Hi John,
 
I have already passed along your information regarding the Fortune Society to someone I know who is very interested in reentry programs.  This seems like a great program.  I've started downloading some of the archived issues of The Fortune News, a little weekend reading.
 
Thanks again for sharing.
 
Best,
Dominique
 
 

________________________________

From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov on behalf of John Gordon
Sent: Thu 2/15/2007 11:47 PM
To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 517] Re: Bars, Boundaries,and Barriers Researching Women's Spaces



Hi everyone,

I've been reading these emails all week and have been wanting to reply, but just been too busy with things here to respond earlier. I've been especially moved and inspired by Dominique's stories of her work in prisons.

I work at the Fortune Society in New York City. Fortune provides support and services for people coming home from prison and others involved with the criminal justice system. We also strive to be a voice for change in the criminal justice system. We do, in fact, have a publication, The Fortune News, which is mailed (for free) to prisoners around the country. The Fortune News includes writings by staff here at Fortune as well as articles and letters written by people on the inside. You can request a sample copy (or download PDF files of recent issues) on our website:  www.fortunesociety.org <http://www.fortunesociety.org/> . (Click on the link to Advocacy and Resources).

Fortune runs a wide range of programs for former prisoners, including education, job readiness, drug treatment, transitional housing, and counseling. In addition, we do HIV prevention and offer health and housing services to people who are HIV positive. We also run a number of Alternative to Incarceration programs. Most of our program staff and a good chunk of our senior leadership were formerly incarcerated.

The education program, where I work, offers reading, writing, and math from basic literacy up through GED and ESOL. We also have a pretty large computer lab, where a lot of interesting stuff goes on. We serve about 300 students per year. The student body is 85% male, 15% female. 

I've been at Fortune for about six years. Before coming here, I worked for 16 years at a community based adult literacy program in Brooklyn, The Open Book. While the student body here is somewhat different - younger, more male, perhaps a little more angry, more likely to be homeless or teetering on the edge of homelessness - they really bring the same breadth of spirit, courage, and complexity that you'll find at any adult education program. While working here can be stressful; this is a place where many, many people are in struggling to make profound changes in their lives. Not all of them succeed, but for me it's a privilege to be able to play a small part in that process. 

Thanks to all who have participated in this discussion. It's been great.

john Gordon

 

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:povertyracewomen-bounces at nifl.gov] On Behalf Of Chlup, Dominique
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 5:35 PM
To: The Poverty, Race,Women and Literacy Discussion List
Subject: [PovertyRaceWomen 508] Re: Bars, Boundaries,and Barriers Researching Women's Spaces

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----

Hi everyone,

 

Someone from the group sent me an e-mail offline letting me know about

The Sun Magazine, which often features prisoners' writings.

 

Do others out there know of periodical resources devoted to the work of

prisoners or prison and prisoner issues?  I'd be particularly interested

in learning more about any magazines, newsletters, journals, etc. that

feature prisoners' artwork, creative writing, essays.

 

A few that come to my mind quickly are:

 

1) Feminist Studies, Summer 2004 (Volume 30, Number 2), The Prison Issue

(contains prisoner's writings)

2) Focus on Basics, August 2005 (Volume 7, Issue D), Corrections

Education Issue

3)  The Journal of Correctional Education (It is aimed more at research,

though, so it doesn't focus specifically on prisoner writings). 

 

Any others folks know about?

 

Best,

Dominique

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