I recently came across an essay on Quora.com. It was written by Tommy Winfrey, an inmate in San Quentin State Prison. His words were in response to the question: “What should everyone know about prison?” As someone who regularly goes behind bars as a Truth Be Told volunteer at Lockhart Prison, I found myself wondering what it would […]
Behind Bars
An Amazing Opportunity
Lauren J., a participant in the TCCC Del Valle Program shares her connection with Truth Be Told. I had the amazing opportunity, and hopefully only the first of many, to go to prison today. Only this time I got to leave a short while later! I got released in March of 2011. Since then I […]
The Last Stop: Cara's Story, Part 1
Today’s guest post is by Cara, a Truth Be Told graduate, and is part 1 of 2; you can read Part 2 here. That anxious nervous feeling washes over me as I wait for the Guards to come get me. Every time I am moving to another unit or even cellblock I get this feeling. […]
Getting real, risking vulnerability, connecting: a story from Behind Bars
“I’m excited to go home and rekindle my relationship with my children and grandkids. I want to read a book to my grandkids that was never read to me, “The 3 Little Bears.” I’m nervous that my family will not accept me for the changed woman that I am.”
Making art at Gatesville: Peg Runnels teaches Exploring Creativity
When it was time, Peggy had the women form a circle, introduced me, and without saying a word I began to dance in the circle, a dance of fear and nervousness. I looked each woman in the eye. Their eyes showed confusion as they glanced at each other. What is she doing, they seemed to say. Then as my vulnerability dance began to change into acceptance, I saw their faces soften and grow warm. We had connection.
Making a Difference from the Inside – Out
This week’s post is from Karen C., a Behind Bars graduate. Following Karen’s post is a piece written by Nathalie about Karen. TBT came to me as an extravagant gift when I was at the Hilltop Unit in Gatesville. It has been the miracle that brought freedom and liberty in creative writing, public speaking, respectful […]
Outside Looking In
This week’s post is by an anonymous TBT supporter and fan: My experience with the Truth Be Told program has been as an outsider looking in. I was offered the opportunity to attend a graduation and on a whim I found myself in a car one day on the way to prison. I got the […]
Learning Through Teaching
Today’s post is from Elizabeth Wilkerson, a TBT graduate who participated in our On-Line Pilot Training Program this year. Since her release, Elizabeth has remained a loyal and active participant in our Beyond Bars programs. She describes here how she is continuing to use the Truth Be Told tools she learned while behind bars: I […]