In Prisons

The End Violence Project gives inmates a new context for living their lives while in prison and for when they are released. Inmates enroll in a program called "Leadership Training and Transformational Thinking." This 6-month program gives participants new tools for living a satisfying and fulfilled life. Integrity, forgiveness, and empowerment take on new meaning and significance for participants in how they lead their lives.

Personal goals participants say they want from the program: (quotes from 2006 programs)

• "to find inner peace." January
• "to allow myself to live." January
• "learn to come to common ground on situations." November
• "be more out spoken - but not over spoken." November
• "be a good listener - and also have someone to listen." November

During the course participants put the tools of integrity, forgiveness and empowerment into action. They identify something that is missing in prison for themselves and other inmates, such as respect, partnership, and teamwork, and then design a project that will bring this attribute into their environment. Projects can include teaching others to read, teaching job interview skills, but all must be accomplishable within the rules of the prison and with materials at hand. Projects are accomplished with up to 20 or more men not enrolled in the course. Some projects last a few months; some projects are so well received and needed in prison that they last many years.

Projects designed by our participants include:

• "create effective after-care programming" January
• "people of different nationalities helping each other deal with the effects of mental illness" June
• "empower men that are released on parole not to return to prison" June
• "increasing self-esteem among those around us" June

Inmates who complete our program judge the power of the program and how it impacts their lives. Some say they feel free even while living in the prisons. Some say they won't talk to other inmates about their project, because they know the answer will not be interested. When they do talk to that person, they are often surprised that their assessment was wrong.

Responses from participants when asked in the middle of a program what were they getting:

• "I've always thought I had integrity, but since the last session, I've noticed where I forget (to do something) or just blow it off." January
• "Integrity. I'm more free and relaxed. Some programs are ineffective. This one is effective. I like programs that deal with character defects." January
• "This is my second week here. This is a stimulating conversation. I'm thinking deeper and looking beyond the surface." January