VFI/Out readings change attitudes

Voices from Inside regularly performs at colleges, churches and other organizations. This public group is called VFI/Out and is composed of previously incarcerated women who enjoy reading their work in public and having discussions with the audience about writing, jail, and their own path. Many of these women are in our writing group at AISS (AFter Incarceration Support Services).

At a recent college reading in Springfield, we used "audience survey" cards to get feedback from the audience about the impact of the performance on them. Here's what we learned: 
90% of students said that VFI/Out's presentation "changed my perceptions and beliefs about incarcerated women." 

All students said that the VFI/Out performance "changed my thinking about whether incarcerated women can play positive roles in society." 

More than half the audience said they were "significantly motivated to learn more about who we incarcerate and why." 


One student wrote, "Thank you for coming to share with us today. I have always had strong opinions about people who are incarcerated and you helped change my mind by showing me a different perspective. I wish you all the best of luck! :)"