Nonprofit Corner
"Read To Me International’s Prison Literacy Project in Hawai‘i"
BY DEANNA ESPINAS, LIBRARY SERVICES OFFICER
I pretend not to hear the sobs of the young woman sitting in the corner of the dining room as she hunches over a book and whispers into a digital recorder, “I love you, baby. I hope you enjoy this book. Whenever you want to hear my voice, ask grandma to play the CD again, okay? Bye.”
This is a typical scene from one of the weekly Read To Me sessions at the Women’s Community Correctional Center (WCCC) in Kailua, Hawai‘i. A young inmate has just recorded herself reading a children’s book that she thinks her daughter will enjoy. This was her first session, and after she finished recording, she turned and eagerly asked, “Are you really gonna mail the CD and book to my kid?” I reassured her that I would. Back at headquarters, I carefully screened her recording, burned her reading to CD, and mailed both the CD and book to her child.
For that moment, no matter how long this woman has been or will be incarcerated, she shares a piece of herself with her child through a beloved book.
In August 2003, the Department of Public Safety began the Read To Me Program at WCCC with the help of volunteers from Keolumana United Methodist Church. Library Services coordinates the weekly program, using available space in each housing unit—the dining room, an old dispensary, anywhere that does not jeopardize security. Program space is at a premium. There is no room for privacy or quality acoustics as each woman reads.None of this stops the women. Currently, there are 281 women at WCCC, and 70 of them participate in the Read To Me program. These women are mothers, aunties, and grandmothers who look forward to an opportunity to connect with their children, even if we’re only able to schedule them once every two or three months. Story time is a parent-child privilege these women don’t take for granted, and knowing their children can still listen to their voice is a much needed comfort in a far from comfortable space.
Hawai‘i is very fortunate to have this program, as developed by Read To Me International. The program is a partnership between the Hawaii State Department of Public Safety, Read To Me International, and a handful of dedicated volunteers. We strive to fulfill Read To Me’s mission statement—to share the love and joy of reading aloud—by telling program participants about the importance of reading aloud, helping them select appropriate books, and supporting them during their read-aloud sessions.
We often have to reassure inmates that the point is not for them to do a perfect recording but, rather, to share a story and a moment with their children. The women carefully sort through our book collection, often unsure which book to pick, so we offer suggestions: “How old are your children? How about a story about a little boy who learns to love his real home after running away?” Here are just a few of many titles that the women enjoy recording: Love You Forever by Robert Munsch, Pocket Full of Kisses by Audrey Penn, The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn, Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes.
No matter which title is chosen, we always remind the women to include a brief personal message at the beginning and end of their recordings. The women are encouraged to use this time to connect with their children using humor and laughter.
This program benefits the inmates as well as their children. A 1972 report by the California Department of Corrections found a strong and consistently positive relationship between parole success and the maintenance of strong family ties while in prison. Also, according to a survey conducted by the National Council on Crime and Delinquency in 1993, 28 percent of the caregivers of children of incarcerated parents reported the children experienced problems with school and/or learning. Read To Me prison-literacy projects address educational-risk factors and prison recidivism while benefiting the child, educational system, and caregiver.
Many of the women have shared with us how amazed they were when they call home and learn how much their children enjoy listening to the recordings and relay that many of their children are able to read along with the books. One woman rushed excitedly into her next session to say, “My son took his book on CD to school, and the teacher let him listen and share with his classmates. Unreal, yeah! You can help me find another book like that?”
We hope the children understand that their mothers, aunties, and grandmas love them very much and that this love will always be with them, no matter where their parents are. Again and again as I screen each recording, I hear many women end their sessions with a message similar to that of one young participant who, at the end of her tape, said into the recorder: “Mommy loves you very, very much, and I miss you so, so much. I’ll be home soon, so be good and do well in school.”
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READ TO ME INTERNATIONAL HAS A SIMPLE MISSION:
to share the love and joy of reading aloud. Read To Me believes that
through this simple activity, parents and communities help keiki
develop basic literacy skills and nurture positive relationships.
The WCCC prison literacy project is one of six grassroots projects
in the islands. Read To Me also runs an award-winning, federallyfunded
prison project called “Fathers Bridging the Miles,” which
supports Hawai‘i inmates incarcerated in Arizona.
Beyond its prison literacy projects, Read To Me International focuses
on creating awareness on the benefits of reading aloud, produces
materials and resources on the importance of reading to children,
presents at schools and community events, and hosts a national biannual
conference.
For more information on RTMI and on how to get involved, visit
www.readtomeintl.org, follow Read To Me on Twitter and Facebook
(Read To Me International), or call (808) 955-7600.................................
DEANNA ESPINAS
Deanna Espinas has been with Library Services in the Department of Public Safety for over 29 years. She enjoys working with the men and women inmates to help them continue a connection with their children through the Read To Me Program. Email: deanna.l.espinas@hawaii.gov or phone: 808-587-1273.
