 |
| Artwork by Karen, Truth Be Told graduate |
Where do I find inspiration to create, to look past my fears and
make things happen? The quick and simple answer: In prison.
This past Thursday, I emceed the fall orientation for Truth Be
Told's Talk to Me Series at a women’s prison in Lockhart, Texas. As usual, the
women who walked into the slightly-less-than-sweltering gymnasium to hear about
our programs represented all ages, all races. Some seemed introverted; others
extroverted. But all the women made it clear by their presence that they were
curious about what we had to offer.
Moments that replay in my mind as I think upon the afternoon:
·
En route to the gym, I run into a student from last semester. Soft
brown eyes. Easy smile. High five. Not enough time to connect. Small talk. Much
left unsaid.
·
One of our volunteer facilitators follows her impulse to pass out
notebook paper to all the women in the gym so they can fan themselves.
·
The sea of faces looking back at me as I speak of our organization
and the classes we offer. I see nods of encouragement. Eagerness. Furrowed
brows. Pleasant smiles. There’s a very young woman who cannot keep her eyes
open. She is struggling to focus and losing the battle. I want to know the rest
of her story, but I have a program to lead.
What really makes an impression on me, however, are the three women
from last semester who show up to retake one of our classes. They each share
their reasons for repeating, but the common denominator is their determination
to befriend fears and doubts, believe in their self-worth and honor their full
potential as human beings.
As I sit with these women, I recall their stories. Two of them have
lived experiences that would threaten my sanity. But here they are, sitting in
plastic chairs in a gymnasium with no A/C, their bodies leaning into the
conversation, their eyes wide open, their voices humble and earnest. They are ready
to dive deeper. To explore. To face it all.
To make it happen.
Thanks for writing this Katie. As hot and loud and unpleasant as the gym was- the awareness that I am rarely ever exposed to what these women live with on an hourly, daily, weekly experience humbles me. Makes me as uncomfortable internally as I am externally... And aware that my curiosity and enthusiasm is the gift these attentive hopeful women give me each time I show up. They are vividly real. Their intensity is authentic, undiluted by boredom or mockery or casual gossip; they meet us at the level of our own investment of time & effort. Thx for being our Behind Bars coordinator at Lockhart prison. Your steady, reliable and talented leadership provides a stable framework for all of us, and them as well.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Katie. It gives me some insight to my first day. I had 4 repeats and two of them are mentors. They were so EXCITED to be chosen as mentors and so eager to serve, share, and give back, that it made me uncomfortable. I now see another depth of things that happen in prison - with both women being in prison over 14 years each, they want to matter, so giving them the position of Mentor, this helps to feed that need.
ReplyDelete