They are quick to cite America's rising incarceration and harsher penalties for nonviolent crime as the fuel of their determination. We didn't grow up to expect to be the richest and the most-incarcerated nation. My sense is it's a national shame. The Prison Creative Arts team on retreat in preparation for the 2000-01 year. Every PCAP volunteer I spoke with could rattle off statistics and legislation.
Undergraduate students lead the bulk of the workshops.
PCAP usually has 40 members, the majority of whom are students from different disciplines. A few, like Anadon, remain involved after graduation. Anadon joined the project after watching a female prisoner read a scene describing some of the pain that was ever-present in her life. At first, it was difficult to watch. Then, I felt honored that she would share this with me, that she would take that risk.