EMPOWERING INCARCERATED YOUTH THROUGH POETRY
Do you believe in the power of words to heal and transform? Do you want to help young people find their voice? We are looking for compassionate volunteers to help incarcerated youth express their feelings and emotions through poetry. Many of these teens have faced immense challenges, including trauma, abuse, and homelessness. Your support can help them rewrite their life’s script and find a path toward hope and healing.
Mission
The Pongo Poetry Project and Friends of Echo Glen believe that every young person has a story to tell. The mission is to engage these creative youth in writing poetry to inspire healing and personal growth. By providing a safe, supportive space, we help these young individuals work through their experiences, gain self-esteem, and learn to communicate their feelings effectively.
What Volunteers Do
As a volunteer, you will work one-on-one with incarcerated youth, guiding them through the process of writing poetry. This is not about being a formal teacher; it’s about being a compassionate guide and a supportive listener. You will help them:
- Express themselves honestly: Encourage them to write from the heart about who they are and what they’ve been through.
- Build confidence: Your presence and positive feedback will help them recognize their inherent worth and potential.
- Develop life skills: Through the act of writing, they will gain valuable skills in communication, self-reflection, and emotional regulation.
How to Get Involved
For more information on how you can help, please reach out to us. Together, we can help these young individuals find their voice and their future. Click HERE to go to Pongo Poetry’s site for more information.
Schedule
We kick off the 2-day event with a speaker who will inspire and encourage the kids Dave Dahl of Dave’s Killer Bread previously came and shared about his journey from severe depression, to drugs as a coping mechanism, to crime and and then incarceration. He was sentenced to a state prison four times for a total of 15 years. Dave inspired and gave hope to the kids with his story of how he overcame really bad choices to become a successful business man and great humanitarian. The kids all agreed Dave’s story gave them hope that they too can move beyond their bad choices and be successful contributing adults.
First Day – Career Panels for all 140 youth- we need YOU to share on a panel the good and not so great about your job; including amount of education or training required, salary range, and if it is a field/job that is increasing or decreasing in demand.
Second Day – Youth leaving within 4 months will attend workshops given by Goodwill Job Training instructors:
A bit more:
Have a 60 second pitch ready to give to a potential employer
Will learn about interviewing, dress for success, job search and how to stand out from the crowd
What a good employee looks like
Also, Team Child – If you can seal your record, and if so – how.
Thank you to Angel and Jeni from the William Booth Center, who kicked off previous event with an all-school assembly. Both served time at Purdy Women’s Prison and both shared their challenges and set backs after being released and then their ultimate paths to becoming a successful contributing adults that now help many others find their way. Know of other inspirational speakers who have overcome the incarceration rut?