Bonnie Winfield in conjunction with students who work with The Journey Home presents Following Hope In A County Jail in the Marlo room, Farinon Center. The event featured guest speaker Q and student presenting writings by the women. On display were original creative works.
Michael Kubel / Zovko Photographic llc
Monday April 16, 2018.
Stories
Who are you? Who am I?
I am these walls, these four pale white walls
I am this jumper and the orange bob barker’s that lace my feet
I am a 5 digit number no more, no less
I am identified by a crime I didn’t mean to commit
I am an inmate and this is my life
I am a mother
I am a sister
I am a daughter
I am a human being and deserve to be treated as such
One day I will be free
The system will no longer consume me
Until then
I am inmate #24944
And this is my life
Don’t Judge Me
By Lyric Isaac
Don’t judge me on the choices I’ve made
When you don’t know the options I’ve had to choose from
Don’t judge me on my addiction
And how I use it to escape from my sorrows
Don’t judge me on my mental illness and reactions
Or how I was blind to my conviction
Don’t judge me on the color of my skin
The scars on my body or
The locs in my hair
Don’t judge me on my pathetic mugshots
On my green jumper
Or #22495
A million shattered pieces
By Michelle Wallace
These days I could use a little hope
So much pain and I can’t cope
The depression has hit
I am stuck in a never ending pit
It’s so dark, there is not light
I am giving up and losing this fight
Now all my hope is lost
My soul is the ultimate cost
I have no one left to pick me up
It feels like my life is totally fucked up
I can’t find the courage to move on
God, please help me or I’ll fall before too long
I have nothing left, I am beaten down
No more smiles only frowns
I sit here thinking “what can I do?”
When I am like a million shattered pieces that can not be glued
A summer’s day
By Mazell Truss
Oh that summer day…
It’s hot, i am in a hurry
As the sweat beads down my face
I feel my fear begin to accelerate
My passenger looks worried
I ignore him and pick up speed
I am going 30 MPH above the speed limit
I can’t see straight as the air from the windows blow my hair every which way
Realization hits me
I know death is not far away
I close my eyes
My body melts down into the seat
I swerve
I breath my last breath of fresh air
I pray as the car began to flip over and over
As we land I smell the blood
I feel the shattered glass
What have I done on this summer day?
I will never forget
Testimonies
“Art therapy is a time when I can let my body, mind and soul escape to a place of complete euphoria, a moment of meditation and clearing of the negative to make room for positive energy.”
“I look forward to the groups with Dr. Bonnie and my fellow inmates. I have sent some of my art work to children in my life.”
“Dr.Bonnie’s classes have helped me work through trauma, grief, and daily stress.”
“What Dr. Bonnie brings to our jail is amazing. She gives us an outlet for our feelings.”
The Journey Home is the house for women empowerment and a learning environment for the fact that not only women can be fond of each other but also nurture one another under anyone’s and everyone’s roof.”
“The college students remind me that there is a life waiting for me outside these walls.”
“The groups that include Lafayette students and inmates have brought an awareness to myself that although we are from very different walks of life we as women share the same struggles, insecurities, inequalities, and uncertainties of our future, our destinies. We relate in so many aspects but not because of our criminal history or lack of but because we are women artists and share the gift of expression.”
“We as the journey home women/Unite with hope, strength and love/we will discard our broken past/and we will surely rise above. For we are women with a purpose/nor more lost or all alone/looking for the open door/we are on the journey home.”