Arts Activities Support

47 female inmates attended the course taught by 2 different artists. When reading the post - evaluations by the women participants virtually every one of the 47 women indicated that they would definitely recommend this program to others, this evident through the inmate requests I receive on a daily basis inquiring when the program will be offered again. I believe I did achieve the artistic goals set out in the proposal. Incarcerated women were given the opportunity to express themselves through the narrative process of communication. The participants created poems and other written dialogues that helped that important human need of self-esteem. In addition I saw a bonding of the women participants after the four week program. I witnessed tears of joy and tears of sadness emanating from the women after they had expressed themselves through their works of art. I would like to change where the final reading takes place. Currently it takes place in a gymnasium that is very spacious and the acoustics are poor. In 2017 - 2018 I am going to attempt to hold the final reading in a large programs area, this may be a bit cramp however it would be worth a try. The participants all were hoping to "practice" their poems and writings before the final reading. I feel this is a fair request and I will attempt to incorporate some practice time into the four week program. In my proposal it was hoped to reach out to the other female inmates. I was successful in this endeavor, I provided lemonade and cookies at the conclusion of each public reading. Although this was a carrot for the other female inmates to attend, it was interesting to note the positive interaction and socialization the female inmates had after each one of the three public readings. In addition to the female inmates attending, I had the Sheriff, under Sheriff, Commander, Assistant jail Administrator, program staff, probation officer and we even had a retired Minnesota Supreme Court Justice attend the public readings. I feel it is important for the other division heads of the Sheriff's Office to understand what the jail is attempting to do accomplish, i.e. rehabilitation and Re-Creation.