Distance Learning

In 2020, the world went into “lockdown” but for the women inside “lockdown” was a term they were all too familiar with. For those of us programming in prisons, it meant we could not access the women in our community as we were unable to enter the facilities we work in. We knew we needed to maintain our community, so we created our Distance Learning Program.

Distance Learning is a correspondence program rooted in sensory restoration and trauma-informed writing. We acknowledge that sensory deprivation and memory loss are common challenges for incarcerated individuals, and this program is carefully crafted to counteract and restore these cognitive and emotional processes.

Each week, participants receive writing prompts by mail, focusing on mindfulness, self-reflection, and personal expression. Through reflective and symbolic writing, they not only improve their literacy but also work through past traumas in a therapeutic way.

The correspondence with Writing Partner Volunteers fosters connection and reduces the isolation of incarceration, creating a sense of community and shared purpose. Volunteers nationwide provide personalized feedback, helping participants feel part of a broader collective experience.

At the end of each session, participants can publish their selected pieces in a class anthology and receive their own copy.

Although COVID restrictions have been lifted, and we have resumed in-person classes, our Distance Learning Program continues to thrive as the partnerships of that program have truly helped create a community within and beyond the facilities we work in. We have noticed that this program has also remained popular for those who are unable to take our in-person classes due to busy schedules or not being ready to work through their trauma and experiences in a community setting.