On The Inside October 2023
This month our dream team gathered together for the first time in Missouri to play and learn from each other before co-leading at the Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC) where we have been working for the good part of a year.
We are working together to create from this place:
Something you wish you were told as a child.
*Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center September 2023
The stories were deep, the laughter long, and the tears fell. Some of our facilitators were entering the facility for the first time. One of our facilitators was entering the facility for the first time no longer a felon, but as a leader.
I think about this alot- labels. Who puts them on us? Do we do it to ourselves? And how do we strip ourselves of them? Is that even possible?
Then my mind usually wanders to why not me? All of us have made mistakes, done things we are not proud of. Is it privilege, entitlement, luck, goodwill, faith, what allows me to walk free.
I like to live with questions, it allows me to remain curious. But it also fills me with so many what if’s. What does it take to rebuild a life? How do we do it day after day and continue on?
The beauty in our work is that we sit with questions, we don’t pretend to hold answers or arrive with them. We hold each other without judgment and we kick our egos out the door.
*Four of our five facilitators: Atieno Bird, Jennifer Chapman, De Bolton, Nikki Weaver, and missing in action, Caroline Cox. Playing in St.Louis this September before working together in person in Missouri.
We play and come into the room curious to learn and hold each other's stories. It is a gift to witness, and to be a part of changing the narrative. This piece was written as part of our 8 class series touching on the light and darkness we each carry-
*current student at Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center, September 2023
Human BEING
performed and written by the women of Coffee Creek Correctional Facility
November 12 6pm PST
*please email Nikki if you would like to attend to have your paperwork completed:
You must complete paperwork to access the facility, thank you in advance.
Join us for an evening of celebration as we come together to share stories, meditation, dance, and reflect on what it means to be human.
*Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center September 2023
Today, De Bolton and I sat inside the Wyoming Women’s Center with our youth class and then later a full gymnasium of women in our current 8 class series, past 8 class series students, and women who were just curious about who we are. A blessing to be let in- to each other's vulnerabilities and hearts. Things we heard and witnessed as we continued our work on what you wish you had been told as a child:
“That I am loved.”
“That I don’t have to be perfect.”
“That I am worthy.”
“That I might find equality.”
“I am enough..”
We were handed work by our youth and our adults. A piece that I found particularly moving was this one-
Painted by Leanna, a new student to us who said if she had just heard the words, “I’m sorry”, her life would be different.
What does an apology cost us?
Maybe it’s something, and maybe it’s nothing but means everything to the person on the other side. Recently, I wrote a piece about abuse I experienced as a child to which my father had never believed me. He apologized, and that apology meant everything to me. It changed me, and allowed me to release a traumatizing experience that cost me much as a young girl.
Today, I sit here in an airport awaiting a flight to Nebraska to teach tomorrow at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women and I think about the lives we are changing- not individually, but collectively as a community.
Thank you- if you are a student, a former inmate, a Caseworker, a Warden, a human, a supporter- thank you.
Circles are the great equalizer. It is how we meet, how we gather, and how we share.
Don’t sit on the outside of our circle
1.Sign up for our final four class series beginning in October, then join our monthly circle after completing our four class series.
2.Become a monthly donor to sustain and build our work.
3.Share our work through your social media platforms to build our collective awareness.
“I am reminded of how to walk in strength and beauty again. I feel less alone when I am in this class”
-current student, Wyoming Women’s Center
Your actions matter. Your words matter. How you show up matters.
Much love and gratitude for your ongoing support,
Nikki Weaver
Caroline Cox
De Bolton
Jennifer Chapman
Atieno Bird
-The Dream Team
A gift that we shared in all of our facilities this week.
Mindfulness On The Go, by Jan Chozen Bays is a recent book purchased by two of our community members that we brought with us to facility this month. Our gift to the women we serve to keep them thinking and sharing and practicing. Big thanks to those of you that show up and share your tools, your wealth, and your practices to grow our circles!
Facilities we currently serve at:
-Coffee Creek Correctional Facility, since 2018, this is where Caroline and I met and began our work
-Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, since 2021
-Wyoming Women’s Center, since 2021
-Wyoming Women’s Center: Youth Offenders, since 2023
-Women’s Eastern Reception Diagnostic and Correctional Center in Missouri, since 2023
-Virginia Correctional Center for Women, since 2023
*We lead weekly and monthly classes at these facilities led by our two person facilitator teams, and monthly classes for caseworkers at some of these facilities.
SIGNATURE FOUR CLASS SERIES-
*final one of 2023
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 5-7pm PST/8pm-10pm 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 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.
Joins us for our monthly gatherings of 2023-
All monthly groups meet from 12-2pm PST/3pm-5pm EST
*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.
Remaining 2023 Monthly Group Gatherings (2 hours)-
**all monthly group meetings are 12pm-2 pm PT/3pm-5 pm ET over Zoom
Monday October 2 FLEXIBILITY
Thursday November 2 VALUES
Saturday December 2 HOPE
A BENEFIT PRACTICE with Elena-
Join us as we raise funds and awareness with our Board Member, Elena Brower, gather to learn, practice, and move as we connect to change lives for those who need our support the most.
Make a donation in any amount by October 6 to receive access to this class: Take Action
*Please note benefit class in the notes section.
Also this month- we celebrate, Joy Sullivan for offering her skill and expertise in leading a SOLD OUT workshop for On The Inside, donating just over $2000 to support our ongoing classes inside women's prisons. Joy has shared her poetry and readings of them with women inside our Coffee Creek Correctional Facility during the pandemic, a gift to have this partnership.
Thank you, Joy!
2024 is around the corner, sharing our 2024 calendar schedule of offerings below. Please connect with us to learn more or sign up for our class series online. We are looking forward to being in connection and conversation with you now and in the year ahead! Add these to your calendars if you are planners like we are.
Announcing our 2024 Monthly Group Gatherings (2 hours on Zoom)-
**all monthly group meetings are 12pm-2 pm PT/3pm-5 pm ET
Saturday Jan 6 HOPE
Tuesday Feb 6 LET’S GET SEXY
Thursday March 7 AGILITY
Tuesday April 2 TRUTH
Tuesday May 7 CREATIVITY
Saturday June 1 JOURNEYS
Thursday July 11 SHADOW WORK
Tuesday August 6 LOVE
Sunday September 1 COURAGE
Monday October 7 FLEXIBILITY
Thursday November 7 VALUES
Saturday December 7 HOPE
**all monthly meetings are 12pm-2 pm PST/1-3pm MST/2-4pmCST/3pm-5 pm EST/9-11pm Zimbabwe and Croatia/5-7am Australia + a day
2024 Four Class Series (2 hours on Zoom)-
Thursdays January 4, 11, 18, and 25
Saturdays March 2, 9, 16, and 23
Thursdays September 5,12, 19, and 26
Saturdays October 5,12,19, and 26
**all classes are 12pm-2 pm PST/1-3pm MST/2-4pmCST/3pm-5 pm EST/9-11pm Zimbabwe and Croatia/5-7am Australia + a day
2024 Bi- Weekly Support Group Meeting Dates (60 mins on ZOOM)-
Tuesday January 2nd
Tuesday January 16th
Tuesday January 30th
Tuesday February 13th
Tuesday February 27th NO CLASS
Tuesday March 5th
Tuesday March 19th
Tuesday April 2nd
Tuesday April 16th
Tuesday April 30th
Tuesday May 14th
Tuesday May 28th
Tuesday June 11th
Tuesday June 25th
Tuesday July 9th
Tuesday July 23rd
Tuesday August 6th
Tuesday August 20th
Tuesday September 3rd
Tuesday September 17th
Tuesday October 1st
Tuesday October 15th
Tuesday October 29th
Tuesday November 12th
Tuesday November 26th
Tuesday December 10th
Tuesday December 24th NO CLASS
**all meetings are 5 pm-6 pm PST/ 6-7 pm MST/ 7-8pm CST/ 8 pm-9 pm EST**
Zoom Links are NOT sent out without confirmation on attendance
Email Caroline@ontheinside.space
To confirm attendance and be provided with the ZOOM Link for the Bi- Weekly Support Group
“Hold my hand when I’m sad,
Calm me down when I’m mad…
I’ve been in prison twice now. This time feels different.
I only come out of my room for this class, this work.”
-Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, current class
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
Dr. Lisa Collins
Reema Zaman
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
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.
