Reflections from our Fundraiser
The Insight Alliance recently hosted our annual Spring Celebration fundraiser on May 19th, 2022. In total, we raised just over $100,000 and had around 100 guests in attendance. There was a lot of love and support at our event, as well as opportunities for growth and change. A key theme that emerged was around anti-racism and inclusion and ways that our event could have better aligned with our values.
Our Research Project with Pacific University
My relationship with the world of research began in 2018 after a successful meeting at Coffee Creek with Leonard Dunn (former head of Corrections Counseling) and Chris Randall (Corrections Rehabilitation Manager). Susan Stoltenberg, the Executive Director of the YWCA, had introduced me to this team to talk about bringing our program to the adults in custody (AICs) on the medium security side of Coffee Creek. There seemed to be many programs on the minimum side, but very few on the medium side so we agreed to start there. Mr. Dunn suggested that if we wanted our program to be more than just a volunteer program, we would need to research Insight to Wellbeing so that it would be an evidence-based practice. At this point, researching our program hadn’t even occurred to me. It made perfect sense, so we set out to identify a partner who could help. Little did I know what a research project would entail!
Sitting Quietly Together
There's a great quote from Blaise Pascal that sat on a post-it note on my desk while I was doing a three-day training a few weeks ago -
"All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone."
I actually altered it and took off the last word - 'alone'. Not that I don’t think Pascal’s statement isn’t spot on, but I also think humanity's problems stem from people's inability to sit quietly in a room together.
Minding the Gap
The underground train system in London (the Tube) is filled with old rail lines that date back hundreds of years. In more recent times, the old trains have been replaced by newer models that aren’t as big and clunky, which often creates a bigger gap between the train and the platform. There are big painted signs on the floor saying, “Mind the Gap.” The conductor often calls out over the loudspeaker for people to step over the gap between the platform and the train since you can fall down it!
Why we are Excited to Have Savvy Young People Participate in our First Global Change Incubator
When I founded the Insight Alliance in 2016, we started by working with adults who were experiencing incarceration. First at a men's prison and then with women. There was no particular reason - that was just who we got to work with. I’d walk through any door that was open to us. To this day, I still love working with adults. Being one, I often find it easier in a way. It wasn’t until some of the men who took our program in prison would say, “Why has no one taught us this before? If I’d know this when I was younger, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t be in prison. We need to work with the youth.” The more I heard that, the more I realized that was true for me too. If I’d understood my own mind when I was younger I could have avoided many of my more spectacular messes, and many of the smaller day to day ones too….
Celebrating a Big Win for our Team!
Last week, we had the honor and privilege of greeting one of our participants during her release from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. Mary, one of the lovely women who served as a mentor in our group at the women's facility, was granted clemency by Governor Brown. Here was the letter we initially received from Mary with the great news…
January 2021 Newsletter
We hope this newsletter finds you doing okay amidst all that's unfolded in our country this week. We're still at a loss for words as we process through the storming of our capital and the white supremacy that underpins it all. One thing we know for sure - our work is more important than ever. While it feels a bit weird to do "business as usual" today, we thought it timely and important to share information about the Global Change Incubator and other key happenings we've got going on. Feel free to reach out with any questions you have.
With lots of love, Anna and Lindsay, Co-Leaders
Reflections on 2020
Reflecting back on 2020 is a daunting task and will be something humans do for many years to come. This year will forever stand alone in our history books.
It seemed to start off like any other year but soon the world as we knew it shut down in ways we never thought possible.
For a few weeks, amidst the confusion of the times, the sky was bluer, the birds sang louder and it felt like we all might re-emerge from the experience of a shutdown with more self reflection about the most important things in life. For many, this time meant survival mode, loss of jobs and most excruciatingly, loss of life.
Insights on Creating Change in our Criminal Justice System
As we observed Human Rights Day yesterday, our hearts were heavy with the news of Brandon Bernard’s execution. Judges and others who were engaged with Brandon’s case all said the same thing - he should not be executed. He had spent the greater part of his time behind bars working to better himself and become a new person. That is, afterall, supposed to be the point of prison, right?
In a system that disproportionately impacts Black and Brown community members, capital punishment cannot be the answer. We must do better as a country. And, to find ways of addressing the systemic racism and punitive thinking that has undergirded our system. What we’ve got going on right now has not led to better outcomes for our communities.
*Photo from The Guardian
Insights from Outside Prison: M.C. & J.R-H.
In our very first group at CCCF, one of our women (M.C.) knew she was leaving CCCF to finish up federal time somewhere in the US. She had no idea where she was being sent and she was sad, scared and I thought distracted during our group. On about week 8 of our program, she left, and we didn’t see her again. We didn’t know where she’d gone. I asked my supervisor where she was so I could send our newsletters, but they all came back.
The Impact of Covid 19 on those Experiencing Incarceration
Our work supporting people in prison is more important than ever as people sit in cells without their education programs, without their religious or spiritual groups, without support groups and without visits from their friends and family. Many have lost their jobs in prison due to the inability to socially distance and, therefore, lost the ability to make money. And people rely on the commissary for all their basic needs. Not to mention, this has been going on since mid-March. Quarantining and lockdown are a regular occurrence. I can't imagine spending 22 hours a day in a room no bigger than my bathroom for months on end, can you?
Being the Change We Want to See
I can’t believe we’re post Labor Day and heading out of summer and into fall. I hope you all are safe and out of danger from the recent fires. I don’t think I’m alone in saying this year has been surreal, unsettling, and maddening at times seeing humanity at its worst but also at its best. We have seen tremendous acts of kindness and people rising to the occasion of navigating all that's been thrown at them.
Here at the Insight Alliance we are feeling hopeful for REAL change. We are also working hard to contribute to that change through our work and advocacy efforts.
Supporter Spotlight: Rita Shuford
Each month, we are working to spotlight an Insight Alliance donor or supporter. We had the pleasure of connecting with our long-time supporter, Rita Shuford, this month. Rita is one of our first donors and monthly givers. We are so grateful for Rita’s ongoing support and encouraging words. Learn more about why she started giving to The Insight Alliance
Resilience and Well-being in Prison
Life still continues to be up-and-down with COVID-19 restrictions, but we’re doing our best to stay connected with folx in prison and supporting them as they re-enter the community. I’ve loved creating our interactive newsletter - Moments of Insight - every couple of weeks. Beforehand, I couldn’t tell you the last time I received a hand written letter from anyone I knew. Now, with visitation restrictions still in place, we get sprinkled with them each week. People are sharing their art, their musings, poetry and also letting us know how they are doing amidst the actual lockdown.
I wanted to share some of the updates we have received from our community of participants in state and federal prisons and jail. The tenacity and resilience of the human spirit never ceases to amaze and inspire.
Two Insights that Relate to Racial Justice
I am a philosophy professor and I have spent over 20 years studying the history of thought. It is rather humorous that the insights that I have gained through the “Insight to Wellbeing” course that I help to facilitate with Anna at Columbia River Correctional Institute, frequently amount to the advice to not overthink things.
Care Not Confinement: Insights from Prison
Some months ago now, we were in one of our groups at Columbia River Correctional Facility and a participant (CR) had an insight which, to me, highlights the need for redirecting funds from policing to mental health services.
Supporter Spotlight: Ron McVety
One of The Insight Alliance’s biggest champions is Ron McVety, owner of FACTS Engineering in Florida. I had the opportunity to chat with Ron a few weeks ago. During our call we talked about an array of topics including his life story and why he supports the work we are doing.
Standing in Solidarity with Calls for Racial Justice
I hope this newsletter finds you safe and healthy. We wanted to take some time to acknowledge all that’s been unfolding in our country over the last few weeks. I’d be lying if I said I’m finding it easy to come up with something meaningful or helpful to say. I’ve spent the morning waiting for something to come…..It’s been a struggle. What’s happening – the killing of innocent black people at the hands of those sworn to serve and protect - is unjust, fucked up and clearly showcases the overt racism black people and communities of color have experienced for decades.
Art by @shirien.creates