Thank you for all of your support!
Posted May 22, 2020
I want to thank everyone who very kindly and generously donated to our #WeAreALifeline fundraiser. I also want to thank those of you who simply opened a post or newsletter and engaged, and read about the transformative work we are doing in Oregon's prisons and felt moved or felt hopeful.
Seeing people in prison wake up to their own true nature brings so much hope. It's inspiring seeing people who never thought they'd amount to anything start to live positive lives, get good jobs, reunite with their families, get custody of their kids back or free themselves from addiction.
I was teaching a class via Zoom today with the youth at MacLaren. Rudy, one of the Latinx youth who has many years left in prison, said "The biggest thing I've got from this group is realizing that freedom is a state of mind. And knowing that has changed my life." What a profound insight that is.
Eddie, another youth joined our Insight to Wellbeing group because of the changes he'd seen in Rudy. They've been friends since they were 13 and Eddy said it's actually quite unnerving how much Rudy's changed. He said, "I hardly recognize him. But I figured that if he can change, then I can change. That's why I'm here". If everyone realized that freedom is a state of mind, can you imagine how different the world would be?
We see this everyday in our groups. And we're being recognized by the councilors and the staff at the facilities we work in. I love this quote from our supervisor at Coffee Creek Women's prison:
"Insight to Wellbeing allows the women in custody to regain self awareness by understanding how their own thoughts impact their view and experience of life...... They have reported having an awakening of the person they want to be, a transformation. Without Insight to Wellbeing, the unique characteristics of this class do not exist.” Elizabeth LaCarney - (Correctional Rehabilitation Manager at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility)
I'm so proud of everyone who works with us. Thank you so much for supporting us in our mission of transforming the lives of adults and youth in prison and on parole by pointing them to their innate resilience and well-being. The below video is a testament to what we believe. I'll let it speak for itself.
With love and appreciation,
Anna Debenham
Founder & Director
