Journey Home

Something magical is happening at Maricopa County Sherriff Office’s Estrella Jail in Phoenix; 22 women are digging deep and fine-tuning themselves in the Journey Home (JH) Program. From Ms. Brown and her down home wisdom straight across to the three Michelle's making sure that each one "gets it", the women on the inside are bringing something powerful to Estrella.

There are life defining moments as Imani from the JH team, speaks archetypal wisdom to their souls. They move in joy, grace and unity with JH teammate, Teniqua as they choreograph their final show; and they share their stories through their writings as I help them uncover their higher self. This is our 8th year doing the Journey Home program at Estrella and each year we learn something new from our sisters behind the wall.

Journey Home: an Arts Experience for Incarerated Women was initiated by ASU Gammage through the inspiration of Pat Graney's Keeping the Faith Program out of Seattle, Washington.

The program consists of creative writing, movement, storytelling, theater and visual arts that culminate in a final performance by the women to an invitation only audience. An anthology of their writings is produced as well as an exhibit of their visual arts projects.

The Journey Home team works with a core group of about 30 incarcerated women from all racial and socio-economic backgrounds. Three professional artists (a writer/storyteller, a dramatist/movement specialist, and a visual artist), instruct six weekly workshops. Workshops are designed to (a) help participants embrace change in order to shift their personal paradigm; and (b) provide a positive life-affirming environment in which inmates are encouraged to explore options that help to eliminate unhealthy patterns that lead to the revolving door of the penal system. The women learn how to stand outside the emotional self, take control of debilitating fears, and discover their higher self. It's a wonderful thing for all of us.

Thank you Arizona State University for another year of support because through you, the Journey Home team is blessed to meet another group of remarkable women. Visit blueprintforwomanhood.com for more information on Journey Home and other Life Paradigms, Inc. programs.

Fatimah Halim

Program Coordinator