(BOP) - Inmates at the Federal Prison Camp, Yankton, SD are coming to terms with the decisions that landed them in prison and are growing as individuals thanks to a unique writing program.
Dr. James Reese, Associate Professor of English at Mount Marty College in Yankton, and Kyle Roberson, Supervisor of Education have been collaborating on the program for the past nine years. "Writing transforms lives," says Dr. Reese. Inmate Marquise Bowie says that "this program has helped in [my] healing process," and he is thankful for the "opportunity to share part of [my] personal story in hopes that others can learn from [my] mistakes."
The Writer-In-Residence program, that lasts for 9-months and currently has 16 inmates participating, teaches inmates to communicate through writing, using the theory of "transformative justice." The program culminates in the annual publication of 4 P.M. Count, a showcase for the men's talents. The 2015 edition features 240 pages of creative work.
Writer-in-Residence is part of the Artist-in-Residence (AIR) program that provides inmates with exposure to professional artists. AIR is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, and is currently running at six BOP institutions.