Women in Nova Scotia prisons are discovering their artistic side and brushing up on their reading with the help of Books Beyond Borders.
By Colleen Cosgrove <ccosgrov@dal.ca>
Posted: Oct. 31, 2007
Poetry and artwork appearing in the zine, Books Beyond Bars, and the upcoming book, Words Without Walls.
Capp Larson files the latest zine at Books Beyond Bars library. Photo: Colleen Cosgrove
Women incarcerated in Nova Scotia discovered the creative therapy of writing and art over three years ago when the volunteer organization, Books Beyond Bars, arrived armed with books, journals and a lending ear.
After overcoming a year and a half of security issues, volunteers with Books Beyond Bars entered Burnside Correctional in Dartmouth and The Nova Institute in Truro.
The modest organization is run by six volunteers that visit the women in Burnside bi-weekly to deliver books, journals, conduct writing workshops and just to hang out with the women. They make the trip to Truro about once a month.
Books Beyond Bars began as a zine (a small self-published photocopied magazine), but after three years of regular contributors and a genuine interest in writing and reading, the organization is about to launch its first book – Words Without Walls -- a feature collaboration of all the women’s work.
Heather McKenzie, program coordinator at the Elizabeth Fry Society of Nova Scotia -- a society dedicated to the needs of women in prison -- said the reaction to Books Beyond Bars is always positive.
“The basic human contact they give is so valuable to the women,” said McKenzie. “It helps the women remember where they came from, because they have to go back there. The more contact they have and every positive encounter they have either with a person, a book, or their own personal journal is going to make it easier to go back home.”
Books Beyond Bars gives women journals to write in and encourages them to record their thoughts, write poetry and draw. Topics are occasionally offered but for the most part the women have full creative license.
Capp Larson volunteers with Books Beyond Bars and said the relationships they create with the women is an important part of the organization.
“It’s not just about bringing in books, it’s about creating a connection,” said Larson. “It’s not a client to the professional model, we’re just going in there because we believe these people are caught in an unjust system. And we’re doing what we can to support people in our community regardless of whether they’re in jail or not.”
Larson says the most popular genres at Burnside are true crime and self-help. Photo: Colleen Cosgrove
McKenzie said women feel the writing is therapeutic, and some have realized a talent they didn’t think existed.
“They realize they’re the same as everyone else in the outside world,” said McKenzie. “They see their other qualities and know that no one is passing judgment… it’s just a great way to encourage self-expression in a safe environment.”
McKenzie said the women are appreciative of Books Beyond Bars, but she’s noticed a few women in particular really benefit from the program.
“One young woman had an extremely rough upbringing and was in and out of prison since she was 22 started participating with Books Beyond Bars… it was beautiful because she discovered something in herself. She realized she had a genuine interest in reading and poetry.”
McKenzie said the young woman didn’t see herself as having a talent but started to identify with the girls of Books Beyond Bars. She noticed an improvement in her self-esteem, and noticed when she shared her poetry she was confident and proud because she knew she was good at it.
Donna Philips, executive director at the Elizabeth Fry Society pointed out that literacy programs struggle across the country, especially throughout the justice system.
“The small amount of programming offered for women at Burnside is appalling,” said Philips, “but after Books Beyond Bars were permitted access [to Burnside and Nova Institute] the response has been fantastic.”
A drawing that appears in the Books Beyond Bars zine. Photo: Scanned image from Books Beyond Bars.
Volunteers with Books Beyond Bars, Kate McKenna and Diane Simon see an obvious programming deficit for women in prison.
McKenna, a Dalhousie graduate and active volunteer, said the more she gets involved in organizations the more she sees institutions in Nova Scotia with formats like the justice system, result in inequality.
“I was shocked when I came to Nova Scotia and saw the incredible racism and divisions between classes, and races and cultures of people,” said McKenna. “I don’t know how that explicitly affects literacy… But those general quality of life indicators always suffer when there are other conditions like racism and poverty.”
Simon, a founding a member of Books Beyond Bars said women use writing to examine the roots of their personal issues.
“It helps them realize that the problem is not them and the petty crime they committed,” said Simon. “It’s about the roots of the issue… poverty, the capitalist system in general and what other circumstances put people there.”
Larson too expressed her frustration with the cyclical effects of poverty and illiteracy. “You’re not going to make anyone not poor anymore by locking them in a concrete box,” said Larson. “They’re going back into the community facing the exact same problems of abuse, poverty and drug addiction.”
Larson and the volunteers with Books Beyond Bars hope the release of their book will help draw awareness to the real issues of poverty. She said the women will continue to write and grow as they serve their time at Burnside or the Nova Institute.
“They’re doing their part and we’re just there to encourage it along,” said Larson. “Until things change at all levels of government and with our justice system itself, the best we can do is to provide this creative outlet.”
