[Hamp-law] The Inside-Out National Instructor Training Institutes for Summer 2005

[Flavio Risech]

Dear Colleague,

You may have received an e-mail a few months ago about The Inside-Out
Prison Exchange Program.  We wanted to send you an update about our two
National Instructor Training Institutes, being held during July and
August.  Just a short recap first.

The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program is an approach to teaching that
takes college students behind prison walls to study together with
incarcerated men and women.  The program was piloted in 1997 with the
support of the Philadelphia Prison System and Temple University.  Rather
than being lecture-based, Inside-Out combines readings, discussion,
writing assignments, and projects to profoundly engage "outside"
and "inside" students alike, and to inspire the recognition that they can
all make a difference in the world. The class is now in its 19th
semester, with 900+ college students and incarcerated men and women as
alumni.

Inside-Out was established to create a dynamic partnership between
institutions of higher learning and correctional systems, in order to
deepen the conversation about and transform our approaches to issues of
crime and justice.  Crucial to the Inside-Out pedagogy is the powerful
exchange that occurs between "inside" and "outside" students.  It is the
reciprocity and authenticity of this exchange that makes Inside-Out
unique.  The result is a dynamic and constructive dialogue that inspires
participants to generate new ideas and fresh solutions, with a focus on
social justice and systemic change.

During the 2003-2004 academic year, with the support of a Soros Justice
Senior Fellowship, a group consisting of individuals from both inside and
outside prison collaborated to develop Inside-Out into a national model.
To date, more than 30 instructors from all over the United States have
been trained in the Inside-Out approach and are developing classes in
their home states.  This model allows for a diversity of disciplinary
content, while maintaining the core value of incorporating the voices of
men and women in prison.

You may want to consider exploring the possibility of offering courses in
the Inside-Out model through your department, in partnership with a
correctional facility in your area.  We provide training in this teaching
approach, as well as follow-up consultation. There are two dates set for
trainings this summer: July 5-10 and August 1-7, 2005.  A good portion of
the training takes place inside Graterford Prison, a very large maximum
security facility, an hour outside of Philadelphia.

If there is someone else in your department or in another academic
division of your institution who might also be interested in this
concept, feel free to share this information.  You can check out our web
site for further information at www.temple.edu/inside-out.

If you have any questions, please contact us at inout at temple.edu.

Finally, if you are interested in possibly attending one of the summer
trainings, we would like to hear from you within the next week or two, so
that we can begin the application and registration process as soon as
possible.

We look forward to working with you in the future.  For application
information (initial e-mail preferred), contact:
Lori Pompa, Director
The Inside-Out Prison Exchange Program
Soros Justice Senior Fellow
521 Gladfelter Hall
Department of Criminal Justice
1115 W. Berks St.
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA 19122

Tel: (215) 204-5163
Fax: (215) 204-3872
E-Mail: inout at temple.edu
Web: www.temple.edu/inside-out