Prison Stories

Twice a week I meet with twelve women inside the county jail. We sit in a circle and share stories. For four months the class participants read, reflect, write and share what they have written. I develop a script from the written work and shared stories. Then local professional actors stage a performance for staff, family members and all the other women in the facility. It’s an ongoing project I call “Prison Stories.”

The women write stories about being teen mothers, violence in their homes and on the streets, addictions of their own and those of close family members, encounters with police, racism as a steady drumbeat, belonging to one group while, at the same time, being left out of another group. They write and talk about their journeys into criminal charges. They enjoy telling stories about their mothers and favorite foods. We laugh together as class members share stories about learning to drive, first kisses, bosses and crazy things they have done with friends. We cry together as class members tell about the deaths of mothers, sisters, brothers and children. Every person has a story, a sacred story, to share. Each class member learns to improve her listening skills. Empathy is available in abundance as a steady reward for the story sharing process.

It is an ongoing class with ongoing benefits. The women learn to trust that the story circle can and will hold with compassion the truth and power of each story. Each participant begins to realize that she has the capacity to create new things. Each story that is shared contributes to the one final performance and reflects a larger hope that lives in all our hearts. We all hope that we have something significant to say, something of value to contribute to the world around us. Sharing stories in a circle of respect can set us free from the small cage that insists: Nobody cares to hear about you.

All life stories are sacred and circular. We come from The Source and we return to The Source. Between our coming and going we cling to the compassion of our family, neighbors, co-workers and friends. And we receive with respect the stories that are told to us, stories of truth and power. Healthy communities are made of people who long to believe that our stories, even our stories, contribute to the sacredness of all creation. It is through our respectful listening that we provide rest for the soul and hope for those who are weary. We have the power and opportunity to make the world a safer place for all our children and our neighbors' children. We can work together to make our generation a story sharing generation where all people recognize the value of their own story and listen with respect to the stories of others.