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Alternatives to Violence Program (AVP) AVP workshops introduce inmates to creative nonviolent ways of managing and resolving conflict. AVP is a Quaker-created curriculum, that is used both nationally and internationally. In experiential workshops inmates learn and practice communications and other skills that have proven positive and effective in dealing with conflict without the need to resort to violence as a solution. AVP is spiritually based and encourages everyone's innate power to positively transform themselves and the world. Concord Prison Outreach offers AVP workshops at MCI-Concord and Northeastern Correctional Center. Outside participants are welcome, and facilitator training is available. New participants must attend a Basic Training Course. To find out more, contact Lenore James at (978) 369-1430. To view the schedules for AVP at the two prisons click here. "An AVP weekend makes me feel like I'm not in prison. People listen to me, respect me. We trust each other." - an inmate participant
Anger Management This class addresses the origins of angry behavior, how to recognize and change the anger "buttons" and how to deal effectively with both one's own anger and the anger of others. Anger management classes usually run for 6 weeks, 1 1/2 hours per session.
Art Every Thursday night from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at “The Farm,” men in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s, making birthday cards for their children, Mother’s Day cards for their grandmothers and mothers, or Valentines for their girlfriends. The Art Class, which has met nearly every Thursday night since 2001, is led each week by two experienced artists from the Newton Unitarian Church. A wide variety of materials, including colored pencils and papers, watercolors, art instruction books, stencils and stickers, are available for the men to use.
Description of the Calligraphy Program
Goals:
1. To focus the mind & strengthen concentration
2. To enhance & reinforce hand-eye coordination
3. To discriminate shape, proportion & design
4. To experience creativity
Generally, in 4 sessions we present the Foundational & the Old English
Alphabets. We give a bit of the history of Calligraphy, the basic rules,
proportion & spacing, centering & focusing exercises.
We have a course project and award certificates at the end.
The course encourages group participation, cooperation through teaching
it
to others, better handwriting, more confidence making cards to communicate
with their loved ones, and it develops a skill that can become a hobby
for lifetime. It's also an excellent discipline to practice during those
empty hours.
Computer Basics This course is for students who have little or no computer experience. The course goal is to teach students to be proficient in Microsoft
Word. This is the most popular word-processing program. It
is used by most businesses.
This is a skill that will be useful for seeking employment. The course starts with an introduction to Microsoft Windows and then covers many features of Word. The course also provides a brief introduction to Microsoft Excel if there is time available. A brief introduction to Microsoft Powerpoint is also presented if there is time available. Emotional Awareness Program
Emotional Awareness is
a curriculum based on Robin Casarjian’s book “Houses of Healing: A Prisoner’s
Guide to Inner Power and Healing.” The program meets one afternoon a week for
10 weeks, and its topics include understanding human nature and how we are
connected to the world, understanding emotions and developing strategies for
handling emotions. Topics such as forgiveness, meaning making, meditation and
communication are also discussed. Excel This course is for students who have demonstrated a proficiency in computer basics. Completion of the "Computer Basics" course is a pre-requsite. The course goal is to teach students to be proficient in Microsoft
Excel. This is the most popular 'spreadsheet' program that
is widely used in the business world.
This is a skill that will be useful for seeking employment. The course teaches how to construct spreadsheets and how to incorporate complex formulae (such as mortgage calculations).
CPO offers an ongoing Fathers' Group meets weekly to support incarcerated fathers at MCI-Concord as they adjust to the role of absent parent. A Fathers' Group also meets for 5-week sezzions several times a year with the fathers at NCC who are preparing for their imminent return to society. Groups stress honesty, relationships, responsibility, consistency, communication and expression of emotions. Interested persons should call Lenore James at (978) 369-1430. Financial Planning and Money Management Financial Planning and Money Management—looking for a leader, at present.First Aid/CPR- taught annually in 3 sessions by a certified Red Cross instructor. Human Relationships The Joys and
Challenges of Human Relationships In this workshop, participants identify the ways in which their behavior patterns contribute positively and negatively to forming healthy, caring relationships. Through presentation, discussion, and activities, participants broaden their understanding of a) how relationships work, b) what they mean to us, and c) how our behavior and beliefs can enhance or destroy them. In considering their personal experiences as well as general principles of how relationships work, participants can construct their own strategies for building healthier relationships. The group meets for 7 weeks, 2 hours per session. Outside participants are welcome. Interested persons should call Lenore James.Job Search Skills: inmates assess their own interests, abilities and skills, and learn about networking, cold calls, filling out a job application, interviewing (and discussing their past), writing a resume and cover letter, and keeping a belief in their own worth. Taught at both NCC (6 nights) and MCI (3 afternoons, bi-monthly). Interested participants are needed. Please call Lenore James.After nearly a year when MCI-Concord closed the Kids' Corner to make room for more visitors' seats, this wonderful program has been able to re-open in a limited way. What is it? Kids' Corner is a corner of the visiting room at MCI-Concord where the small children of inmates can draw, hear stories and play with a few toys while their parents talk over their often-serious problems and issues. It serves a real need for these little ones and their parents. Additional volunteers are needed on Tuesday-Thursday afternoons from 1:00-3:30. If we had more volunteers to help staff it, there is a possibility that it also could be open several weekday evenings from 6:20pm-8:15pm. If you are interested, please call Lenore James at 978-369-1430 for more details. Library Program Then the books are picked up by another volunteer and delivered to NCC on “Library Night” every two weeks. The inmates’ book choices range from the very practical books on house painting or plumbing, to ancient history, and modern novels. Both the volunteers and the inmates find participation in this program very gratifying. Pictures - click here Taught by a certified nutritionist, this course offers a practical and doable approach to healthful nutrition for men in prison. It deals with 3 topics: eating for a healthy heart, healthy weight loss and nutritional eating for athletes. Meets 3 times during the summer. Another certified nutritionist (prison requires this) to teach in 2008 would be very welcome! Poetry/creative writing: Through reading poems and writing their own, inmates get a chance to feel the power of their own language to free the mind, name the struggles and settle the spirit. Toastmasters NCC toastmasters: not presently meeting. An interested member of Toastmasters who would like to lead this would be very welcome. Please call Lenore James.
Tutoring Currently tutors are needed to teach low-level reading, calculator math, and a 6 - 10 week course in 'Life Skills'. These include: Writing business letters, re-instating driver's license, etc. Description of the Classroom Tutoring Program Tutors work with students in a classroom environment on a variety of subjects. Math and English are taught at all levels from beginner to candidate for the GED test. Currently, about 15 NCC ('the Farm') students per year pass the GED exam and earn their High-School Equivalency Degrees. Many others are working their way up to qualifying for the test. Other topics are also taught as mini-courses. In these courses tutors actually teach small groups of interested students. These regularly include: Computer Skills (Word), Calculator Skills, and 'Smart Money'. Other courses are taught when appropriate tutor skills and inmate interest are available. At the present time almost all these classes are given at NCC, the 'Prison Farm'. The 'Farm' is a very pleasant place to work. The surroundings are beautiful, and the security is more relaxed than MCI Concord. Most of the inmates are approaching the end of their terms. Our goal is to help inmates prepare for return to the 'real world'. Because these activities can go on for a year or more the NCC is the most appropriate place for them. MCI Concord contains inmates who mainly are in transition to a longer-term facility, and their stay at MCI Concord is usually less than a year. They will then have an educational opportunity at whatever facility they are relegated to. About half (120+) of all NCC inmates participate in some classroom activity. The NCC students participate on a voluntary basis, and they receive "Good Time" for participating. The high participation rate by the inmates is a measure of the success of these programs. The teaching environment is like the 'One-Room School House'. A professional teacher runs the classroom and gives out the work. Tutors then work with the students to help them accomplish the work that was assigned. There is some classroom-level teaching being done by the teacher, but most of the learning goes on at the individual level. Tutors generally work with students at all levels. Generally, tutors specialize in one of: Math, English, although tutors may occasionally help any student if they can. Tutors generally agree to work one or two morning or afternoon sessions a week. Volunteer tutors are assisted by one or two Inmate Tutors who also help the Teacher with administrative duties, as well as helping students. A tutor might be helping as many as about 12 students during a session. Most at differing levels. Tutors are encouraged to work with many students and not to concentrate on helping a few 'favored' students. A tutor has to become used to a less-structured environment than we experienced during our school years. Yet achieving this flexibility can be very rewarding, and is very effective at helping students with learning problems. The large number of inmate participants at NCC would not be possible without the help of Concord Prison Outreach Volunteer Tutors. Because the tutors are an important element at the School it is imperative that they commit to a regular schedule so that they can be depended on by the Teacher. Tutoring is a productive and satisfying way to improve an inmate's chance of avoiding recidivism.  |