“Let the fire forge you.”Nebraska Correctional Center for Women Student
Welcome to May.
Thank you for pausing your day to be here with us.
We have a lot to share! New facilities, new Staff, plenty of artwork from inside, and a podcast dispose that drops later this month. This last month we began work at the Virginia Correctional Center for Women (VCCW) with a full room of 20 women and a waitlist to boot! It’s been a gift to be on the inside with these women and we will share artwork and poetry as we receive them over on our social media feeds (Instagram: @intheinside2) and in next month’s newsletter.
*Bailey, current alumni student at the Nebraska Correctional Facility for Women
We also welcomed a new Staff Member, please put your hands together and welcome Jennifer Chapman with us!
Jen was a student with us while incarcerated at the Wyoming Women’s Center, and contacted us upon release. Jen is currently rebuilding her life on the outside and we have loved bringing her into this work more deeply as a student and facilitator. Jen is currently adding teaching materials to our 8 class series for women inside and working with us as a facilitator at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. Some words from Jen herself:
"Hello, everyone! My name is Jennifer (Also Jen, Mom, #3462 and “hey you”). I’m currently seeking stillness in my life and much prefer serenity over chaos, yet I am learning to embrace all aspects of myself as a pathway to peace. This is why I choose to continue my healing with On the Inside even though I am now on this side of the wall. I must say, many aspects of incarceration contributed to my stillness, as the outside world works mightily to sway my focus from that which truly matters. Putting incarceration behind after we are released often seems impossible; my “scarlet letter” is an aura I cannot shake. As I press on with On the Inside, I cease fighting for the elusive victory over an entity that I no longer revere as just and merciful. Rather, I begin to fight the battles that are intended for me to fight. I focus my precious energy on that which bears meaning, purpose and hope. Mastery of Self remains my mission and I love running, walking and even crawling with others who pour into my cup as I do so. I pray that I do the same for them. Caroline, Project Manager and Nikki, Founder, also shared their story of meeting on the inside and reconnecting on the outside to build this work with Marie Sola on her Daughters of Change Podcast. This podcast is a beautiful testament to women all over the world who are bringing positive change to our world. You can hear our story and learn how to support the work we are building on our episode which drops on May 19."
“I am not what I am”- Viola, Twelfth Night
*This is the play that brought Caroline and Nikki together, and was one of Caroline’s many, many lines in the show.
We also began working with youth offenders in Wyoming on a weekly basis and are building out this program. We began with our 8 class series, and are pulling in portions of our book project work from Breaking Down Barriers.
These women are young, first time offenders and this new program in Wyoming has been created to reduce recidivism rates. We are grateful to be included in the lives of these women as we work to understand and learn together.
'If being clad in darkness is a requirement of knowing light, Then let my shroud be woven of the darkest shades of night. For I dare not dream to fathom a bleaker state of mind. Where tears go wandering through the night, and peace they do not find. My mouth opens no further to let the shrieks race out. Listless on my lonely bed, all that I find is doubt. Inside my shallow scream, Lies hope. That even one might see? I, the darkest shade of midnight? Yes. “Here I am! It’s me!” Perhaps within the twilight, perhaps awaiting dawn, I might find the courage needed just to carry on? For when I do…. When I find the mustard seed, When I find your hem, You, Yeshua, hold me, And my plight, I find, no longer quite so grim.'
-From Jennifer, formerly incarcerated at Wyoming Women’s Center and now our dear friend and facilitator.
A piece written recently in our four-class series. You can support the growth of this work by becoming a monthly supporter financially or joining our outside class series, monthly groups, or bi-weekly groups for folks with a criminal history. We are committed to breaking down the walls that keep us apart. We are currently in the middle of offering our FIRST all genders 4 class series. This class is a group of eight, four of whom were formerly incarcerated. The conversations are rich, the laughter truthful, and the stories that are emerging are building bridges that connect us all.
You can support the growth of this work by becoming a monthly supporter financially or joining our outside class series, monthly groups, or bi-weekly groups for folks with a criminal history. We are committed to breaking down the walls that keep us apart. We are currently in the middle of offering our FIRST all genders 4 class series. This class is a group of eight, four of whom were formerly incarcerated. The conversations are rich, the laughter truthful, and the stories that are emerging are building bridges that connect us all.
If you are curious about our work, or becoming a facilitator with us we encourage you to take our four-class series. Our next outside four-class series will be offered in October. This is the final series in 2023. Registration is open, you can sign up now right here:
Four Class Series Sign Up
“I had oppressed this whole side of myself, the mischievous side, inside of prison. So now I’m embracing this part of myself .”— Four Class Series, current student
This month also has us beginning to train more women inside as Peer Facilitators, we are expanding our ideas of leadership and looking at what it’s like to lead from the inside. As we figure this out we are collaborating with women inside facility and women who have been released outside of facility to learn how to best do this. It’s an evolving process, we have lots of notes and questions and only a few answers. If you are interested in working with us as a facilitator for this work, please reach out and let us know.
*We will prioritize training folks with a criminal background or experience within the prison system.
“We are all a little broken. You can’t fix things on your own, you’ve got to ask for help.” —Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic, and Correctional Center, current student.
If you haven’t purchased our book, Breaking Down Barriers.
You can do so now right here.
If the book speaks to you, consider setting up a workshop for you and your clients/staff with us. We are offering 90-minute workshops that include 5 copies of the book in person or virtually. Email us directly to set one up with your friend group or workplace.
Breaking Down Barriers: workshop with On The Inside
Mark your calendars with our four class series offerings and sign up today for one that fits in with your life. After you take part in a four class series, meet us in our monthly work, or consider becoming a facilitator as we expand into more states.
“Today addiction does not define you, learn from your mistakes. You are not a mistake.”—Wyoming Women’s Center, current student
SUSTAIN our work-
Support our work by sustaining a woman through a monthly contribution right here. Your donation will support the ongoing weekly and monthly work we continue to build in person, and online.
Thank you for being a growing part of our journey, our failures and our successes as we navigate slow and intentional growth to keep this work fresh, accessible, and necessary.
*Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, April 2023
SIGNATURE FOUR CLASS SERIES-
Our four-class series is a great way to become a part of our work, learn about the class structure, create with us, and build community.
Each class occurs over Zoom, so you can participate from anywhere.
Every class you can expect to: share, create, receive, and learn as we make work that goes into our facilities and work from our inside students is shared with us.
*We only offer our outside class series 4 times a year, these fill up FAST so connect with us to register today. Please confirm which series you would like to join.
FINAL FOUR CLASS SERIES of 2023-
Thursdays 5-7 pm PST/8 pm-10 pm EST
October 5, 12, 19, and 26.
This series is co-led by Caroline Cox, Project Manager at On The Inside, and Nikki Weaver, Founder.
Zoom links and instructions are sent out after payment is made. We offer a sliding scale and full scholarships too, all you need to do is connect with us. Payment can be made right here. Please connect with us if you would like to join our next class series and specify which four classes you would like to attend. The work builds upon itself so it is essential that you prioritize attending all four sessions. You can join our four-week class series and then continue on in our monthly class by signing up here.
*April 2023 in the room with Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
Join us for our monthly gatherings of 2023-
All monthly groups meet from 12-2 pm PT/3 pm-5 pm ET
*Zoom link sent to all those who have participated in our 4-class or 8-class series.
In these classes, we gather and share, create together, move together, and discuss artwork and poetry from our students currently serving time. Your work is also shared inside facilities. It’s a chance to connect and grow with women worldwide.
Announcing our 2023 Monthly Group Gatherings (2 hours)-
**All monthly group meetings are 12 pm-2 pm PT/3 pm-5 pm ET
Saturday, Jan 7 HOPE
Tuesday, Feb 7 LET’S GET SEXY
Thursday, March 2 AGILITY
Tuesday, April 4 TRUTH
Tuesday, May 2 CREATIVITY
Saturday, June 3 JOURNEYS
Thursday, July 6 SHADOW WORK
Tuesday, August 1 LOVE
Sunday, September 3 COURAGE
Monday, October 2 FLEXIBILITY
Thursday, November 2 VALUES
Saturday, December 2 HOPE
We hope to see you in class this year- join us for four sessions and then move into our monthly group as we deepen the connections, strengthen our creativity, and build long-lasting relationships with women inside and outside prison facilities.
*Coffee Creek Correctional Facility April 2023 with guest author Reema Zaman and Founder, Nikki Weaver
Your actions matter. Your words matter. How you show up matters.
“The truth is what’s behind the mask.”—Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, current student
*Carla, current student in our alumni class at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women
Much love and gratitude for your ongoing support,
Nikki Weaver and Caroline Cox
-Founder and Project Manager
Follow along on our social media platforms, you can find us on: Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIN.
OUR MISSION
On The Inside builds a creative connection for incarcerated women, both individually and collectively. We do this by telling our stories, igniting our hearts, and sparking dialogue. Creative connection for a greater good, we create community for women on the inside and outside by breaking down the walls that keep us apart.
The United States houses over 1.3 million incarcerated women.
We aim to change that.
Creativity is what keeps us alive, it is what draws us together. Our stories save us and have the ability to heal us. Healing is both collective and deeply personal. We create shared dialogue by holding a container for women to transform themselves. We do this through creative prompts where each woman has a voice in the room, through exploratory movement, creating a rolodex of emotions to draw from, and boundaries to hold.
We begin.
We create.
We play together.
We share.
We seek closure.
We begin again.
We hold weekly classes to gather in a circle. We create weekly newsletters where women on the outside create work (poetry, art, song) for women on the inside, and the women on the inside do the same. We create living, breathing works of art that move us far beyond the page, beyond the stage, and into a space of embodiment.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Lisa Collins
Fungai Mubayiwa
Katie Morell
Caroline Cox
Megan Gaffney
Atieno Bird
Dr.Mercy Nyangulu Nyepudzayi
Jazmin Jimenez
Cindy Lone
Tina Packer
Mia Zara
Marie Gonzalez
Beck Wilschefski
Elena Brower
Reema Zaman
Together, we stretch four continents wide.
Collectively, we are making a difference by creating together.
You are always invited to join our work, join our collective, join our creative expanding circle.
Consider Making a "New" Gift:
Support our work by sustaining a woman through a monthly contribution right here. Your donation will support the ongoing weekly and monthly work we continue to build in-person and online.
-Nikki Weaver, Executive Director/Founder
