What?
What is the commons all about?
the commons program is a storytelling program created for incarcerated youth. One of the most unique features of the program, however, is the use of digital stories as a means of expression for inmates. the commons will allow inmates the opportunity to learn new skills by creating their own digital stories. These skills will include both literacy skills (print and media literacy), as well as skills that are valuable in gaining employment in modern society, since lack of employment is often cited as a reason for failure to re-integrate into society properly (English and Mande, 11). In addition, there are emotional and social benefits of the commons as well.
Through the use of a mobile media center (a laptop computer with a microphone, internet access, and open-source recording software), participants in the program will be able to create their own unique digital stories by creating podcasts. The sense of empowerment, increases in self-esteem, and the skills that inmates will learn by creating their own digital stories have endless impacts on their lives, both while incarcerated and upon release.
Content of the stories will be left up to participants, but guidance is given to ensure the success of the user. One-on-one tutoring will be available to inmates, as well as free web materials on how to create podcasts to help users familiarize themselves with the process. Currently, free web-hosting of the podcasts will be used, but if demand proves great, a subscription hosting service may be considered. The equipment will be made available for several hours each day. A simple registration system will be in place to ensure equal access for all, but there will be no mandatory requirements for creating a digital story. A small room has been secured in the detention center library to ensure privacy while recording. To see samples of what similar projects look like, click on the Videos link above.
As a result of this method of creating and sharing content, inmates should begin to show an increase in self-esteem and self-awareness. In addition, the total ownership of content will help inmates regain a sense of control, and create a sense of purpose in their lives. We will encourage them to share their stories both within the detention center and with outside groups (ie., local schools). This will allow inmates to take on a teaching role, and make them feel re-connected to the community at large. It will also encourage citizenship in inmates.
In addition to digital stories, we would like to offer several storytelling workshops each year for the inmates, done by outside professional storytellers. Most of the topics/themes of these workshops will focus on healthy behaviors, attitudes, and positive outlooks. Also, due to the diverse nature of the youth, multi-cultural stories will be included in the workshops. These workshops will be mostly instructional in nature, and will teach students how to use story as a means of expressing feelings in a healthy and positive manner. There will also be some content about performance in the workshops. The purpose of the workshops is to increase the positive interactions that inmates have with others. In addition, they should provide inmates with an arsenal of positive, healthy coping mechanisms.
The workshop program will also be supplemented with a group story-time therapy session for an hour each week, in addition to the regular therapy sessions provided by the juvenile detention center. These story-times will be utilized as an additional form of group therapy, with both an-house storytelling ‘leader’ and a psychologist on hand. The leader will be selected from the pool of volunteer storytellers who have agreed to head up these sessions for an hour each week on a rotating basis. Participation in these sessions will also be optional, and if turn-out is lower than we hope, we will reduce the frequency of the sessions. It is our belief, however, that as the inmates experiment with story as a means of expression, group sessions will become more productive.
Finally, once per year and as the budget permits, we would like to offer a free Storytelling Festival that is open to the public. Community organizations have agreed to provide prizes for games and a raffle. Many local businesses have also agreed to donate materials for a gift-basket auction. We would like this event to serve as a chance for families of victims and incarcerated individuals to gather in a safe environment. In addition, it will showcase our program and gives the public a chance to see our success in helping these youth. For more information about this year’s activities, check out the commons events calendar to the right. Click on each event to get more information.