Trusting the Process: Growing and Liberating Self-Reflective Capacities Behind the Prison Walls

Abstract

When we first heard that there was “an alternative educational opportunity” being offered in our Masters of Social Work (MSW) program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Kitchener, Ontario, we were intrigued. Our most memorable lessons have been those where we have a chance to interact with, support, and walk alongside others. So, as first year MSW students, we enrolled in Shoshana Pollack’s required course, “Diversity, Marginalization, Oppression.” In this chapter, we join together to reflect on the ways our experiences in this Inside-Out course have changed our professional and personal lives.

Pre-conceived notions. We are all guilty of harboring them. Notions of what we think things are supposed to be. Things like prison, and education. Of what and who the student is, and what and who the convict is … Today those lines are blurred. Today there is no distinction between student and convict and education and prison … because today, right here, we are all students. Learning. Evolving. Erasing. Celebrating.

Inside-Out Alumna, currently incarcerated