have you ever had the fear that you would have been a passive bystander in
would have been a passive bystander in
would have been a passive bystander in the face of injustice for as long as I
the face of injustice for as long as I
the face of injustice for as long as I can remember I’ve been afraid of who I
can remember I’ve been afraid of who I
can remember I’ve been afraid of who I would have been during the long era of
would have been during the long era of
would have been during the long era of slavery in this country or what role I
slavery in this country or what role I
slavery in this country or what role I would have played during the reign of
would have played during the reign of
would have played during the reign of Jim Crow it terrifies me to think that I
Jim Crow it terrifies me to think that I
Jim Crow it terrifies me to think that I would have been on the wrong side of
would have been on the wrong side of
would have been on the wrong side of history that I would have been a passive
history that I would have been a passive
history that I would have been a passive bystander or perhaps even worse an
bystander or perhaps even worse an
bystander or perhaps even worse an active participant few years ago I
active participant few years ago I
active participant few years ago I discovered something that made this year
discovered something that made this year
discovered something that made this year more pressing than ever a staggering
more pressing than ever a staggering
more pressing than ever a staggering statistic that made the question of who
statistic that made the question of who
statistic that made the question of who I would have been in history real rather
I would have been in history real rather
I would have been in history real rather than merely hypothetical I learned that
than merely hypothetical I learned that
than merely hypothetical I learned that the prison population in the United
the prison population in the United
the prison population in the United States of America had increased by over
States of America had increased by over
States of America had increased by over 500% in the last 36 years resulting in a
500% in the last 36 years resulting in a
500% in the last 36 years resulting in a country which makes up 5% of the world’s
country which makes up 5% of the world’s
country which makes up 5% of the world’s population imprisoning 25% of the
population imprisoning 25% of the
population imprisoning 25% of the world’s prison population let me repeat
world’s prison population let me repeat
world’s prison population let me repeat that statistic the United States of
that statistic the United States of
that statistic the United States of America nation which prides itself on
America nation which prides itself on
America nation which prides itself on being the leader of the free world
being the leader of the free world
being the leader of the free world currently makes up 5% of the world’s
currently makes up 5% of the world’s
currently makes up 5% of the world’s population and yet imprisons 25% of the
population and yet imprisons 25% of the
population and yet imprisons 25% of the world’s prison population making the us
world’s prison population making the us
world’s prison population making the us the most jailing country in the history
the most jailing country in the history
the most jailing country in the history of the world so here I am face to face
of the world so here I am face to face
of the world so here I am face to face with the reality that injustice isn’t
with the reality that injustice isn’t
with the reality that injustice isn’t just something that occurred but that is
just something that occurred but that is
just something that occurred but that is occurring what more proof did I now need
occurring what more proof did I now need
occurring what more proof did I now need to confirm my fear of who I would have
to confirm my fear of who I would have
to confirm my fear of who I would have been if I proceeded to do nothing now
been if I proceeded to do nothing now
been if I proceeded to do nothing now mass incarceration is a daunting
mass incarceration is a daunting
mass incarceration is a daunting adversary for anyone let alone a white
adversary for anyone let alone a white
adversary for anyone let alone a white middle-aged middle class high school
middle-aged middle class high school
middle-aged middle class high school English teacher who’s never really taken
English teacher who’s never really taken
English teacher who’s never really taken on much in regards to activism or any
on much in regards to activism or any
on much in regards to activism or any other kind of so
other kind of so
other kind of so change after thinking about the
change after thinking about the
change after thinking about the situation realize that I needed I needed
situation realize that I needed I needed
situation realize that I needed I needed to teach a course on the subject to
to teach a course on the subject to
to teach a course on the subject to share with my students what I had
share with my students what I had
share with my students what I had learned and hopefully to inspire them to
learned and hopefully to inspire them to
learned and hopefully to inspire them to care the course I created is called
care the course I created is called
care the course I created is called voices from the inside stories written
voices from the inside stories written
voices from the inside stories written in or about prison and what they can
in or about prison and what they can
in or about prison and what they can teach us about ourselves in addition to
teach us about ourselves in addition to
teach us about ourselves in addition to teaching Michelle Alexander’s the new
teaching Michelle Alexander’s the new
teaching Michelle Alexander’s the new Jim Crow I decided to include work by
Jim Crow I decided to include work by
Jim Crow I decided to include work by dr. Martin Luther King jr. Nelson
dr. Martin Luther King jr. Nelson
dr. Martin Luther King jr. Nelson Mandela Alexander Solzhenitsyn Viktor
Mandela Alexander Solzhenitsyn Viktor
Mandela Alexander Solzhenitsyn Viktor Frankl and others I got really excited
Frankl and others I got really excited
Frankl and others I got really excited about the class and started thinking
about the class and started thinking
about the class and started thinking about all the great movies I could use
about all the great movies I could use
about all the great movies I could use dead man walking in the name of the
dead man walking in the name of the
dead man walking in the name of the Father and who could ever forget the
Father and who could ever forget the
Father and who could ever forget the Shawshank Redemption
however despite my enthusiasm I knew
however despite my enthusiasm I knew that something was missing as luck would
that something was missing as luck would
that something was missing as luck would have it two days before the first day of
have it two days before the first day of
have it two days before the first day of class I bumped into a former student who
class I bumped into a former student who
class I bumped into a former student who was home from college on break started
was home from college on break started
was home from college on break started to tell him about this new class I was
to tell him about this new class I was
to tell him about this new class I was going to teach and about how thrilled I
going to teach and about how thrilled I
going to teach and about how thrilled I was to teach it and he said that he had
was to teach it and he said that he had
was to teach it and he said that he had recently befriended a young man out in
recently befriended a young man out in
recently befriended a young man out in California who had coincidentally grown
California who had coincidentally grown
California who had coincidentally grown up right here in Miami
up right here in Miami
up right here in Miami this young man’s mother happened to be
this young man’s mother happened to be
this young man’s mother happened to be teaching creative writing at the
teaching creative writing at the
teaching creative writing at the Homestead Correctional Institution and
Homestead Correctional Institution and
Homestead Correctional Institution and would certainly be interested in what I
would certainly be interested in what I
would certainly be interested in what I was doing within a few hours I was on
was doing within a few hours I was on
was doing within a few hours I was on the phone with the incomparable Kathy
the phone with the incomparable Kathy
the phone with the incomparable Kathy Klarich and the rest has been pure magic
inspired by her life and work in Haiti
inspired by her life and work in Haiti Kathy Klarich dedicated herself to
Kathy Klarich dedicated herself to
Kathy Klarich dedicated herself to teaching in prisons over the course of
teaching in prisons over the course of
teaching in prisons over the course of her 13 and a half years in that country
her 13 and a half years in that country
her 13 and a half years in that country she developed a heightened appreciation
she developed a heightened appreciation
she developed a heightened appreciation for how important it is for people to
for how important it is for people to
for how important it is for people to speak on their own behalf as she said to
speak on their own behalf as she said to
speak on their own behalf as she said to me on a number of occasions if we
me on a number of occasions if we
me on a number of occasions if we seriously want to talk about prison
seriously want to talk about prison
seriously want to talk about prison reform we need to hear
reform we need to hear
reform we need to hear those who were most directly affected by
those who were most directly affected by
those who were most directly affected by the end of our first phone conversation
the end of our first phone conversation
the end of our first phone conversation Cathy and I agreed to facilitate a
Cathy and I agreed to facilitate a
Cathy and I agreed to facilitate a writing exchange between our students
writing exchange between our students
writing exchange between our students immediately giving new and more profound
immediately giving new and more profound
immediately giving new and more profound meaning to the title of my course voices
meaning to the title of my course voices
meaning to the title of my course voices from the inside we decided the fashion
from the inside we decided the fashion
from the inside we decided the fashion our exchange after a model that Cathy
our exchange after a model that Cathy
our exchange after a model that Cathy had created with a professor at Florida
had created with a professor at Florida
had created with a professor at Florida Atlantic University that paired students
Atlantic University that paired students
Atlantic University that paired students on the inside with students on the
on the inside with students on the
on the inside with students on the outside had them write under pseudonyms
outside had them write under pseudonyms
outside had them write under pseudonyms in order to preserve anonymity and had
in order to preserve anonymity and had
in order to preserve anonymity and had that had them submit a series of
that had them submit a series of
that had them submit a series of personal narratives and critical
personal narratives and critical
personal narratives and critical responses to various pieces of
responses to various pieces of
responses to various pieces of literature those on the inside were
literature those on the inside were
literature those on the inside were instructed not to write about their
instructed not to write about their
instructed not to write about their crimes and those on the outside were
crimes and those on the outside were
crimes and those on the outside were instructed not to ask about them the
instructed not to ask about them the
instructed not to ask about them the void that existed in my class prior to
void that existed in my class prior to
void that existed in my class prior to meeting Cathy had just been filled as
meeting Cathy had just been filled as
meeting Cathy had just been filled as the voices my students would he be
the voices my students would he be
the voices my students would he be hearing would not only be those of
hearing would not only be those of
hearing would not only be those of artists and historical figures who had
artists and historical figures who had
artists and historical figures who had something profound to say from behind
something profound to say from behind
something profound to say from behind prison bars but those of people
prison bars but those of people
prison bars but those of people currently incarcerated and they too had
currently incarcerated and they too had
currently incarcerated and they too had something important to share under
something important to share under
something important to share under Cathy’s incredible leadership I joined
Cathy’s incredible leadership I joined
Cathy’s incredible leadership I joined the team of impassioned individuals to
the team of impassioned individuals to
the team of impassioned individuals to start exchange for change a nonprofit
start exchange for change a nonprofit
start exchange for change a nonprofit organization that sponsors and
organization that sponsors and
organization that sponsors and facilitates writing courses in a number
facilitates writing courses in a number
facilitates writing courses in a number of South Florida prisons since launching
of South Florida prisons since launching
of South Florida prisons since launching in August of 2014
in August of 2014
in August of 2014 exchange for change has reached hundreds
exchange for change has reached hundreds
exchange for change has reached hundreds and hundreds of students on both sides
and hundreds of students on both sides
and hundreds of students on both sides of prison walls and this semester we are
of prison walls and this semester we are
of prison walls and this semester we are currently offering 16 courses in four
currently offering 16 courses in four
currently offering 16 courses in four different South Florida prisons we’ve
different South Florida prisons we’ve
different South Florida prisons we’ve teamed with Oh Miami in an effort to
teamed with Oh Miami in an effort to
teamed with Oh Miami in an effort to teach poetry and we are currently
teach poetry and we are currently
teach poetry and we are currently partnering with the University of Miami
partnering with the University of Miami
partnering with the University of Miami Florida International University Florida
Florida International University Florida
Florida International University Florida Atlantic University and ransom
Atlantic University and ransom
Atlantic University and ransom Everglades school many of our courses
Everglades school many of our courses
Everglades school many of our courses revolve around a sense
revolve around a sense
revolve around a sense for writing exchange which pairs
for writing exchange which pairs
for writing exchange which pairs students on the inside with students on
students on the inside with students on
students on the inside with students on the outside those on the inside must
the outside those on the inside must
the outside those on the inside must undergo a thorough vetting process
undergo a thorough vetting process
undergo a thorough vetting process implemented by the Department of
implemented by the Department of
implemented by the Department of Corrections and must successfully
Corrections and must successfully
Corrections and must successfully complete a semester long entry level
complete a semester long entry level
complete a semester long entry level writing course before participating in
writing course before participating in
writing course before participating in an exchange our theme for today is
an exchange our theme for today is
an exchange our theme for today is escape and it probably seems obvious how
escape and it probably seems obvious how
escape and it probably seems obvious how the writing courses we offer provide
the writing courses we offer provide
the writing courses we offer provide those on the inside with a temporary
those on the inside with a temporary
those on the inside with a temporary escape from their daily conditions I
escape from their daily conditions I
escape from their daily conditions I felt that when I attended a graduation
felt that when I attended a graduation
felt that when I attended a graduation ceremony at Everglades Correctional
ceremony at Everglades Correctional
ceremony at Everglades Correctional Institution reentry this past December
Institution reentry this past December
Institution reentry this past December at that event one of our students spoke
at that event one of our students spoke
at that event one of our students spoke about what our courses mean to him he
about what our courses mean to him he
about what our courses mean to him he began by saying that one of the most
began by saying that one of the most
began by saying that one of the most important lessons he’s learned in prison
important lessons he’s learned in prison
important lessons he’s learned in prison is that if you don’t learn how to
is that if you don’t learn how to
is that if you don’t learn how to consume time time will consume you
consume time time will consume you
consume time time will consume you although he originally enrolled in one
although he originally enrolled in one
although he originally enrolled in one of our courses in the interest of
of our courses in the interest of
of our courses in the interest of consuming time he soon learned that
consuming time he soon learned that
consuming time he soon learned that something much more valuable was at
something much more valuable was at
something much more valuable was at stake he said that our courses helped
stake he said that our courses helped
stake he said that our courses helped him express himself and hone his
him express himself and hone his
him express himself and hone his critical thinking skills and that for
critical thinking skills and that for
critical thinking skills and that for the one hour a week he was in class he
the one hour a week he was in class he
the one hour a week he was in class he was no longer in prison now one may ask
was no longer in prison now one may ask
was no longer in prison now one may ask why should we provide prisoners with an
why should we provide prisoners with an
why should we provide prisoners with an escape after all most of them are guilty
escape after all most of them are guilty
escape after all most of them are guilty of committing the crimes that put them
of committing the crimes that put them
of committing the crimes that put them behind bars in the first place but what
behind bars in the first place but what
behind bars in the first place but what we on the outside need to understand is
we on the outside need to understand is
we on the outside need to understand is that the educational escape
that the educational escape
that the educational escape organizations like exchange for change
organizations like exchange for change
organizations like exchange for change provide help those on the inside express
provide help those on the inside express
provide help those on the inside express themselves in healthy ways as
themselves in healthy ways as
themselves in healthy ways as individuals in a place that by its very
individuals in a place that by its very
individuals in a place that by its very design warts individuality our courses
design warts individuality our courses
design warts individuality our courses nurture the character and intellect of
nurture the character and intellect of
nurture the character and intellect of our students and that’s in everyone’s
our students and that’s in everyone’s
our students and that’s in everyone’s best interest regardless of whether
best interest regardless of whether
best interest regardless of whether they’re going to become our neighbors or
they’re going to become our neighbors or
they’re going to become our neighbors or remain behind bars
remain behind bars
remain behind bars exchange for change has received
exchange for change has received
exchange for change has received overwhelming support from the Department
overwhelming support from the Department
overwhelming support from the Department of Corrections and they’ve provided us
of Corrections and they’ve provided us
of Corrections and they’ve provided us with data as that has helped us assess
with data as that has helped us assess
with data as that has helped us assess the positive impact our programs have
the positive impact our programs have
the positive impact our programs have had what we’ve learned in general is
had what we’ve learned in general is
had what we’ve learned in general is that educational programs inside prisons
that educational programs inside prisons
that educational programs inside prisons improve prisoners reading and writing
improve prisoners reading and writing
improve prisoners reading and writing skills improve their self-esteem
skills improve their self-esteem
skills improve their self-esteem reinforce positive behavior and decrease
reinforce positive behavior and decrease
reinforce positive behavior and decrease disciplinary problems help prisoners
disciplinary problems help prisoners
disciplinary problems help prisoners forge closer relationships with their
forge closer relationships with their
forge closer relationships with their families these programs increase release
families these programs increase release
families these programs increase release prisoners chances of finding a job by
prisoners chances of finding a job by
prisoners chances of finding a job by 28% and decrease their chances of
28% and decrease their chances of
28% and decrease their chances of returning to prison by 43 percent since
returning to prison by 43 percent since
returning to prison by 43 percent since exchange for change began in 2014 none
exchange for change began in 2014 none
exchange for change began in 2014 none of our formerly incarcerated students
of our formerly incarcerated students
of our formerly incarcerated students have yet returned to prison that’s a
have yet returned to prison that’s a
have yet returned to prison that’s a that’s a statistic we’re extraordinarily
that’s a statistic we’re extraordinarily
that’s a statistic we’re extraordinarily proud of but what may be even more
proud of but what may be even more
proud of but what may be even more surprising is that this exchange offers
surprising is that this exchange offers
surprising is that this exchange offers our students on the outside and escaped
our students on the outside and escaped
our students on the outside and escaped as well and escaped from a preoccupation
as well and escaped from a preoccupation
as well and escaped from a preoccupation with grades from academic pressure and
with grades from academic pressure and
with grades from academic pressure and from many of the ways many of them have
from many of the ways many of them have
from many of the ways many of them have grown to think about their educational
grown to think about their educational
grown to think about their educational experience instead of studying for a
experience instead of studying for a
experience instead of studying for a test or writing a paper that’s going to
test or writing a paper that’s going to
test or writing a paper that’s going to impact their GPAs my students engage in
impact their GPAs my students engage in
impact their GPAs my students engage in a very different kind of learning one
a very different kind of learning one
a very different kind of learning one that has them look past the prison label
that has them look past the prison label
that has them look past the prison label and into the humanity of their partners
by engaging in conversations through
by engaging in conversations through walls erected to prevent them my
walls erected to prevent them my
walls erected to prevent them my students connect with an actual human
students connect with an actual human
students connect with an actual human being not just with the behaviors that
being not just with the behaviors that
being not just with the behaviors that put that person behind bars as an
put that person behind bars as an
put that person behind bars as an English teacher I believe wholeheartedly
English teacher I believe wholeheartedly
English teacher I believe wholeheartedly in the transformative power of
in the transformative power of
in the transformative power of literature with that said I’ve also
literature with that said I’ve also
literature with that said I’ve also learned that even the best fiction
learned that even the best fiction
learned that even the best fiction cannot replace direct human connections
cannot replace direct human connections
cannot replace direct human connections mass incarceration has ballooned in this
mass incarceration has ballooned in this
mass incarceration has ballooned in this country over the past half-century in
country over the past half-century in
country over the past half-century in part because we’ve built huge
part because we’ve built huge
part because we’ve built huge correctional facilities
correctional facilities
correctional facilities remote locations out of sight and hence
remote locations out of sight and hence
remote locations out of sight and hence out of mind we’ve erected massive walls
out of mind we’ve erected massive walls
out of mind we’ve erected massive walls and massive fences for the sake of
and massive fences for the sake of
and massive fences for the sake of separation and the growth of this system
separation and the growth of this system
separation and the growth of this system has been predicated on those on the
has been predicated on those on the
has been predicated on those on the outside having little to no contact with
outside having little to no contact with
outside having little to no contact with those on the inside the discussions we
those on the inside the discussions we
those on the inside the discussions we facilitate fly in the face of that
facilitate fly in the face of that
facilitate fly in the face of that design and the results speak for
design and the results speak for
design and the results speak for themselves
themselves
themselves here’s an excerpt from an exchange that
here’s an excerpt from an exchange that
here’s an excerpt from an exchange that took place just last semester my student
took place just last semester my student
took place just last semester my student writes under the alias of summer and her
writes under the alias of summer and her
writes under the alias of summer and her partner at Siddhartha
hello Siddhartha we have come to her
hello Siddhartha we have come to her final exchange and my feelings are
final exchange and my feelings are
final exchange and my feelings are bittersweet I lament that our exchange
bittersweet I lament that our exchange
bittersweet I lament that our exchange of ideas has come to an end
of ideas has come to an end
of ideas has come to an end but I’m extremely thankful for the
but I’m extremely thankful for the
but I’m extremely thankful for the lessons that I have taken from your
lessons that I have taken from your
lessons that I have taken from your responses I’ll be completely honest many
responses I’ll be completely honest many
responses I’ll be completely honest many of my classmates including me gave in to
of my classmates including me gave in to
of my classmates including me gave in to the stereotype of criminals being
the stereotype of criminals being
the stereotype of criminals being uncivilized and ruthless I don’t really
uncivilized and ruthless I don’t really
uncivilized and ruthless I don’t really know if some prisoners fit this
know if some prisoners fit this
know if some prisoners fit this description but now I am confident that
description but now I am confident that
description but now I am confident that it certainly does not apply to all we
it certainly does not apply to all we
it certainly does not apply to all we also expected mediocre writing which we
also expected mediocre writing which we
also expected mediocre writing which we thought would be typical of a criminal
thought would be typical of a criminal
thought would be typical of a criminal however you and your classmates blew
however you and your classmates blew
however you and your classmates blew those stereotypes away I feel so lucky
those stereotypes away I feel so lucky
those stereotypes away I feel so lucky and could not have asked for a better
and could not have asked for a better
and could not have asked for a better partner in this journey thank you for
partner in this journey thank you for
partner in this journey thank you for showing me that prisoners are real
showing me that prisoners are real
showing me that prisoners are real people who feel breathe and think not
people who feel breathe and think not
people who feel breathe and think not monsters ideas stereotypes summer while
monsters ideas stereotypes summer while
monsters ideas stereotypes summer while summer was completing her final entry
summer was completing her final entry
summer was completing her final entry Siddhartha was composing his own high
Siddhartha was composing his own high
Siddhartha was composing his own high summer I came to class eager to start
summer I came to class eager to start
summer I came to class eager to start our next assignment then our instructor
our next assignment then our instructor
our next assignment then our instructor reminded us that this would be our last
reminded us that this would be our last
reminded us that this would be our last exchange
exchange
exchange what no there’s so much more to summer
what no there’s so much more to summer
what no there’s so much more to summer so much more to share so much more to
so much more to share so much more to
so much more to share so much more to learn alas here we are I didn’t
learn alas here we are I didn’t
learn alas here we are I didn’t anticipate learning so damn much you
anticipate learning so damn much you
anticipate learning so damn much you your classmates are our future you give
your classmates are our future you give
your classmates are our future you give me hope here behind these gates these
me hope here behind these gates these
me hope here behind these gates these walls hope is more vital than food to
walls hope is more vital than food to
walls hope is more vital than food to eat air to breathe hope gives me
eat air to breathe hope gives me
eat air to breathe hope gives me to wake up and face a new day hope gives
to wake up and face a new day hope gives
to wake up and face a new day hope gives my life purpose thank you for everything
my life purpose thank you for everything
my life purpose thank you for everything Siddhartha
when I meet our incarcerated students I
when I meet our incarcerated students I let them know that I work at a high
let them know that I work at a high
let them know that I work at a high school that presents its students with
school that presents its students with
school that presents its students with extraordinary opportunities and that
extraordinary opportunities and that
extraordinary opportunities and that because of those opportunities many of
because of those opportunities many of
because of those opportunities many of them are going to find themselves in
them are going to find themselves in
them are going to find themselves in positions of power and influence later
positions of power and influence later
positions of power and influence later in life with confidence I tell those on
in life with confidence I tell those on
in life with confidence I tell those on the inside that from the confines of
the inside that from the confines of
the inside that from the confines of your cells you are helping to make them
your cells you are helping to make them
your cells you are helping to make them more empathetic and more sophisticated
more empathetic and more sophisticated
more empathetic and more sophisticated as thinkers I don’t know about you but I
as thinkers I don’t know about you but I
as thinkers I don’t know about you but I want my leaders to be empathetic and
want my leaders to be empathetic and
want my leaders to be empathetic and sophisticated talented bright curious
sophisticated talented bright curious
sophisticated talented bright curious caring wise reflective these are just
caring wise reflective these are just
caring wise reflective these are just some of the adjectives my students now
some of the adjectives my students now
some of the adjectives my students now use to describe their partners
use to describe their partners
use to describe their partners adjectives they never would have
adjectives they never would have
adjectives they never would have associated with the incarcerated prior
associated with the incarcerated prior
associated with the incarcerated prior to participating in this exchange as a
to participating in this exchange as a
to participating in this exchange as a facilitator who works primarily with
facilitator who works primarily with
facilitator who works primarily with students on the outside I have to say
students on the outside I have to say
students on the outside I have to say that the magic occurs when my students
that the magic occurs when my students
that the magic occurs when my students realize that a person is not an idea as
realize that a person is not an idea as
realize that a person is not an idea as somers words demonstrate those on the
somers words demonstrate those on the
somers words demonstrate those on the outside come to learn that those who’ve
outside come to learn that those who’ve
outside come to learn that those who’ve been tagged as criminals or felons are
been tagged as criminals or felons are
been tagged as criminals or felons are real people with families a lifetime of
real people with families a lifetime of
real people with families a lifetime of experiences ambitions and hope although
experiences ambitions and hope although
experiences ambitions and hope although many of the lessons learned are shared
many of the lessons learned are shared
many of the lessons learned are shared and therefore common others are more
and therefore common others are more
and therefore common others are more unpredictable I would say that most of
unpredictable I would say that most of
unpredictable I would say that most of my students learn to distinguish between
my students learn to distinguish between
my students learn to distinguish between listening to respond and really
listening to respond and really
listening to respond and really listening to understand to question and
listening to understand to question and
listening to understand to question and challenge assumptions they previously
challenge assumptions they previously
challenge assumptions they previously weren’t even aware they had and to see
weren’t even aware they had and to see
weren’t even aware they had and to see that exercising judgment builds walls
that exercising judgment builds walls
that exercising judgment builds walls while suspending judgment brings them
while suspending judgment brings them
while suspending judgment brings them down additionally many of my students
down additionally many of my students
down additionally many of my students emerge from the exchange with more
emerge from the exchange with more
emerge from the exchange with more personal and unique takeaways some of
personal and unique takeaways some of
personal and unique takeaways some of which relate to what it means to be a
which relate to what it means to be a
which relate to what it means to be a citizen
citizen
citizen and others which relate to what it means
and others which relate to what it means
and others which relate to what it means to be themselves although I never could
to be themselves although I never could
to be themselves although I never could have anticipated it there’s another
have anticipated it there’s another
have anticipated it there’s another voice from the inside that my students
voice from the inside that my students
voice from the inside that my students discover by participating in this
discover by participating in this
discover by participating in this exchange and that’s that voice is their
exchange and that’s that voice is their
exchange and that’s that voice is their own challenged by the quality the
own challenged by the quality the
own challenged by the quality the authenticity and the power in the pieces
authenticity and the power in the pieces
authenticity and the power in the pieces they receive my students often find
they receive my students often find
they receive my students often find themselves feeling inadequate especially
themselves feeling inadequate especially
themselves feeling inadequate especially early on in the process they quickly
early on in the process they quickly
early on in the process they quickly realize that writing from the head just
realize that writing from the head just
realize that writing from the head just isn’t going to do it in order to provide
isn’t going to do it in order to provide
isn’t going to do it in order to provide their partners with writing worth
their partners with writing worth
their partners with writing worth reading they need to learn to write from
reading they need to learn to write from
reading they need to learn to write from the heart in the words of another past
the heart in the words of another past
the heart in the words of another past high school participant through this
high school participant through this
high school participant through this exchange the voices from the inside
exchange the voices from the inside
exchange the voices from the inside actually came to life it was not Souls
actually came to life it was not Souls
actually came to life it was not Souls indeed ‘sons ivan denisa bitch a person
indeed ‘sons ivan denisa bitch a person
indeed ‘sons ivan denisa bitch a person I could hardly relate to it was Beth Ann
I could hardly relate to it was Beth Ann
I could hardly relate to it was Beth Ann and extremely passionate and kind lady
and extremely passionate and kind lady
and extremely passionate and kind lady who opened herself up to me and tell me
who opened herself up to me and tell me
who opened herself up to me and tell me more about myself than I ever imagined I
more about myself than I ever imagined I
more about myself than I ever imagined I could know I begin each semester by
could know I begin each semester by
could know I begin each semester by introducing my students to the great
introducing my students to the great
introducing my students to the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky’s
Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky’s
Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky’s profound claim that the degree of
profound claim that the degree of
profound claim that the degree of civilization in any society can only be
civilization in any society can only be
civilization in any society can only be measured by entering its prisons
exchange for change puts my students in
exchange for change puts my students in a unique position to more accurately
a unique position to more accurately
a unique position to more accurately measure the degree of civilization of
measure the degree of civilization of
measure the degree of civilization of contemporary American society
penetrating walls that obscure
penetrating walls that obscure understanding is one way to start
understanding is one way to start
understanding is one way to start bringing them down I’m here today to
bringing them down I’m here today to
bringing them down I’m here today to recognize the work of all of our
recognize the work of all of our
recognize the work of all of our students on both sides of prison walls
students on both sides of prison walls
students on both sides of prison walls while many have gone on to engage more
while many have gone on to engage more
while many have gone on to engage more fully and more directly like one who is
fully and more directly like one who is
fully and more directly like one who is currently fighting for prison reform
currently fighting for prison reform
currently fighting for prison reform through his University and another who
through his University and another who
through his University and another who is teaching art classes at a State
is teaching art classes at a State
is teaching art classes at a State Penitentiary through hers almost all of
Penitentiary through hers almost all of
Penitentiary through hers almost all of our students have not only grown
our students have not only grown
our students have not only grown but through this process have
but through this process have
but through this process have participated in the growth of another I
participated in the growth of another I
participated in the growth of another I open this talk with a confession sharing
open this talk with a confession sharing
open this talk with a confession sharing with you my fear of placing myself in
with you my fear of placing myself in
with you my fear of placing myself in history and realizing that I would have
history and realizing that I would have
history and realizing that I would have been a path a passive bystander in the
been a path a passive bystander in the
been a path a passive bystander in the face of injustice well what this work
face of injustice well what this work
face of injustice well what this work has shown me is that historical
has shown me is that historical
has shown me is that historical questions are contemporary questions and
questions are contemporary questions and
questions are contemporary questions and though I’ve not yet overcome my fear I
though I’ve not yet overcome my fear I
though I’ve not yet overcome my fear I do know that by facilitating these
do know that by facilitating these
do know that by facilitating these conversations through prison walls we
conversations through prison walls we
conversations through prison walls we are inspiring students on both sides of
are inspiring students on both sides of
are inspiring students on both sides of those walls to be on the right side of
those walls to be on the right side of
those walls to be on the right side of history thank you
history thank you
history thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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