..I've searched and searched for news that Elaine Bartlett has returned to prison, as Jessica brought up. Happily, I've found nothing to suggest that that has happened. Given that Dovetta was passionate about Elaine's story being hers, this gives me a little ounce of hope that she will make it out for good, too. Dovetta's impending release hung over our small group conversation today. We said it would be hard. We knew that it would be almost impossible. She will have to stay away from her husband of 21 years, a drug dealer, and her 6 kids, who also dabble in drugs. She will have to make meetings, find work, find herself, keep herself, follow her dreams. She wants to counsel addicts, write a book, stay clean, never come back. I assured Dovetta that I would be one of her first readers and that I hoped to read her book with another class of incarcerated women one day. The smile she gave me after hearing that single-handedly convinced me that I wanted, NEEDED to continue this work next semester. But now that I'm back home and I've lost sight of Dovetta, I've lost sight of my hope for her, too. We've been taught to blame the institution, the forces that be, that keep these women down. And in fact, we've made it our goal to teach them that, too. But does this way of thinking make it harder for us to hope, too? I can't keep out the doubt. The doubt that says Dovetta won't make it because of the forces pushing against her.

Beginning Chant:

I am

(I am)

A Reader

(A Reader)

What I have to Say

(What I have to Say)

Is Worth Listening to

(Is Worth Listening to)

What I Think

(What I Think)

What I Feel

(What I Feel)

Matters

(Matters)

Our Chant (written collaboratively with Riverside Women):

I am

Grateful

I am

Reflective

I am

Thoughtful

I am

Strong

I am

A Prisoner

I am

Stronger

And Smarter

Then I think I am

I am

Compassionate

I am wondering

If being Responsible

Means lowering your Expectations

I am

Filled with Questions

I am

Happy

Found this and HAD to share:

GROUPED OUT
"Please make these groups interesting, 'cause I am grouped out!"
— Elaine Bartlett, Bedford Hills prison, September 1997

I'VE BEEN
CHAINED UP / BANGED UP / FELT UP
ROUGHED UP / STUCK UP / HELD UP
NOW I'M
LOCKED UP.
I HAVE
PUT UP / SHUT UP
SUCKED UP / TALKED UP
NOW I'M
MESSED UP —
IT'S SO
FUCKED UP.
THEY MAKE ME
STRAP IN / WALK IN / SIT IN
TUNE IN / MOVE IN / FIT IN
I FEEL
PINNED IN.
THEN SOMEONE
GETS IN / PUSHES IN
COMES IN / PULLS IN
WANTS TO
BLEND IN —
THEY'VE NEVER
BEEN IN.
SO I'M
TURNED OFF / RIPPED OFF / SHUT OFF
CUT OFF / PISSED OFF / FLUFFED OFF
ALL YOU'ALL SHOULD
FUCK OFF!
CAUSE I'M
CLEANED OUT / WASHED OUT / SQUEEZED OUT
THROWN OUT / GROSSED OUT / PASSED OUT
READY TO
SHOUT OUT
CAUSE I'M
GROUPED OUT!
PEACE OUT!

Found here:

http://www.lifeontheoutside.com/poem.html

Juvenile-In-Justice, by Richard Ross

Artful justice, amid arresting art (in North Philly)

“You may find that the cell is an ideal place to learn to know yourself, to search realistically and regularly the processes of your own mind and feelings. In judging our progress as individuals we tend to concentrate on external factors such as one’s social position, influence and popularity, wealth and standard of education …. but internal factors may be even more crucial in assessing one’s development as a human being: honesty, sincerity, simplicity, humility, purity, generosity, absence of vanity, readiness to serve your fellow men – qualities within the reach of every soul – are the foundation of one’s spiritual life …. at least, if for nothing else, the cell gives you the opportunity to look daily into your entire conduct to overcome the bad and develop whatever is good in you. Regular meditation, say of about 15 minutes a day before you turn in, can be fruitful in this regard. You may find it difficult at first to pinpoint the negative factors in your life, but the tenth attempt may reap rich rewards. Never forget that a saint is a sinner that keeps on trying.”

Nelson Mandela 1975

Letter to Winnie Mandela from Kroonstad Prison

I want to take septa to Surburban station and go to Franklin Square(the Love Square),that's a tourist attraction I've never been to. I would also spend time in the neighbourhood, just to walk around and see what's in there.

each group can figure to take up to about 20 minutes....

Tuesday, 12/10:
Kelly and Vaughn
Erin, Christina, Rachel and Emma
Elizabeth, Julia, Abby and Sam

Thursday, 12/12:
Esther, Ariana, Faith and Shaina
Caroline, Piper, Marian and Amanda
Erin, Sarah, Maya, Maggie, Lindsey and Kalina