thoughtful learners.- Terry Rowe, Superintendent of Dale Facility
All the women I saw yesterday have more courage than anybody else I've seen. They are willing to work hard to recover from their mistakes. They all want to go through workshops and improve themselves so society might accept them. When things go wrong or the road gets a little bumpy, I just want to give up. I only want things to come easy to me and don't want to work hard at all. All of the women know that they have to work very hard, and they're all willing to do this- which is inspirational to me.
I loved when Brandy(Dale inmate) told our class that she was getting something out of the visit. I wanted to tell all the women that I was there for them. The most upsetting part for me was hearing that one of the women had been beaten, resulting in her use of heroin. No one should feel as though they should have to tolerate any type of abuse. I'm scared for all the women I met in the prison and hope with all my heart that when they leave the prison and enter back into the world, that they will be safe and make the right decisions.
I learned that even if you know you need help you don't have to do it by yourself.
They have obviously realized what their problem is and aren't trying to blame it on someone else. I really started to understand the thinking patterns of people and how thinking turns into actions.
While listening to the women tell their stories it really hit me. They've touched me in ways I never expected. Some of them are a lot like me and some of the experiences they've had I have, either had or I am going through now. I know how some of the women feel, not having their family there for them. My mother is an alcoholic and only cares about herself. I haven't seen her in five years. She won't admit she has a problem. Just like some of the women. In a way, I wish someone would throw her in jail and make her think about someone other than herself.
Having a good time.
Getting to know different people.
Getting in and letting things out.
That I've been ashamed of
and now feeling better about it
and now not feeling that way
because there's other people like me
that are getting help
and glad that they're trying
to stop their addictions and trying to stay clean
like I have for about two years.
The thinking reports and anger skits helped me think about my own anger and the choices I have when put into a situation which makes me angry.
One thing that hit me pretty hard today was that you can only help yourself, no one else can help you and you have to learn to love yourself first before you can help others.
I know that everyone makes mistakes and today helped me look at my feelings and thoughts and helped me understand them more.
I would like to thank my group for explaining what it is like without lies in jail. I love the courage these three women had to explain in detail what happened to them. I wish all you and your families the best when you get out. Never give up hope!
YES! enhances the self-esteem of the incarcerated women by offering them an opportunity to give back to the community, which is how they describe their experiences. Studies show that in women, higher self-esteem and a sense of mission leads to lower recidivism. YES! also increases incarcerated women's ability to participate in public conversations about crime and punishment. As the women here say, "Yes! is about voices and choices, for us and for the teens.- Terry Rowe, Superintendent of Dale Facility
Seeing people my age doing so well in their lives not only gave me hope, but the strength to move on. I also realized that maybe I can help other people learn from my mistakes. I was thinking that I would love to continue to talk to high schools about my life.To the group of 20 students, I talked with you about the euphoria you can get from heroin. The euphoria I got from being here is something heroin could never give me.
Getting out and sharing brings up good feelings. I often wonder how to draw people out more. I want to know what people are curious about.
There was a two way conversation. I leaned a lot and I hope there was a lot learned as well. I really look forward t YES!. When we did reflections (in the big group) I was very surprised that it was all (the kids) from our small group that was talking. It made me very proud. And I felt I had made a change. YES! - that's what its all about.
I feel we all share a common bond - the simple need to be heard.
What I received in this group is an acknowledgment of all the things I endured and what challenges I had overcome.
It was a feeling unlike any other to have these young adults speak to me openly and honestly and I was truly honored.
I haven't had this much fun in a long time. I really hope that you kids learned at least one thing from us today. The kids were open and honest. I was surprised.
Not only offering me your time, but your help and friendship too, has made me realize how easy it is to make healthy friendships...the students were very educational for me as well.
I want to thank you for your concern with my son. You are right, not only the women pay, but the children do too.
Most of the kids said they loved meeting with us because they felt they could be themselves around us. They can do this because they know and feel we wont and don't judge them . And that makes me feel good knowing they can talk and share things with us.
I was scared about talking about my charge but saw and felt no one judging me when I talked about it.
Our participating staff members have also benefited from YES!! Staff find YES!! meetings hopeful and refreshing. It increases their insight into the inmates experiences. It also offers staff a way to reach out to youth, something many of them desire to do.- Terry Rowe, Dale Facility Superintendent
What we have learned that might be useful to
others and what we are still trying to figure out:
As mentioned before one goal we have is to work with students in more sustained depth by having day long sessions and meeting a number of times. Starting this January we are working with high school classes in one school only, Spaulding High School in Barre, Vermont.
Barre is a small city once known as the Granite Capitol of the World with a history of immigration and labor activism. Now it is a working class city with a shrinking economy and fewer and fewer employment opportunities (only one granite quarry remains open). In recent years, the community has housed a burgeoning population of people on furlough, with attendant tension, hostility and conflict. There is a great need for increased understanding about the issues and needs of people re-entering the community following incarceration and we hope that YES! can make a contribution to that.
The Barre director of a National Learn and Serve grant whose mandate is to introduce curriculum based service learning is working closely with us and several high school teachers. We are also collaborating with a new community arts center and a tenant run housing project, both in Barre. All this will make possible more inmate and student designed sessions with support from a number of community organizations. We are hoping service learning action projects will emerge. One possibility is a student/inmate exhibition with written and drawn portraits of each other at the gallery of the arts center.
An inmate who grew up in Barre talks about her hopes for her community.
A common goal that we would like to reach (in YES!) is to educate our communities about inmates being released in the community and also to help to educate the communities about our youths. To help our youths voice their opinions. I fear for my children as well as the other children in our communities. We have no place in my community (Barre) that the youths can go and very little programs for them. My community blames the drugs on the inmates that are released on furlough in my city... let the kids voice out their opinions about our communities and what they would like to see happen in theirs.
The Fire Inside, by various women prisoners
Youth Engaging Society (YES!), by Carolyn Shapiro and Jean Lathrop
Invisibility of Women Prisoner Resistance, by Victoria Law
Find Her, Feel Her, Free Her, by Pamela Thomas
Women on the Inside, by Rachel Marie Crane-Williams
