March 2021 Newsletter: Realness Project Springing Forward!
So much has been moving and shaking at Realness Project since 2021 began that it’s hard to believe we’re only in the middle of March!
With prisons closed to in-person programming and visitation for a whole year now, the RP team has utilized this precious time to generate a more robust prison offering, so we're prepared to serve as things open up. Building on our flagship two-day intensive workshop, we have designed a five-month RP Relational Communication & Leadership program for people serving time.
Additionally, we have been rebranding, refining our vision, distributing workbooks, forming new partnerships/programs and expanding our curriculum.
One thing that has become evident is our commitment and ability to serve the justice-involved from end to end.
This means bringing our program to juveniles who’ve caused harm - helping youth to find meaningful human connection and develop critical relational skills that can prevent them from going in and out of the revolving door of the criminal justice system. So many times graduates of our program have told us: “If only I’d had these skills when I was in juvie, I don’t think I’d be in prison!”
It also means doing what we can to transform the culture of “us” versus “them” within the correctional system by training all levels of prison staff, in addition to inmates, and cultivating a dynamic environment in which security is balanced with more connection. To that end, we are currently in conversations to train 300+ staff members at one of the largest state prisons in Colorado.
And it also means helping individuals have the best probability of success on the other side of incarceration as possible. We are rolling out our new RP Graduate Program, offering consistent channels of relational support to formerly incarcerated people, as well as partnerships with re-entry, connection-based addiction recovery programs and companies that hire those with criminal histories.
One of the channels we’re launching as a means of such ongoing support is a new RP Connection Lab one Saturday each month! Beginning on Saturday, April 24th, from 3-5 MDT, the Lab will provide an opportunity for everyone in the community - including returning citizens and their families - to experiment with connection. These labs are donation based to help support the organization. Keep an eye out for an email with registration information.
To continue our work, we need your support! Please consider making a small monthly donation help to sustain the organization., enabling us to bring communication, relationship and anger and conflict management skills to those serving time. Thank you for your continued support.
In Other News
A Grueling Year in Prison
Even though out here we seem to be turning the corner with Covid-19, people living behind bars have now endured an entire year of no visitation and even more insolation than what’s normal in prison. Some prisons are starting to lift some restrictions, but it will likely be a bumpy ride inside for some time to come.
Because of generous donors like you, over 1,000 inmates have engaged in the Finding Ease In Isolation workbook created especially for people in prison during the pandemic. We’ve received a lot of heartfelt feedback about their experience during the 14 day process.
The following testimonial is from George, an inmate at Salinas Valley State Prison in California, whose words give clear evidence that even this short workbook can make a big difference to someone’s life:
“...Personally, I related to everything as well, but really got intrigued on page 19 when explaining one of Jay Z‘s songs: “You can’t heal what you never reveal.” Wow for all these years I just pushed everything, every emotion deep down inside of me because I always thought it was weak for a man to express the pains in my life. Being from a Prison Gang you could not speak on anything that related to emotions. No —that shit would get you killed. Reading and relating to this workbook of yours has given me a new outlook on myself, knowing now that I’m not alone, and that Change Can happen with positive Connections with Humans. I lived like an animal for too long and those years were lonely, painful, and downright evil. I do appreciate your workbook.” ~ excerpt from George’s full letter.
We are halfway to our $25,000 goal for distributing these workbooks. Help us get more hope, inspiration and skills into the hands of those who are struggling so deeply at this time.
If you have already given, “Thank you so much for making this possible!”
While we can't treat the virus,we can treat the loneliness, frustration, and the feeling that no one cares!
Donate to Finding Ease In Isolation Workbooks
RP Community Connection Call (RPCC Call)
Join the Realness Project Community Connection Call on Wednesday, March 17 from 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM MST. Come be inspired by the story of one of our graduates and also have the opportunity to engage in some simple connection practices.
JoyBelle Phelan, who will be featured in our upcoming call, took the Art of Being Human in July 2019 while incarcerated at La Vista Correctional Facility. All of her life she struggled with feeling accepted, self-worth issues and the choices she made because of them, which eventually landed her in prison.
JoyBelle credits her involvement with AR (Authentic Relating) as one of the core programs that allowed her to become the best version of herself. Since her release from prison before Christmas, JoyBelle has continued to pursue success for herself and others. Please join us to hear how she utilized the tools and skills of AR both inside prison and since her return to the world. Stay to engage with us in an optional connection activity at the end of the call if you feel inspired!
Defy Video Series
Defy Colorado is an esteemed nonprofit that collaborates with incarcerated people along their entrepreneurial and employment journey. Like RP, most of Defy’s programs are in person at prisons and when Covid hit, they pivoted by producing a series of entrepreneurial training videos that are currently broadcast to inmates throughout the DOC’s educational channel.
Through a new partnership, RP will create a series of relational skills training videos for inmates to supplement Defy’s program, based on our ART of Being Human curriculum and the 14 Day Finding Ease in Isolation (hyperlink) workbook. This will enable RP to gain greater exposure within the Colorado correctional system, introduce hundreds, if not thousands, of new inmates to our work, and have a more interactive way of positively engaging them in their cells during this ongoing challenging time.
An effortless way to support the Realness Project:
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