I am currently in my 4th week of teaching my Career Coaching/Interviewing Skills ACE class, so I thought I would give an update.
The first week, I gave each inmate a survey/needs assessment, so I could determine what would help them most in my class. I didn’t want to teach just a blanketed “Interviewing Skills” class, I wanted to individualize their experience, so it would be more meaningful. From the assessment given, I learned that most people in the class hadn’t done a resume in many years, and they had a wide range of interests vocationally. There are inmates from many states in my class, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Missouri and Ohio, and most of them were more interested in starting their own business than finding a traditional job. I shared with them an overview of what they could expect in the class, and discussed how this class will be unique in that their personal journey would be taken into consideration to frame how the class would proceed.
For the second class, I invited a friend of mine and fellow inmate, Arlinda Moriarity “Ms Fox” to speak to the class, and sharing her story in growing her multi-million dollar business, and offer encouragement to being a business owner. Her story is inspirational, and I believe helped the class see a different path outside of traditional work post-release from prison. We also discussed realistic expectations, and the path to owning your own business. For example Ms Fox shared, “If you are in here for arson, you’re not going to get a job as a forest ranger. If you’re here on a money crime- don’t think you’re going to work in a bank”. These statements added some levity to the discussion, so we could move into exploring what they are passionate about, and doing a needs/skills assessment. It was important for me to also discuss their social determinants of health as it was finding a job once released. If they don’t have a home to return to, or have to worry about childcare or transportation, those needs had to be taken into consideration. Additionally, I gave them homework to prepare the information for their resume we would be working on the next week, and shared multiple jobs that were currently being offered in their geographic areas.
The third class, last week, focused on writing their resumes, as well as writing a business plan for for-profit and nonprofit companies. We discussed the nuances and laws of both types of companies, and specifics required in writing their business plans. A large part of the discussion focused on how to do a SWOT analysis, and identify the needs within their communities as it fit with what they were passionate about starting up. Businesses discussed were restaurants, beauty salons, peer counseling/case management, a t-shirt business, boutiques and more. The costs and barriers as convicted felons were discussed, as I wanted to set realistic expectations. Additionally, I shared organizations that assist in helping them start their own business. Many doors are shut to those with a felony record, thus owning their own business was a very appealing option. I tapped into past learnings with Simon Sinek on discovering their “Why”, and the importance of knowing this in order for a business to be successful. I also shared with them lessons from “Too Big to Fail” and other books, stressing the importance to learn all they can how businesses got started, grew, succeeded and failed. The Walgreens marketing plan really fascinated them, as did the Disney-Way of customer service. I am grateful I had the education and experience in sharing my knowledge to help them- they were really excited! It was also helpful to learn from a couple of inmates who are here for more than ten years to focus on a different approach, and helping them identify pathways they can take in prison to earn certifications and skills in here to help them succeed upon their release. People with such long sentences lose hope quickly, and can get stuck in a rut- feeling as though nothing they do now matters. I want to change their minds and offer hope.
This week’s class will focus on how to prepare for an interview, writing cover letters, networking, and how to research companies prior to applying for a job. I told them that it is a high probability they will have to get a job while they are pursuing opening their own business, so the interview process is critical. We will be doing mock interviews for the next couple of weeks following this class, and then wrapping it up with a formal interview and resources in their area. This was the first ACE class of its kind at Atwood. I wrote the curriculum, and am grateful to my husband, children and friends who helped me in getting job postings in various cities where the inmates resided, and for multiple organizations that I wrote to for resources for this class. All the resources and curriculum I am sharing with the Director of Education so she can possibly do another class like this in the future here.
There is a Women’s Career Exploration class that is taught here (I was just offered it a month ago), and it discusses at a high level of assessing your skills, job possibilities, and resume writing, but doesn’t really personalize your needs once you leave prison to find a job. Additionally, it only is offered to a very small subset of the inmates here (only 12 to a class), and only offered a couple times a year, so most inmates don’t get the chance to take it. The instructor, however is fantastic- I just wish it was offered to everyone here. The inmates who are here for 10+ years aren’t really focused on their release. It would be better if a case manager or counselor discussed with those with long sentences a plan to get certifications so they can focus on a future outside prison. One example could be, if someone was interested in a career in construction, they would go through the Construction Basic FSA class, then Carpentry, then Electrical, and then moved into UniCor or in an Apprenticeship. This process takes up years of work and education, and I believe would give inmates hope for a future beyond these walls.
My husband asked me this past weekend how I appear to be so “peaceful” while incarcerated. I do have peace in my heart most days because I know once I leave here I have a loving husband, family and friends to go home to. Additionally, in serving others in prison, igniting hope, helping people come up with plans post-prison, it helps me feel like I did before I was incarcerated when I ran my own business and when I served in Americorps. Community health and public service are a passion of mine personally, and that hasn’t waivered- even behind these prison walls.
