Freedom-to-Write Committee
Prison Writing Program
PEN New England's Freedom-to-Write Committee is now in its third year of bi-weekly writing workshops for prisoners at Northampton County Prison, a medium-security men's facility. Begun in 2003 under then-Chair Fred Marchant, the program has been a great success, drawing as many as ten or twelve men to the sessions. Among the volunteers who have taught workshops at the prison are Marchant, Andre Dubus III, Tom Perrotta, Michael Lowenthal, Peggy Rambach, Afaa Michael Weaver, Jennifer Barber, Jennifer Johnson, Eric Grunwald, and Norman Gautreau.
"The men really look forward to the workshops, and often check with me numerous times during the weeks before to confirm," says Jean-Marie Fallon, who, as director of educational programming for the prison, acts as PEN's liaison.
Each June the workshops culminate with the publication of a chapbook containing work by both the prisoners and volunteer instructors and a reading to which prisoners excitedly invite family and friends.
"It's an incredibly gratifying experience," says Marchant. "The guys are so proud of their work, and rightfully so-I'm always impressed with the level of innate talent there."
Adds Jennifer Johnson, now Committee Chair and a stalwart of the program, "We're glad to be able to give a voice to those who become virtually unheard due to the mistakes they've made, often very young. We believe writing helps these men express and understand themselves better, so as to help them rebuild their lives."
"It's true," says Fallon. "The men who write, in tandem with their therapy groups, seem much happier, and seem to make more personal progress in their time here."
Bay State Correctional Facility is also anxious to have such a program. "We'll need more volunteers, though," says Johnson, "in both poetry and prose." A PEN-funded lunch for the instructors usually follows each workshop. If interested in volunteering or donating to the prison-writing program, contact PEN New England Executive Director Karen Wulf.