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19h ago

Former Crime Reporter’s Prison Writing Workshop Expands to Three States, Empowering Inmates Through Storytelling

More than 250 inmates have enrolled in the 12-week program as a platform for creative storytelling that supports emotional recovery.

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Jordan Dabbs plans to go to college and major in Psychology. "I feel like this (class) is a huge step towards that," he said.
CNN Hero Debra Des Vignes

Overview

  • Under the leadership of former crime reporter Debra Des Vignes, the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop now operates in eight correctional facilities across Indiana, Alabama and Illinois.
  • The volunteer-run, 12-week curriculum delivers weekly prompts in fiction, non-fiction, poetry and playwriting to help participants articulate life experiences.
  • Over 250 incarcerated individuals have completed the program, with many describing it as vital for processing trauma and restoring self-worth.
  • At Putnamville Correctional Facility, participant Jordan Dabbs says the workshops offer a rare chance to share personal narratives and build supportive peer bonds.
  • Graduates credit the course with rekindling family ties by writing candid stories to loved ones and finding renewed empathy.