This week, Alida and Kathryn welcome Jennifer Bowen Hicks, Artistic Director of the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop, to the Round Table to discuss the impact writing has on the lives of incarcerated writers. In this in-depth conversation, Jennifer tells us about the kinds of students and writing found on the inside. Some of the most innovative, powerful writing voices are coming from this invisible population. Art changes lives.
Students in an MPWW classroom.
VIDEO
AUDIO
SHOW NOTES
What is the Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop? How did it begin? And what is it like to go into a state prison (in MN) and teach writing? What genre does MPWW teach? And how does it help writers? What kind of community has grown out of MPWW’s work within the prison system?
To make a donation or check out MPWW check out mnprisonwriting.org
We Are All Criminals SEEN project profile and writing of an MPWW student.
What we talked about:
Alida tells us a little bit about MPWW (Minnesota Prison Writing Workshop). (1:42)
Jen gives us some context for the conversation about MPWW. (5:11)
What is the origin of MPWW? (7:20)
What is it like to go into a state prison and teach writing? Was it a surprise how rewarding it was? (8:30)
What kind of students are attracted to MPWW? (13:46)
What genre’s do MPWW students participate in? (16:14)
How do you help writers find their voice? (18:15)
Zeke’s story, and how it impacted MPWW (and vice versa). (20:53)
How have the prison communities changed in response to MPWW? (23:46)
Jennifer Bowen Hicks
MPWW Instructors & Mentors