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
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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. |
In this video "You will be hearing the writing of some of the women VFI serves, women who are either currently or formerly incarcerated in Hampden County correctional facilities. These writing are read by community leaders who generously offered to be a part of this event, and to give voice to the VFI writers who are unable to be here with us today. you will also hear directly from the women of VFI/Out, the performance group of VFI." - VFI
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Program Leadership
Gretchen Krull, Voices Carry Program Director & Volunteer Coordinator
Karen Buchinsky, Workshop Facilitator Trainer, AWA Method
Karen Buchinsky, Workshop Facilitator Trainer, AWA Method
Board of Directors
an all-volunteer working committee that supports the work of Voices from Inside
JENNIFER ABELES - VFI Board Secretary
SONIA MENDEZ - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
LANI MORTON - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
MOANA RAWLINS - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
DONNA ROWE - VFI Board President
CHRISTINA RUEST -VFI Board Treasurer
LAURA STONE - VFI Board Member
JENNIFER ABELES - VFI Board Secretary
SONIA MENDEZ - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
LANI MORTON - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
MOANA RAWLINS - VFI Board member & VFI facilitator
DONNA ROWE - VFI Board President
CHRISTINA RUEST -VFI Board Treasurer
LAURA STONE - VFI Board Member
