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The New York State Literary Center (NYSLC)
NYSLC's goals are to make education relevant, to introduce diverse ideas and perspectives, and to enlarge the view of the community for those impacted by incarceration. NYSLC challenges and motivates through the presentation of information, studies, research, opportunities, and available resources that promote education, rehabilitation, community engagement, and rebuilding families to enrich lives. NYSLC is positioned to continue post Pandemic both on https://www.nyslc.org/ and Facebook.
NYSLC's experience continues to verify that those affected by incarceration have had poor educational experiences, lack a knowledge of history, and are not able to communicate effectively. They have experienced trauma, were raised in unstable family structures, and have very little knowledge about the community in which they live. Addressing these is an essential part of NYSLC's mission.
NYSLC begins with culturally relevant readings that recognize the importance of the individual in learning. The readings are added to continuously. To have those affected by incarceration recognize the importance of history and its relevance to how life is experienced today acknowledges the importance of the individual in learning and has always been a vital component of NYSLC's pedagogy. NYSLC challenges those affected by incarceration to think and respond to issues that directly impact their lives.
Dale Davis has developed the writing of those who have participated NYSLC's education programs into theater pieces, "Where Have We Been: 1964" https://www.nyslc.org/video1964.htm; "Reading James Baldwin 2015" https://www.nyslc.org/ReadingJamesBaldwin.htm; and "What Do We Do Next" https://www.nyslc.org/whatdowedonext.htm are examples. The theater pieces have been performed in jails and correctional facilities. Writing by those who have participated NYSLC's programs has been the inspiration for the creation of murals by participants on the history of Rochester https://www.nyslc.org/rockmural.htm; on dreams wanting to be shared https://www.nyslc.org/dreamsmural.htm; and on the need to help parents and children communicate in visiting rooms of correctional facilities and jails https://www.nyslc.org/freedommural.htm. The murals are now housed in the Monroe County Jail.
Writing by those incarcerated in NYSLC's programs was featured in "Freedom of Expression: An Exhibition of Contemporary Diaries" at The Anne Frank Center in New York. The exhibition of diaries featured contemporary diaries, a facsimile of Anne Frank's original diary, some of the Freedom Writers' diaries, diaries by men and women in prison, and the diaries of those in NYSLC's programs https://www.nyslc.org/annefrankabout.htm
NYSLC's pilot program, "How to Get From Here To The Rest of The World," led NYSLC to identify the children of those incarcerated as a community need that was not being met. Parents did not suffer the consequences of incarceration alone; their children often lost contact with their parents and many times visits are rare. Research showed children of incarcerated parents were more likely to drop out of school, engage in delinquent behavior, and subsequently be incarcerated themselves. This led to do "Incarceration: Its Impact on Children and Families" https://www.nyslc.org/.
Post Pandemic NYSLC continues to serve those affected by incarceration online through making education relevant, introducing diverse ideas and perspectives, and enlarging the view of the community for those impacted by incarceration. NYSLC continues to challenge and motivate with information, studies, research, opportunities, and available resources that promote education, rehabilitation, community engagement, and rebuilding families to enrich lives.
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