Arts Learning

Forty-four women in jails gained personal insights by learning writing skills in twenty class hours, selecting 291 reflective poems for editing and publishing. Nearly all participants completed survey questionnaires at the beginning and end of each of the five programs to compare what they learned, how they valued the work and the personal impact the project had on their own self-confidence and growth. Along with operational and structural aspects of each program, the surveys were reviewed at evaluation meetings of the Advisory representatives with the teaching artists so that adjustments and improvements could be made for the next program. 2: Five published chapbooks produced by Bookmobile and cataloged in two major Minnesota library systems instilled pride in 44 women with desire to write more. With nearly all women completing the surveys, and teachers and jail staff observing remarks and behavior in and out of class, it was possible to learn the women highly valued the project’s chance to safely express personal thoughts in poetry and actually see their best works in print. Their reactions to the new chapbooks underscored their written statements of amazement that their hard work had resulted in this impressive achievement and the last survey answer confirmed the hope to keep writing.