An Arts Experience for Incarcerated Women

MISSION

Workshops are designed to (a) help participants embrace change in order to shift their personal paradigm; and (b) provide a positive life-affirming environment in which inmates are encouraged to explore options that help to eliminate unhealthy patterns that lead to the revolving door of the penal system. Workshops demonstrate how to stand outside the emotional self, take control of debilitating fears, and discover the positive and productive self.

Goal

The goal of the Journey Home program is to implement sustainable arts programming in correctional institutions in the State of Arizona.

  • Provide an environment for self-expression
  • Build mutual trust by exploring new ways of communicating
  • Provide an opportunity to experience a positive sense of self

 The Program

Journey Home is a six week program during which a series of four hour workshops are presented to incarcerated women by professional artists.  A Mental Health Specialist is available to handle any deep-rooted issues that may arise during the process.The program consists of creative writing, movement, storytelling, and visual arts.  The program culminates with a final performance by the women, inside the correctional facility. JH works with a core group of women, ages 18-50, of all racial, religious and socio-economic backgrounds.

Journey Home is presented in the Maricopa County Estrella Jail facility in Phoenix, Arizona and is partially underwritten by Arizona State University Gammage.

Artists:

Fatimah Halim – Executive Director, Creative Writing, Storytelling

Imani Muhammad – Mental Health Specialist and Visual Arts

Teniqua Broughton – Program Director, Movement and Theater