For eight years, students from the Palma High School in Salinas have been part of a book club at Correctional Training Facility (CTF).
The book club, Exercises in Empathy, connects people serving life sentences at CTF in Soledad with Palma students.
As a group, they discuss themes found in literature. Students and incarcerated people have studied several John Steinbeck novels and discuss metaphors and meanings from Shakespeare. Jim Micheletti, Palma’s Director of Campus Ministry, assisted by Mia Mirassou, created the program. They focus on compassion, empathy, and restorative justice.
Prior to the pandemic, Exercises in Empathy would average 25 students, staff members and parents meeting with 80 incarcerated people. Despite a pause due to the pandemic, CTF was able to continue the meetings via closed group live stream.
These electronic meetings include three incarcerated people from CTF, formerly incarcerated people from Creating Restorative Opportunities & Programs (CROP), and others. With Exercises in Empathy on livestream, participants increased from 25 to 40 per session.
CTF was also able to play the recorded meetings on the orison’s closed circuit television channel for the population to watch.
“This program allows the incarcerated men and students from Palma to develop and learn a greater understanding of each other. It also teaches the men how to promote positive growth and give back to the community,” said acting Warden L. A. Martinez.
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