we’re standing in a circle with several other women hi I’m Anya and I’m excited
other women hi I’m Anya and I’m excited
other women hi I’m Anya and I’m excited today I’m Joanne and I’m very grateful
today I’m Joanne and I’m very grateful
today I’m Joanne and I’m very grateful to be here I’m Carmen and I’m hopeful
to be here I’m Carmen and I’m hopeful
to be here I’m Carmen and I’m hopeful I’m Katherine and I’m sad I missed my
I’m Katherine and I’m sad I missed my
I’m Katherine and I’m sad I missed my children I’m Sabrina and I’m frazzled I
children I’m Sabrina and I’m frazzled I
children I’m Sabrina and I’m frazzled I just got here
just got here
just got here here is the Santa Fe County Adult
here is the Santa Fe County Adult
here is the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility
Detention Facility
Detention Facility the c.e.o correctional officer has just
the c.e.o correctional officer has just
the c.e.o correctional officer has just screamed stress management we never know
screamed stress management we never know
screamed stress management we never know how many women will be joining us for
how many women will be joining us for
how many women will be joining us for our stress management program it might
our stress management program it might
our stress management program it might just be one person or the room could be
just be one person or the room could be
just be one person or the room could be filled with ten the classroom were in is
filled with ten the classroom were in is
filled with ten the classroom were in is maybe 10 by 15 feet there’s a window
maybe 10 by 15 feet there’s a window
maybe 10 by 15 feet there’s a window that looks into the hallway with its
that looks into the hallway with its
that looks into the hallway with its constant echoes of steel door slamming
constant echoes of steel door slamming
constant echoes of steel door slamming and security radios beeping and another
and security radios beeping and another
and security radios beeping and another window that looks into a social workers
window that looks into a social workers
window that looks into a social workers office where we often overhear phone
office where we often overhear phone
office where we often overhear phone conversations from newly arrived inmates
conversations from newly arrived inmates
conversations from newly arrived inmates we’re volunteers and for the next hour
we’re volunteers and for the next hour
we’re volunteers and for the next hour and a half we’ll be leading a variety of
and a half we’ll be leading a variety of
and a half we’ll be leading a variety of activities we start with the check in
activities we start with the check in
activities we start with the check in first verbally then with a gesture and
first verbally then with a gesture and
first verbally then with a gesture and we build it into a movement phrase this
we build it into a movement phrase this
we build it into a movement phrase this is the way that we love to begin hearing
is the way that we love to begin hearing
is the way that we love to begin hearing each woman’s voice honoring her feelings
each woman’s voice honoring her feelings
each woman’s voice honoring her feelings and engaging her creativity this is the
and engaging her creativity this is the
and engaging her creativity this is the heart of what we strive to offer in this
heart of what we strive to offer in this
heart of what we strive to offer in this setting a circle where each woman feels
setting a circle where each woman feels
setting a circle where each woman feels respected and can cultivate
respected and can cultivate
respected and can cultivate self-reflection we continue by inviting
self-reflection we continue by inviting
self-reflection we continue by inviting our participants to try different
our participants to try different
our participants to try different practices that are very meaningful to us
practices that are very meaningful to us
practices that are very meaningful to us including yoga and dance meditation and
including yoga and dance meditation and
including yoga and dance meditation and creative writing we usually only see the
creative writing we usually only see the
creative writing we usually only see the participants once or twice because this
participants once or twice because this
participants once or twice because this is a
is a
is a which means it’s temporary they’re
which means it’s temporary they’re
which means it’s temporary they’re awaiting bail awaiting sentencing or
awaiting bail awaiting sentencing or
awaiting bail awaiting sentencing or serving a short sentence occasionally
serving a short sentence occasionally
serving a short sentence occasionally we’re really lucky and we can put
we’re really lucky and we can put
we’re really lucky and we can put together a program that may run over a
together a program that may run over a
together a program that may run over a month or six weeks and build some
month or six weeks and build some
month or six weeks and build some continuity with the women once we were
continuity with the women once we were
continuity with the women once we were able to collaborate in creating a
able to collaborate in creating a
able to collaborate in creating a permanent labyrinth in the recreation
permanent labyrinth in the recreation
permanent labyrinth in the recreation yard at the jail this is the concrete
yard at the jail this is the concrete
yard at the jail this is the concrete enclosed courtyard where the women spend
enclosed courtyard where the women spend
enclosed courtyard where the women spend at most one hour a day outdoors we stood
at most one hour a day outdoors we stood
at most one hour a day outdoors we stood out there under a blue sky framed by
out there under a blue sky framed by
out there under a blue sky framed by silver barbed wire and using a large
silver barbed wire and using a large
silver barbed wire and using a large wooden compass we drew the first circle
wooden compass we drew the first circle
wooden compass we drew the first circle and pencil that would become the center
and pencil that would become the center
and pencil that would become the center of the labyrinth or you arrived after
of the labyrinth or you arrived after
of the labyrinth or you arrived after following a winding path we’re sitting
following a winding path we’re sitting
following a winding path we’re sitting on the ground for the day painting and
on the ground for the day painting and
on the ground for the day painting and laughing together and Sabrina says this
laughing together and Sabrina says this
laughing together and Sabrina says this is so much fun I wish I could be doing
is so much fun I wish I could be doing
is so much fun I wish I could be doing it with my children then there’s a point
it with my children then there’s a point
it with my children then there’s a point where we make a circle inmates
where we make a circle inmates
where we make a circle inmates volunteers and staff that have chosen to
volunteers and staff that have chosen to
volunteers and staff that have chosen to spend their Sunday with us doing this
spend their Sunday with us doing this
spend their Sunday with us doing this project and one by one we dedicate the
project and one by one we dedicate the
project and one by one we dedicate the labyrinth to a place of beauty a place
labyrinth to a place of beauty a place
labyrinth to a place of beauty a place to cultivate mindfulness to benefit
to cultivate mindfulness to benefit
to cultivate mindfulness to benefit ourselves and our families a place of
ourselves and our families a place of
ourselves and our families a place of peace
peace
peace a place to find guidance and strength a
a place to find guidance and strength a
a place to find guidance and strength a place to find a new path in life in
place to find a new path in life in
place to find a new path in life in their lives
their lives
their lives these women are navigating a different
these women are navigating a different
these women are navigating a different kind of path awaiting sentences changing
kind of path awaiting sentences changing
kind of path awaiting sentences changing court dates justice delayed they’re in a
court dates justice delayed they’re in a
court dates justice delayed they’re in a kind of maze full of dead ends often
kind of maze full of dead ends often
kind of maze full of dead ends often with no end in sight the labyrinth
with no end in sight the labyrinth
with no end in sight the labyrinth doesn’t have any dead ends instead their
doesn’t have any dead ends instead their
doesn’t have any dead ends instead their twists and turns and that gives us a
twists and turns and that gives us a
twists and turns and that gives us a chance to reflect on our lives many of
chance to reflect on our lives many of
chance to reflect on our lives many of the women are dealing with addiction
the women are dealing with addiction
the women are dealing with addiction problems one bad night
problems one bad night
problems one bad night Sabrina said it just took one bad night
Sabrina said it just took one bad night
Sabrina said it just took one bad night for me to end up back here in jail
for me to end up back here in jail
for me to end up back here in jail Carmen says
Carmen says
Carmen says I relapse after the death of my sister
leaving the center of the labyrinth we
leaving the center of the labyrinth we retrace our steps and then the ending
retrace our steps and then the ending
retrace our steps and then the ending becomes a kind of new beginning
becomes a kind of new beginning
becomes a kind of new beginning after we watch the symbolic journey
after we watch the symbolic journey
after we watch the symbolic journey together
together
together Maria reflected leaving the labyrinth I
Maria reflected leaving the labyrinth I
Maria reflected leaving the labyrinth I let go of everything in my shoulders and
let go of everything in my shoulders and
let go of everything in my shoulders and I forgave myself when I get to the end I
I forgave myself when I get to the end I
I forgave myself when I get to the end I feel like there’s a door and when I open
feel like there’s a door and when I open
feel like there’s a door and when I open it I’m not here anymore
it I’m not here anymore
it I’m not here anymore I’m back at home hugging my mom and
I’m back at home hugging my mom and
I’m back at home hugging my mom and telling her I’m sorry and after
telling her I’m sorry and after
telling her I’m sorry and after everything I’m free and I’ve been given
everything I’m free and I’ve been given
everything I’m free and I’ve been given a second chance we know that most women
a second chance we know that most women
a second chance we know that most women behind bars now will be returning home
behind bars now will be returning home
behind bars now will be returning home and sadly in many cases worse off for it
and sadly in many cases worse off for it
and sadly in many cases worse off for it we see that on the societal level
we see that on the societal level
we see that on the societal level prisons don’t actually reduce crime
prisons don’t actually reduce crime
prisons don’t actually reduce crime because they’re not designed to solve
because they’re not designed to solve
because they’re not designed to solve the real problems that send people there
the real problems that send people there
the real problems that send people there but instead tend to disguise them and
but instead tend to disguise them and
but instead tend to disguise them and perpetuate them our local jail serves as
perpetuate them our local jail serves as
perpetuate them our local jail serves as a catch-all for people that fall through
a catch-all for people that fall through
a catch-all for people that fall through the cracks and other systems because of
the cracks and other systems because of
the cracks and other systems because of homelessness and poverty mental illness
homelessness and poverty mental illness
homelessness and poverty mental illness and addiction we’re aware that mass
and addiction we’re aware that mass
and addiction we’re aware that mass incarceration is becoming epidemic in
incarceration is becoming epidemic in
incarceration is becoming epidemic in the United States and the statistics are
the United States and the statistics are
the United States and the statistics are staggering particularly for women from
staggering particularly for women from
staggering particularly for women from 1980 to 2014 the increase in
1980 to 2014 the increase in
1980 to 2014 the increase in incarceration rate for women is 700
incarceration rate for women is 700
incarceration rate for women is 700 percent this disproportionately affects
percent this disproportionately affects
percent this disproportionately affects poor communities as we know and it
poor communities as we know and it
poor communities as we know and it overwhelmingly targets people of color
overwhelmingly targets people of color
overwhelmingly targets people of color as the movements for black lives in need
as the movements for black lives in need
as the movements for black lives in need of lives call us to understand and it
of lives call us to understand and it
of lives call us to understand and it harms all of us most of the women are
harms all of us most of the women are
harms all of us most of the women are not there for violent crimes in fact 85
not there for violent crimes in fact 85
not there for violent crimes in fact 85 to 90% of the women there experienced
to 90% of the women there experienced
to 90% of the women there experienced violence prior to incarceration from
violence prior to incarceration from
violence prior to incarceration from child abuse rape domestic violence and
child abuse rape domestic violence and
child abuse rape domestic violence and some of them that are
some of them that are
some of them that are they’re for violent crimes it’s because
they’re for violent crimes it’s because
they’re for violent crimes it’s because they were in a very difficult abusive
they were in a very difficult abusive
they were in a very difficult abusive relationship
relationship
relationship I met Deirdre when we were doing a
I met Deirdre when we were doing a
I met Deirdre when we were doing a series of dance classes over a week in a
series of dance classes over a week in a
series of dance classes over a week in a prison on the theme of forgiveness she
prison on the theme of forgiveness she
prison on the theme of forgiveness she was doing rocking gestures and cradling
was doing rocking gestures and cradling
was doing rocking gestures and cradling gestures and I would notice at the door
gestures and I would notice at the door
gestures and I would notice at the door teachers standing there with tears in
teachers standing there with tears in
teachers standing there with tears in their eyes at the end of the week one of
their eyes at the end of the week one of
their eyes at the end of the week one of the teachers shared with me her story
the teachers shared with me her story
the teachers shared with me her story Deirdre had been in a very difficult
Deirdre had been in a very difficult
Deirdre had been in a very difficult domestic violence relationship she
domestic violence relationship she
domestic violence relationship she didn’t know what to do she overdosed
didn’t know what to do she overdosed
didn’t know what to do she overdosed herself her infant and the dog the
herself her infant and the dog the
herself her infant and the dog the infant and dog died and now Deirdre was
infant and dog died and now Deirdre was
infant and dog died and now Deirdre was serving time
serving time
serving time she couldn’t express it about her crime
she couldn’t express it about her crime
she couldn’t express it about her crime yet and dance became a place where she
yet and dance became a place where she
yet and dance became a place where she could begin to share her emotions
could begin to share her emotions
could begin to share her emotions barbara was five when she was abused by
barbara was five when she was abused by
barbara was five when she was abused by her grandfather later in life she
her grandfather later in life she
her grandfather later in life she endured three abusive marriages but when
endured three abusive marriages but when
endured three abusive marriages but when she discovered that her third husband
she discovered that her third husband
she discovered that her third husband had abused her granddaughter she snapped
had abused her granddaughter she snapped
had abused her granddaughter she snapped and she shot and killed him with a gun
and she shot and killed him with a gun
and she shot and killed him with a gun that he had given her as a Christmas
that he had given her as a Christmas
that he had given her as a Christmas present Deirdre and Barbara’s stories
present Deirdre and Barbara’s stories
present Deirdre and Barbara’s stories really haunted me no woman should have
really haunted me no woman should have
really haunted me no woman should have to go from the prison of a relationship
to go from the prison of a relationship
to go from the prison of a relationship to a prison behind barbed wires and
to a prison behind barbed wires and
to a prison behind barbed wires and concrete blocks so about six years ago
concrete blocks so about six years ago
concrete blocks so about six years ago several women and I filmed formed a
several women and I filmed formed a
several women and I filmed formed a nonprofit called healing voices personal
nonprofit called healing voices personal
nonprofit called healing voices personal stories we make films about domestic
stories we make films about domestic
stories we make films about domestic violence survivors who successfully move
violence survivors who successfully move
violence survivors who successfully move from a relationship and rebuild their
from a relationship and rebuild their
from a relationship and rebuild their lives now Deborah and Barbara were
lives now Deborah and Barbara were
lives now Deborah and Barbara were really really lucky because they were at
really really lucky because they were at
really really lucky because they were at a facility that had excellent
a facility that had excellent
a facility that had excellent programming they’re now back in the
programming they’re now back in the
programming they’re now back in the community and those programs made it
community and those programs made it
community and those programs made it possible for them to re-enter their
possible for them to re-enter their
possible for them to re-enter their community although the pain will always
community although the pain will always
community although the pain will always stay with them although there’s some
stay with them although there’s some
stay with them although there’s some wonderful models for programs happening
wonderful models for programs happening
wonderful models for programs happening here and around the
here and around the
here and around the tree we’ve been shocked to see how few
tree we’ve been shocked to see how few
tree we’ve been shocked to see how few services and programs there are to
services and programs there are to
services and programs there are to support people while they’re
support people while they’re
support people while they’re incarcerated and as they try to
incarcerated and as they try to
incarcerated and as they try to transition back out there’s room for all
transition back out there’s room for all
transition back out there’s room for all of us to get involved at every level of
of us to get involved at every level of
of us to get involved at every level of the system to dismantle the harm and
the system to dismantle the harm and
the system to dismantle the harm and begin the work of rehumanize ‘never e1
begin the work of rehumanize ‘never e1
begin the work of rehumanize ‘never e1 volunteering in your local prison or
volunteering in your local prison or
volunteering in your local prison or local jail is something you can do for
local jail is something you can do for
local jail is something you can do for when you help on the inside you’re also
when you help on the inside you’re also
when you help on the inside you’re also enriching the outside for hour hour and
enriching the outside for hour hour and
enriching the outside for hour hour and a half we’ve been working in a circle it
a half we’ve been working in a circle it
a half we’ve been working in a circle it reminds us of the common bonds between
reminds us of the common bonds between
reminds us of the common bonds between all of us for we are all teachers
all of us for we are all teachers
all of us for we are all teachers learning from each other of all the
learning from each other of all the
learning from each other of all the activities that we facilitate in the
activities that we facilitate in the
activities that we facilitate in the setting we have found self acceptance
setting we have found self acceptance
setting we have found self acceptance meditation to be the most impactful we
meditation to be the most impactful we
meditation to be the most impactful we believe that as we all allow ourselves
believe that as we all allow ourselves
believe that as we all allow ourselves to be more fully human we will no longer
to be more fully human we will no longer
to be more fully human we will no longer stand for this norm of throwing people
stand for this norm of throwing people
stand for this norm of throwing people away in the practice of loving-kindness
away in the practice of loving-kindness
away in the practice of loving-kindness we begin with ourselves accepting
we begin with ourselves accepting
we begin with ourselves accepting ourselves and offering ourselves
ourselves and offering ourselves
ourselves and offering ourselves kindness and then we try to expand our
kindness and then we try to expand our
kindness and then we try to expand our hearts and minds through training until
hearts and minds through training until
hearts and minds through training until we can include everyone please try out
we can include everyone please try out
we can include everyone please try out with us now just bring one hand to your
with us now just bring one hand to your
with us now just bring one hand to your heart to touch in with your own
heart to touch in with your own
heart to touch in with your own tenderness and innate goodness that does
tenderness and innate goodness that does
tenderness and innate goodness that does not need to be earned and silently say
not need to be earned and silently say
not need to be earned and silently say to yourself I’m okay there’s nothing
to yourself I’m okay there’s nothing
to yourself I’m okay there’s nothing wrong with me just noticing how it feels
wrong with me just noticing how it feels
wrong with me just noticing how it feels to say that and letting those words sink
to say that and letting those words sink
to say that and letting those words sink in whatever I feel is okay I am worthy
in whatever I feel is okay I am worthy
in whatever I feel is okay I am worthy of love and respect and may each of us
of love and respect and may each of us
of love and respect and may each of us be safe free from suffering free from
be safe free from suffering free from
be safe free from suffering free from danger may all of us know peace and the
danger may all of us know peace and the
danger may all of us know peace and the joy true freedom
joy true freedom
joy true freedom you
”
Be First to Comment