The Peer Success Program frequently hosts workshops in the individual units and even occasionally conducts training sessions for the mentors. Recently, one of the leaders from A2, Cat Voss, informed the other leaders that she held a 3-part workshop in her unit to educate the women about how to read their unit team paperwork, how to interpret the FSA for themselves, and then, finally, how to submit their own clemency paperwork. Every single mentor/leader in the room sat up and took notice. This was the exact type of class we all wanted to attend so that we could then go back to our units and hold these classes for the women in our units. Cat said approx 50 women attended the first workshop. This was not a surprise to any of us because most of us spend copious amounts of time educating women about how their time will go upon entering Aliceville, how to request their paperwork, who to speak to about legal or prison related issues and how the FSA applies to them. As an individual who is not eligible for the FSA time credits, I still know many details that can affect a person’s eligibility status and how that can change, and I am constantly answering questions that most of the staff don’t even know how to answer. So this class is exactly what all of us want to see take place.
After our monthly meeting with Peer Success leaders and the staff I requested that Cat have a time and place set aside so she can teach this class to every leader who wants to attend. Once myself, my second and my creative director from C4 all attend this class we will then hold these same workshops in our unit. I anticipate it will have the same level of attendance as Cat saw in A2. This type of information is empowering to all and I’m sure everyone will feel better learning what all the different codes and entries mean on their own unit team paperwork. Then we can move on to the application of the FSA and have the final seminar on entering clemency paperwork. Cat’s idea to hold these workshops was brilliant! I really look forward to attending these classes next week.
