About Voices from inside
Since 1999, Voices from Inside (VFI) has been helping women who are currently or formerly incarcerated find their voices, return to their communities with success, and become leaders in their communities. In the past sixteen years, VFI has reached over 1600 women in Western Massachusetts. Voices from Inside makes a difference in the lives of incarcerated women by giving them the opportunity to find their voices and the power to change their lives through creative writing workshops. Voices from Inside offers writing workshops for women who are or have been incarcerated, and also for girls and women who are at risk for incarceration. In addition, we bring the women we work with into the community for conversations, presentations and performances so that they can share their writing and interact with the community.
VFI offers ongoing writing workshops using the Amherst Writers and Artists method developed by Pat Schneider and described in her book, Writing Alone and with Others. In VFI writing workshops, participants receive encouragement and support for their writing, gain self-confidence as they strengthen their literacy and communication skills, and begin to imagine new possibilities for themselves. VFI also trains previously incarcerated women to become writing group leaders themselves. Many of them have led writing groups in correctional institutions or in community programs for women at risk of incarceration or re-incarceration, providing them with valuable leadership experience and skills.
Voices Carry brings the work of VFI writers to the public through presentations at schools, colleges, houses of worship, and community groups. At Voices Carry events, women read and perform their writing individually and as an ensemble. They have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of people from the community. At the same time, community members gain an understanding of the challenges facing women who have been incarcerated as they work to rebuild their lives.
VFI offers ongoing writing workshops using the Amherst Writers and Artists method developed by Pat Schneider and described in her book, Writing Alone and with Others. In VFI writing workshops, participants receive encouragement and support for their writing, gain self-confidence as they strengthen their literacy and communication skills, and begin to imagine new possibilities for themselves. VFI also trains previously incarcerated women to become writing group leaders themselves. Many of them have led writing groups in correctional institutions or in community programs for women at risk of incarceration or re-incarceration, providing them with valuable leadership experience and skills.
Voices Carry brings the work of VFI writers to the public through presentations at schools, colleges, houses of worship, and community groups. At Voices Carry events, women read and perform their writing individually and as an ensemble. They have the opportunity to interact with a wide range of people from the community. At the same time, community members gain an understanding of the challenges facing women who have been incarcerated as they work to rebuild their lives.
videos about vfi programs and events
About Voices from Inside from Vimeo.
This wonderful 4.5 minute video was produced courtesy of The Institute for Media and Non-Profit Communication at Western New England University, led by Prof. Brenda Garton-Sjoberg. The video was directed, shot and produced by Mia Major, WNEU, 2013.
This wonderful 4.5 minute video was produced courtesy of The Institute for Media and Non-Profit Communication at Western New England University, led by Prof. Brenda Garton-Sjoberg. The video was directed, shot and produced by Mia Major, WNEU, 2013.
Program Leadership
Gretchen Krull, Voices Carry Program Coordinator
Sarah McAlpine, Volunteer Coordinator and Workshop Director
Karen Buchinsky, Workshop Facilitator Trainer, AWA Method
Sarah McAlpine, Volunteer Coordinator and Workshop Director
Karen Buchinsky, Workshop Facilitator Trainer, AWA Method
Board of Directors
an all-volunteer working committee that supports the work of Voices from Inside
LANI MORTON, President - Addictions counselor, VFI facilitator, artist and writer with 20+ years of management experience.
SONIA MENDEZ - VFI facilitator, public speaker, mentor, poet, mother
MOANA RAWLINS - Program Director, Gandara Residential Services for Women.
CHRISTINA RUEST - Data and Program Coordinator, Friends of the Homeless, Springfield, MA. VFI Treasurer
LAURA STONE - Administrative Director of Straw Dog Writers Guild, Northampton, MA. VFI Website & Promotions Director
LANI MORTON, President - Addictions counselor, VFI facilitator, artist and writer with 20+ years of management experience.
SONIA MENDEZ - VFI facilitator, public speaker, mentor, poet, mother
MOANA RAWLINS - Program Director, Gandara Residential Services for Women.
CHRISTINA RUEST - Data and Program Coordinator, Friends of the Homeless, Springfield, MA. VFI Treasurer
LAURA STONE - Administrative Director of Straw Dog Writers Guild, Northampton, MA. VFI Website & Promotions Director
contact us
Email info@voicesfrominside.org to get in touch with us.
