Report to Current volunteers, FF8
CC. Potential volunteers for this program
(planning for an Orientation program for new volunteers in July)
From Paschal Baute
July 1, 2005.

I survey the inmates in the FF8 “Fierce Landscape” Spiritual Growth program at the Fayette County Detention Center about every other month to determine and verify what is working and not working for them. The question for them is What is Helping You Change?

Here is the summary, taking first and second together, then third and fourth and summarizing.
Bible study, Brotherhood, Being around positive thinkers, praying, Resource-like books, Group meetings, Outside volunteers who are dedicated, Working on my plan of acting, Seeing someone do what I want to do, Jesus and Self-study. Two most commonly rated high were Being around like-minded persons or fellowship, and Learning from the group. Every single person ranked these two aspects highly. (The largest facilitator challenge in our 2.5 year program has been to get them to meet on their own and take turns leading that group, which they are now doing for some months)

Next, #3 and 4, also ranked high were: Sharing stories, Learning to be thankful, Taking on responsibility, the one on one counseling, Bible study, Learning different topics, Learning from one another, Beginning to believe in myself, Learning from others failures, Feedback from others, Sharing, Guidance and Prayer, Encouragement from others, and a sense of responsibility to the group and myself. Overall, we can say what is helping is the Learning environment we have helped create, from study, Bible, group, feedback, and encouragment from one another.

Age range is from 23 to 48. The number of years in addictive behavior ranges from 8 to 25, and practically all have been in jail numerous times, average 6 to ten. These are repeat offenders with a history of recidivism, who scarcely realize what radical changes are necessary for them to quit the addictive cycle. Above all, we can say they need hope and encouragment, but must learn how to obtain and learn and receive that from themselves. They have extensive patterns of hiding from themselves and others. My work this past month has been on the importance of becoming more open, and risking emotionally with each others.

This past week, I gave them two copies for their self-monitoring of a list of 27 behaviors to rate themselves on each day, and to give themselves a grade. I will review this itemized behavior program next time there.

On the reverse, I asked how the program could be improved.
A celebration every several months of achievements of goals.
More tools for the program
Fuller schedule
Christian pen pal
More one on one help
More career oriented materials
Variety of volunteers.
More supervision and structure to the program
Inspirational videos
Mandatory quiet time
More stories from the bible
More study of the bible
Better screening process for admitting to FF8
Better addictive programs, like AA and NA
Reward participants in some way, e.g. snacks.
Nothing, It is working fine.

We are hoping to add new volunteers to the program soon. In order to have one lesson daily, we need three more.

Once monthly I visit our Spiritual Growth inmate pod at the County Detention Center, and offer a prayer service. May 22 in Fayette County unit was such an occasion. Here is the interfaith food ritual employed, for your copying and use. Songs we sung were Amazing Grace and Here I am, Lord.

BREAKING BREAD (Rev 11/30/04)
An interfaith food ritual beyond the Passover seder, beyond the
Last Supper, to embrace all the Abrahamic Wisdom traditions,
Hebrew, Christian and Muslim
(bread and grape juice on the table; with several leaders, of both genders)
SONG (standing)
Prayer for "Breaking Bread"
LEADER ONE: Before we break bread together, we pause to reflect on bread and community: both are the product of a marvelous cooperative effort. Let us affirm the individual ingredients which join together to form our food and drink.
LEADER TWO: Let us recall the human labor that goes into producing wheat, grinding to make the flour, from many grains, one substance for our bodies, the basic essence without which flour would not become bread: DIVERSITY IN OUR HUMAN DIGNITY. Next the shortening, the grease: OUR LAUGHTER which balances and enriches our lives. The liquid: the soothing and smoothing gentle KINDNESS which binds us together. The yeast, which raises us: Our hope and faith in things unseen yet "known." May we handle it gently and with respect, for it functions only within the warmth and security of love. The salt, which both preserves and makes savory: our honesty, the critical intelligence which seeks new truths and cherishes doubt. The sweetness: our grateful tears of thankfulness and appreciation for all that is good and beautiful. And finally the heat: the passionate conviction that fires a community to mutual commitment for peace and justice.
LEADER ONE (OFFERING)
The great symbolism in bread is used by all the Abrahamic Wisdom Traditions, Hebrew, Christian and Muslim. Bread represents life, love, renewal and deliverance. May we pause in silence to honor and appreciate the diverse and unique gifts we each bring to this table today, to encourage the making of community within our midst. So be it. (Each person speaks one word or so, of a gift you bring: some desire, hope, prayer, pain, dream, goal, etc.
SONG
LEADER TWO Let us pray.

COMMUNITY RECITES TOGETHER: Holy Mystery, / with us, / all around us, / and within us, / we begin our meal / in solidarity with the poor, / many so hungry / "that God cannot appear to them / except in the form of bread," / as Gandhi said. / We share their hunger – / for both food and for community – / and pray you will nourish us now,/ with this food and drink, / and with the kindness / and friendship of each other, / and with compassion for the earth / and for the whole family of all living things.
(A MOMENT OF SILENCE)
We put on the table / this ritual meal / as a symbol of our own gifts, / of the taste of our lives, / all our ups and downs, / our personal joys and hurts / our hopes and concerns, / our gains and our losses, / our gifts and our poverty / all our differences and diversities.
(A MOMENT OF SILENCE)
May the grains of our separate lives / form into one bread. / May the fruit of our separate lives / form into one drink, / and then be poured out / and broken / and given as nourishment for our communal life, / our common faith, / and our mutual friendship -- / no one better than anyone else, / all of us forgiven our faults / as we forgive others, / linked together, / this moment at least, / as if we were a single family, / united with all who have gone before us / into death, / in the holy communion of all humans.
THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES:
We again give thanks, / thinking of all those, living and dead, / who are symbolized by this food, / who seem present with us / in the breaking of the bread: / first of all the beloved prophets of the past, / Moses and Miriam,/ Jesus and his mother, / Mohammed, and for all those seekers of the Right Way who continue / to give birth to the Divine Mystery / amongst us / and in our world.
This bread symbolizes ourselves, / the taste of our lives / and the power of our shared experiences. / This drink is ourselves / and our lives poured out / in solidarity and human communion.
(The bread is broken and passed with the words: "The bread of life," and the drink passed as "The cup of solidarity." We sing.)
SHARED SILENCE, WHICH CAN BE USED FOR PERSONAL INTENTIONS, WHICH CAN BE OPENLY SHARED. “We remember here...” Each petition ends with “. . .Let us pray to the Lord.” Community reponds with “Lord hear our prayer.”
LEADER TWO (BENEDICTION)
May we go from this table, our lives as shared as bread and as poured out as wine. And may the blessing of the One God, merciful and gracious, the heart of all the prophets, and the Loving Presence that energizes the universe, be with us and within us. Amen.
ALL: “Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”
CLOSING SONG

Feedback from Inmates, 4/19/05, Paschal.

Interviews with each of the Spiritual Growth inmates was held yesterday to determine what was working for them. All except one was interviewed.

Results were very positive, beyond expectations. One inmate said their pod was now so positive and powerful that the baddest person in the jail could be put in the remaining bunk and “we would transform him in a month.” When I offered to take him up on the offer, he admitted he was not that sure. Several said they had never really believed in service until now when they were experiencing it from Guido, Mercier, myself and the other volunteers.

What most helped was the fact that this program allowed them to buy in at their own pace, as opposed to other programs where behavior and study was mandated. Now that they were meeting regularly on their own, everyone was taking responsibility for leadership. All felt the atmosphere was very positive. I also asked for written feedback and here is some of it. The question was What is working in the program for you?

“It allows me to get answers to questions I have had for years. The people around me are very positive and this makes a hard situation more bearable.”
“Everyone gets along and respects the others. Being around a group of guys that keep it real and tell no one nothing wrong! This helps to keep one another UP.”
“By us running most of our program, it gives us a sensitivity of leadership, and shows that we really want to change.”
The program gives me hope for the future, the fellowship is a big thing for me, I love you and the volunteers. I commend you all, you made a difference.”
“The fellowship among us is very valuable because each one shares their strength and weakness with each other.”
“The sense of belief among us is what helps me. All of us in the program have something to share in their beliefs and I see how that makes us different but also the same, believing in One.”
“To be able to open up, talk about my life’s problems, being accepted for who I am, and where my spiritual journey may take me, and be real about life. Thank you.”
“What is making this work for me is that I do not want to walk back into that Hell I was living in. I have had enough. It depends on the person–whether they are ready or not cause through God all things are possible.”
“What I would like to see is discussion on etiquette and proper manners.”

I was able to congratulate each of them on the fact that it was each of them who was making the program work by the leadership they were showing in meeting on their own and creating such a positive environment in the pod.

I am feeling that the much energy that has gone into structuring this program and recruiting volunteers is at last paying off. We have managed somehow to help these men create something reallly different, a safe place where they can risk being themselves, truly learn from one another, and enjoy taking responsibility for creating a positive climate for their pod. It was a good day for me, during a week that has had dark shadows.

We opened our meeting by sharing some thoughts on Good Friday and EASTER.
The chosen inmate then led our meeting on the topic CHANGE in our life. He prayed by using a reading and proceeded to cover how we need to change our old behaviors and make the future something different. He gave several examples how our families taught us some of our ways and how you believe this is the way. As you get older you realize changes are called for and a
decision is needed to make the future something you always wanted your life to be. Several of the members engaged in some good discussion. We talked about who makes world events happen? GOD OR Man?
Talked about the war in IRAQ, John F Kennedy’s assassination etc.This forced
some questions to be asked about their life and who’s doing all this
behavior to cause these events in our world and with self?

X did a good job and prepared well for his class on change.
We ended with two songs the group selected.
Next week we will complete the Career Scope Profiles and continue one on one
session.
Have a happy Easter week, all.
Moe

The Spiritual Growth group of men were assigned prayers, responses and meditations on the Seven Last Words.

It was a great Good Friday experience. I loved the hearty sound of the men singing "Were you there?"
Gerard Howell

Had a marvelous day at the county jail this a.m., reviewing progress with four of our "Fierce Landscape" inmates their progress, plans and response to our program. The group itself played Gospel music while I interviewed these four who had been there for at least one month.

Personal progress reports were powerfully positive. Our program and their use of it, particularly in their own meetings every afternoon, taking leadership turns, has turned the program into a powerful spur for self-examination, sharing and healing. I felt really affirmed by all the work that has gone into this during the last 3 years, building a program, creating worksheets, recruiting volunteers, and using my experience to help develop this program. The regular Afro guard in FF also told me today that this program has also brought a blessing to him. When the guards report something like that we then something is working right.

They affirmed what they are learning from one another, the diversity of the volunteers' approaches, the use of the workbook, the afternoon sessions, and they all liked very much the new scripture study with Marjoe Thursday evening. So we now have a new lesson each day, six days per week, by volunteers, with Chaplain Howell taking the Friday session.

Paschal.