Women who served time behind bars face uphill battles shrouded in stereotypes, loss of self and continuous cycles of crime. The Journey Home podcast aims to offer its audience insight into the psyche of women who have been incarcerated and the whys behind their paths of behavior.
MORE NEWS: Valley of the Sun United Way launches new ‘Fair Chance Collaborative’
Podcast listeners hear emotional, first-hand stories from women about the struggles they faced before, during and after prison. Many of these women took part in Journey Home, an intensive four-week program for women incarcerated at the Maricopa County Estrella Jail. Through creative writing, expressive movement, storytelling, and visual arts, the ASU Gammage program is designed to raise the awareness and consciousness of the women so they feel empowered to create a different life for themselves in the future.
“The program’s intent is to sensitize the audience to the plight of women who were incarcerated and shift the stereotypical narrative,” said Fatimah Halim, Journey Home’s artistic director who teaches creative writing and storytelling. “These women are mothers, daughters, wives, grandmothers, professional, blue collar and some have disabilities. Way too often they’re ostracized, stigmatized and penalized long after they serve their time.” The podcast shares stories from some of these women.
The program offers creative expression for women to process their time away, empowering participants to explore and reclaim their sense of identity.
Every year since 2002, approximately 20 women participate in an arts residency program at Estrella Jail that consists of two to four hour workshops three days a week facilitated by professional teaching artists. The program integrates a number of art forms as the medium for learning and expression for the women and to help them build interpersonal skills and increase their self-esteem.
A mental health specialist is available to handle any deep-rooted issues that may arise during the process.
“It is necessary that women know when they’re on the inside, there are opportunities and resources to help them grow and become better mothers, professionals and individuals when they walk back out into the community,” said Teniqua Broughton, administrator and movement specialist for Journey Home. “And what the podcast offers is a deep dive down the paths these women took that led to their crimes. “Each person is different, as is their story.”
Journey Home culminates with a final performance at the jail by the women participants that is open to the public via ASU Gammage invitation. The women read their stories, show their artwork and sing, offering glimpses into their lives before prison.
One inmate shared after a performance, “Thank you for having the heart to do this. And making me feel human again.”
Find the Journey Home podcast here. To learn more about the Journey Home program, visit ASUGammage.com/JourneyHome.
