In a house on Broad St. that could easily be missed if it weren’t for the small painted sign hanging from a post lives an organization that has spent 27 years supporting and loving women of color in New Orleans. Women With a Vision provides comprehensive services to address the issues women face, including criminalization and barriers to education and employment.

This summer we set out to create a new program to provide women who have been incarcerated with resources to achieve their educational goals. “We” refers to Women with a Vision (WWAV) and the Louisiana Prison Education Coalition (LPEC), an organization that I founded with others who are interested in increasing educational opportunities for people in prison and after release.

By providing childcare, transportation, and a home cooked meal before each class, we hope to create a space that directly addresses some of the many challenges women face when continuing their education as adults. We also hired a phenomenal group of people to provide individual tutoring and support in every class.

Our goal is to make sure that each woman has every opportunity to succeed in this eight-week course and beyond.

The first day was much like the first day of school anywhere. Folks joked about dress code requirements (there weren’t any) and introduced themselves (mostly to me, because many of the students have been friends long before our class) and settled in for a long evening of testing.

 

 

The results of that test showed what we already predicted that students were at very different levels. It was clear this couldn’t be a one-size-fits-all, full group lesson environment. However, as a teacher, I know differentiation can be one of the hardest parts of the job. Therefore I leaned on tutors to meet students where they were at. Although at times we were all working on the same content (i.e. area and perimeter), the tutors were able to ensure that each woman was also reviewing the skills she needed (i.e. multiplication) and extending beyond if people were ready.

I can’t say emphatically enough how much the component of individual tutoring and the tutors themselves contributed to the success of this program! One-on-one makes a huge difference! Not just for academics, but for the relationship building that is so essential to creating a space where people can learn.

We are more than a class, we are a community.

In supporting and elevating our community, the staff of Women With a Vision led dinner discussions each class around issues and themes related to the experience of black women and criminalization. We shared stories, gave advice, and listened. In a discussion of sexual health, we were encouraged to pay attention to our bodies and advocate for our care. In a session with WWAV’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, we asked questions about our own experiences in navigating police enforcement and a judicial system, which is designed to disenfranchise, abuse, and attack women of color.

On July 12th, less than one week after the deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, we mourned, we expressed anger, we listened to each other, and we recognized the very real and immediate need to address the issues that have led to situations in which people of color are being killed by the police for simply existing.  

For one hour, before each class, we made a space for community, love, and support. Not enough spaces exist in this world or this city for folks to have these discussions. More specifically, for black women to lead these discussions.

I fully believe that the academic results that students achieved, can be attributed as much to these discussions as to the instruction that followed.

In the words of one of our students, “I just had to open my mind and listen”.

Opening your mind doesn’t happen without feeling safe and trusting those around you. Through discussion, we built a space that women could learn within.

Another student, who is currently looking for employment and has three adorable children, told me that she had participated in many education programs in the past, but this is the first one that she has finished. I wonder if those programs knew that she needed childcare to come to class? Or transportation? More basically, I wonder how much time and effort was put into getting to know her as a person and also building connections between her and other students.

I do not intend to make judgments on other programs, but simply to say that our students come to us with lives full of circumstances that may prevent them from being comfortable or successful. I feel very grateful to be part of a program that acknowledges the contexts of students’ lives and thoughtfully creates space for every woman to pursue her educational goals.

Last week was our last official meeting. It was a celebration. We ate, laughed, danced, and acknowledged the work that everyone had put into making this class what it was.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning” -Winston Churchill

For our students, this is just the beginning of a longer road to reach their goals. A road that we know will not be easy. But at the very least we can say that students have started taking steps, know the path, and are not walking alone.  

And for that, I am grateful.

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If you would like to get involved as a tutor, student, or financial sponsor please email LAprisoneducationcoaltion@gmail.com.

We are currently seeking funding to support our next session. Please donate by following the link to the PayPal site. Indicate the amount of your donation and leave a message saying that you would like to donate directly to the education clinic. Thank you!! ( http://wwav-no.org/donate )

If you are interested in learning more about Women With a Vision please feel free to visit their website (http://www.wwav-no.org/).

If you are interested in learning more about Louisiana Prison Education Coalition visit our page (https://www.facebook.com/LouisianaPrisonEducationCoalition/).