We Are Human

“Creating, connecting and sharing our stories through PYS platform has allowed us to feel heard, to remember we have a voice, to understand our worth and to know we are not alone.” -unknown/female incarcerated.

PYS has had the honor to create and connect with the incarcerated population for the past three years. Through this time together we have created, explored, inspired, cried, laughed, built connections as we unearthed our unique selves.

Objective:  To bridge perspectives through art and personal stories in hopes incarcerated individuals are percieved as a human rather than their crime.

Compare and Contrast

Many of us working with this population come with our own set of beliefs, assumptions and perspectives.  Yet, we have little idea if what we believe is what if the experience.  The only way to begin to explore this is to ask the question(s).

I’d like to gain authentic community perspective on some of the same things I hear from the correction participants, to compare and contrast.   I see this happening through multiple sources, including social media, anonymous written surveys, individual interviews of general public, as well as corrections professionals.    This can then be compared and contrasted with what the participants think of themselves and their perspective of how the community thinks of them.

This shared information can then be presented to each of the communities involved through art and story.  This will have the additional benefit of beginning to build these bridges, through these conversations and expressions.  We cannot do this alone.  No one community, professional position or organization can to assist without this understanding.  AND, keeping in mind, “Anything without us is not for us.”  We need to hear and consider not only their voices, but their experiences.  We need each other to bring forth change, encouragement and to support others in the process.

The thought behind this: What can we do as a society that supports the men and women to thrive in life rather than survive? This image will be an outline of their hand and inside it will state: their experience and/or what they can do to bring encouragement/understanding to the men and women and/or what resources are available to encourage growth.