I was so moved by a performance of “In My Shoes” that I was inspired to give to the Judy Dworin Performance Project [JDPP]. “In My Shoes” brings the voices of the women at York Correctional Institution to the public. Six guest artists - some of whom were previously incarcerated, and another who is a child of a parent who was incarcerated - perform with JDPP’s professional ensemble members to tell the story of the walk to, through, and out of prison. My reaction to their spoken words, dances, and songs was so visceral that I didn’t even realize I had been holding my breath until the tears welling up in my eyes began to fall down my cheeks.
I was overcome by these women who had such courage to share their own and others’ painful stories and bare their souls. They were so brave; I wondered if I were in their shoes, if I would have had the personal fortitude to deal with what happened, to move on with my life, to try to learn how to be free.
Because this touched my heart, I knew I wanted to do something to express my gratitude to the performers and to JDPP. I wanted to thank the performers for the privilege of being witness to their heartfelt transformation. And I wanted to thank JDPP for creating such beautiful and important art. And I felt so good knowing that I would be helping them to continue to enrich my life and the lives of others. #MyGivingStory #GivingTuesday #JDPPMoving4Change
Review from #MyGivingStory
Walls Are For Art
I give to Judy Dworin Performance Project (JDPP) because I know . . .
nearly two thirds of incarcerated women are mothers.
one in fourteen U.S. children has or has had an incarcerated parent.
Children are the collateral damage of our national plight of mass incarceration. When their parents are incarcerated, children suffer. These broken and underserved children become broken and underserved adults, greatly at risk of becoming incarcerated.
As a society we can, and must, do better to uplift families and to end mass incarceration. I give to this organization because The Judy Dworin Performance Project has created and implemented successful programs that challenge mothers to reflect upon and move beyond the wreckage of their pass, inspire children to work through the shame of having an incarcerated parent, and nurture the relationships of moms and kids. On the horizon is a dads and kids program. Using the arts as a catalyst for change, these programs truly help to heal families and strengthen communities, which are real strides toward transforming our failing justice system.
I have enough faith in humanity to think that if more people could see and feel what prison really is, we would not have prisons. Seeing inside prison is not possible because we, the public, are never invited in. Or, are we? Through multi-arts performance, JDPP brings to the public stage an emotional, authentic experience of life behind the walls, including performers who, while incarcerated, worked with JDPP on the inside. I became aware of the dysfunction of our justice system first hand, about twenty years ago, when I was incarcerated. Believe me, taking in this performance is as inside as you can get, without losing your freedom. I give to Judy Dworin Performance Project to uplift families and end mass incarceration. I believe that if you could feel what prison is like, you would want change, too. You would be ashamed, as was I, of who those walls are really separating. #JDPPMoving4Change#MyGivingStory#GivingTuesday
Review from #MyGivingStory