Homecoming - Community Justice
Imagine a former gang member providing security to a local
neighborhood center or a high school and earning TimeBank Hours, (one
TimeBank Hour for one hour). TimeBank Hours can be traded for food, tutoring, utilities,
transportation and many other services. Or, imagine someone who gets her entire
office organized because she earned a couple TimeBank Hours driving
someone to a doctor's office. More important, imagine the neighborhood
contacts, trust, sense of community and public safety nets being
built around people. It's happening now throughout Dane County!
The TimeBank has begun to offer prisoners the chance to earn TimeBank Hours even while they're in prison.The goal is to create a safety net with TimeBank Hours before they are released. That way, they can build positive community connections and resources to draw on once they get out. Selected inmates nearing release have earned TimeBank Hours working with non-profit agencies and neighborhood groups. They have done landscape work and helped fix up an old office. TheTimeBank Hours they earned can then be spent t on peer counseling, help with job-hunting and housing, interview skills and rides to appointments. Some prisoners get help with English as a second language (ESL). Others can arrange for child care or social support.
We can also offer TimeBank Hours to former inmates to help them manage their new life in the community. In fact, TimeBank members of all kinds help each other through times of transition ranging from a loss of home, job, or family member. In addition to providing immediate benefits, TimeBanking helps overcome fear, lack of confidence and lack of proven skills. It can help identify assets and motivate us to try new things. Equally important, those who are in jail or recently released can educate our community about returnees' needs and contributions to the community.
Screening Guidelines
Screening and levels of participation
Criminal Charges to be considered
The TimeBank has begun to offer prisoners the chance to earn TimeBank Hours even while they're in prison.The goal is to create a safety net with TimeBank Hours before they are released. That way, they can build positive community connections and resources to draw on once they get out. Selected inmates nearing release have earned TimeBank Hours working with non-profit agencies and neighborhood groups. They have done landscape work and helped fix up an old office. TheTimeBank Hours they earned can then be spent t on peer counseling, help with job-hunting and housing, interview skills and rides to appointments. Some prisoners get help with English as a second language (ESL). Others can arrange for child care or social support.
We can also offer TimeBank Hours to former inmates to help them manage their new life in the community. In fact, TimeBank members of all kinds help each other through times of transition ranging from a loss of home, job, or family member. In addition to providing immediate benefits, TimeBanking helps overcome fear, lack of confidence and lack of proven skills. It can help identify assets and motivate us to try new things. Equally important, those who are in jail or recently released can educate our community about returnees' needs and contributions to the community.
Screening Guidelines
Screening and levels of participation
Criminal Charges to be considered
Teaching Mindfulness and Non-Violent Communication in Prison
The Snowflower Sangha and DCTB Founding Board member Cheri Maples spearheaded a project where TimeBank members teach mindfulness and non-violent communication in a local women's prison. Here's what people had to say about it:
From the warden:
"Cheri (and other volunteers):
The work you've done with [THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY] women is amazing and I want you to know that I'm singing your praise to many people who work with inmates. Thanks again for everything. Are you interested in beginning another group here?"
Here are 2 letters from one participant:
"Dear Cheri & All My Sisters:
There was a little girl who suffered a grave injustice and so was damaged. The little girl told of her dishonor to her best friend but her friend laughed and threatened to tell everyone. This was a humiliation and betrayal that the little girl could not suffer. It was too much for her fragile mind to acknowledge, so the little girl jumped into the darkest place she could find and there she stayed, until a woman offered her hand and showed her the way to walk in truth and forgiveness and embrace a peace so wonderful that it touched every wound she had. She embraced the love that others had to give and she could give back through just being who she is.
How do I begin to thank you for bringing me a way to live, a truth to live by and a method to quiet my mind and know that I am connected to all that is around me. That every breath I take in is a breath out and a continuum of the next 40 to come. That all of life depends upon this act - the in and out of the force that brings us back again and again. How can I deny the power in that beautiful plan that all life is balanced and sustained through. WOW! Is what I'm inclined to say! : ) I thank you by honoring who I am today, this moment, this breath.
Our last day together was one I will look back on often. You and all my sisters were part of my testimony to my daughter NAME REMOVED. NAME REMOVED and I struggle with each other, so this was a changing moment for us as mother and daughter. She heard what I was saying to her and she heard me say "I love you, please let me show you who I am." This day was ours and I also thank you for offering it to us.
All of you will live every day with me in my heart that is now open and there is no more empty hole. Today I know I am loved and today I love in return. You are all part of my breath and I am part of yours. We will see each other again, of that I am certain. I'll keep you posted on my journey. I have my sisters here and we are still pushing for a space of our own.
The little girl lives within me today and she laughs more than she cries now. I love her and can't imagine life without her. Thank you and please share this with all our sisters and may all be safe and protected.
Peace,
Dear [facility name removed] Babes:
I hope this finds you all well! Cheri received an incredibly lovely note from NAME REMOVED, written a couple days before she was released from Burke. She asked that we share it with you - following are most pertinent parts:
"Hard to admit a almost a year has past since we were all last together. A year of many challenges for me, but ALL have helped me grow and learn that life is always worth living and loving.
I'll be paroled on DATE and am excited and somewhat anxious but never fearful. Those fear filled days are part of my past and not who I am today. My daughter NAME REMOVED will pick me up and I will stay with my daughter NAME REMOVED (the one who attended our ceremony) while finding an apartment. I have enough money saved to get on my feet and that's what is important. I know my limits today and I need my own space. I may not be able to fill it with material things at first but I'll fill it with love, compassion, honesty, trust and a coffee pot, and the rest will come.
My life and who I am in it is always a wonder to me and I think of you and the rest of my sister volunteers with humble gratitude. You opened a door for me and provided the safety for me to walk through it. I am able to fill my hole and when something falls out is is "I" who fills it again. And my little girl always claps with delight or allows tears to fall...whatever the moment calls for.
So as I get ready to leave this place I go with an open heart. I will be in touch, Cheri, and please share this with all our sisters.
With a deep bow of gratitude,
NAME REMOVED"
From the warden:
"Cheri (and other volunteers):
The work you've done with [THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY] women is amazing and I want you to know that I'm singing your praise to many people who work with inmates. Thanks again for everything. Are you interested in beginning another group here?"
Here are 2 letters from one participant:
"Dear Cheri & All My Sisters:
There was a little girl who suffered a grave injustice and so was damaged. The little girl told of her dishonor to her best friend but her friend laughed and threatened to tell everyone. This was a humiliation and betrayal that the little girl could not suffer. It was too much for her fragile mind to acknowledge, so the little girl jumped into the darkest place she could find and there she stayed, until a woman offered her hand and showed her the way to walk in truth and forgiveness and embrace a peace so wonderful that it touched every wound she had. She embraced the love that others had to give and she could give back through just being who she is.
How do I begin to thank you for bringing me a way to live, a truth to live by and a method to quiet my mind and know that I am connected to all that is around me. That every breath I take in is a breath out and a continuum of the next 40 to come. That all of life depends upon this act - the in and out of the force that brings us back again and again. How can I deny the power in that beautiful plan that all life is balanced and sustained through. WOW! Is what I'm inclined to say! : ) I thank you by honoring who I am today, this moment, this breath.
Our last day together was one I will look back on often. You and all my sisters were part of my testimony to my daughter NAME REMOVED. NAME REMOVED and I struggle with each other, so this was a changing moment for us as mother and daughter. She heard what I was saying to her and she heard me say "I love you, please let me show you who I am." This day was ours and I also thank you for offering it to us.
All of you will live every day with me in my heart that is now open and there is no more empty hole. Today I know I am loved and today I love in return. You are all part of my breath and I am part of yours. We will see each other again, of that I am certain. I'll keep you posted on my journey. I have my sisters here and we are still pushing for a space of our own.
The little girl lives within me today and she laughs more than she cries now. I love her and can't imagine life without her. Thank you and please share this with all our sisters and may all be safe and protected.
Peace,
Dear [facility name removed] Babes:
I hope this finds you all well! Cheri received an incredibly lovely note from NAME REMOVED, written a couple days before she was released from Burke. She asked that we share it with you - following are most pertinent parts:
"Hard to admit a almost a year has past since we were all last together. A year of many challenges for me, but ALL have helped me grow and learn that life is always worth living and loving.
I'll be paroled on DATE and am excited and somewhat anxious but never fearful. Those fear filled days are part of my past and not who I am today. My daughter NAME REMOVED will pick me up and I will stay with my daughter NAME REMOVED (the one who attended our ceremony) while finding an apartment. I have enough money saved to get on my feet and that's what is important. I know my limits today and I need my own space. I may not be able to fill it with material things at first but I'll fill it with love, compassion, honesty, trust and a coffee pot, and the rest will come.
My life and who I am in it is always a wonder to me and I think of you and the rest of my sister volunteers with humble gratitude. You opened a door for me and provided the safety for me to walk through it. I am able to fill my hole and when something falls out is is "I" who fills it again. And my little girl always claps with delight or allows tears to fall...whatever the moment calls for.
So as I get ready to leave this place I go with an open heart. I will be in touch, Cheri, and please share this with all our sisters.
With a deep bow of gratitude,
NAME REMOVED"
