After reading the book, "Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts" the story that influenced me the most me the most was Rhodessa Jones from San Francisco.
In Rhodessa's story, in the beginning she was hired to just be an aerobics teacher at the San Francisco County Jail at San Bruno. The jail population was majority African American and Latino American women. Rhodessa did more than just teach aerobatics she taught the women in the jail how to express themselves about there dreams, hopes, fears, ambitions, and feelings. The women who where leading conversations and teaching the other women to read and write. Rhodessa learned that if we can maintain a relationship....a partnership with the jail. Rhodessa is currently training other artists and ex offenders to do what she has already done at San Bruno.
This story effected me in many different ways. First, I have had a very close family member of mines go to federal prison and if it was not for programs like Rhodessa's she may not have survived those three years being incarcerated. Secondly, being an African American young lady and knowing that the incarceration rate for minority women is increasing it really becomes a concern of mines. Last but not least, Rhodessa's story has inspired me to look inside myself and make more meaning out of the things I do. My career goal is to be a family social worker and this story has inspired me to find more meaning in my profession in a way that is more beneficial to my clients and myself.
Shandra Ann, you have great insight. Its great that you have gotten so much from Rhodessa's story in a way that you can use it and learn from it in your future career! And awesome quote from John Adams.
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