Current Projects:
- Films and Discussions
- Garden at CIW
- Camp for Moms and Children
- The Awning
- Golden Girls Monthly Meetings- The 4th Monday of every month at 6-8pm
W+CJ has sponsored several “inside” projects designed to carry the gender-responsive agenda to the public through media coverage of the events. We were extremely fortunate to attract truly talented and in-demand speakers, performers and artists to participate in these cross-over experiences that were covered by local and national print and broadcast media.
- Wisdom Without Walls 10/2/07
- Golden Girls and Reentry 1/31/08
- Mothers in Prison Children in Crisis 3/13/08—Members of Women's Foundation of San Francisco and the Get on the Bus Leadership came to CIW on March 13th, 2008 to meet with women "inside" CIW who have signed up their children for the May, 9th 2008 Mother's Day Get on the Bus visit. At the beginning of the Crossover women from "outside" explained why they had come to the prison. They stressed that their common experiences as women and as mothers connected them to the women at CIW and led them to have mutual concerns about children. The "outside" women also expressed their interest in the problems that "inside" women face including: separation from their families and recidivism. The "outsiders" offered to be a voice and advocate for the "insiders."
After the "outsiders" finished, the "insiders" spoke about what it is like to be a mother in prison. They discussed the difficulties they have keeping in touch with their families and children and their fears about release and reunification with their families. Some women expressed fear and guilt about the negative effects of their incarceration on their children. The children often end up in foster care and are at risk of becoming part of a cycle of incarceration. The women stressed their appreciation for programs like Get on the Bus and their need for more programs that allow them to see their children. They also brought up the need for legislative change and access to legal services. - A “book club” reading presented by award-winning Latina novelist Maria Amparo Escandon. She read from her currently released book Gonzalez & Daughter Trucking. Women participating in the book club each received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher. This event received national media coverage on National Public Radio and in Publishers Weekly. Maria returned for a second reading with her award winning book A Box of Saints. The book club has continued and the participants selected the name “Wings of the Soul” for their group. Ms. Escandon enjoyed her experience so much, that when on her book tour in Spain she again went into a women’s prison with free books and gave a reading.
- The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women—a one act play written and performed by Rhodessa Jones was presented in October, 2005. This was an extremely moving and passionate performance that touched participants deeply.
- An Interrupted Life—an art exhibit portraying women’s prison experiences opened AT CIW—the first time in history that anything remotely close to that had ever happened. This presented an enormous collaboration with the prison in that they had to bend many rules to allow the pieces to be hung and the installations to be displayed, as well as to grant visitor’s passes to dozens of people and members of the press who attended the opening night exhibit. Following a two-week exhibition at CIW, the exhibit embarked upon a year long tour to college campuses around the country.
- Edwina Gately—internationally known poet, founder of the Volunteer Missionary Movement and Genesis House and social justice activist, Ms. Gately spoke at CIW to a group of women from the inside and outside in March. Women reported that they felt intensely listened to and that she exquisitely gave voice to their experience in a beautiful, affirming and feminine way. Many prisoners indicated that this was their favorite event of the year.
