In the Fall 2023, we implemented the first credit bearing course at the Coleman Correctional Facility located in Lockhart, Texas. The teaching team comprised six members: professor Adela Pineda (supervisor) and five graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs), Alex Voisine, Celine Norman and Kelsey Bergeson (volunteers).
We had an enrollment of 20 female students. We completed the course with 16 students. The outcome was extraordinary. Students not only learned how to read and interpret literary texts, but they also produced compelling stories and poetry, which led to a publication illustrated by them.
When we completed the course, students had formed a tight community and saw themselves as thinkers and creative writers.
In addition to teaching at Coleman, professor Adela Pineda, Yefferson Ospina, and Gabriel Noriega implemented a non-credit-bearing course at Gardner and Betts Juvenile Facility in the Fall of 2023 and a Podcast Workshop in the Summer of 2024 in the same facility.
Overview
- Summer 2023: Creative Writing Workshop at the Coleman Correctional Facility.
This was an introductory creative writing workshop conducted in Spanish. The foundations were built for the upcoming credit bearing course on the Fall.
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor), Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs)
- Fall 2023: first Credit Bearing Course Pido la Palabra at the Coleman Correctional Facility.
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor) and graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs), Alex Voisine, Celine Norman and Kelsey Bergson (volunteers).
Guest instructors from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina: Sabrina Charaf and María José Rubín.
The outcome was extraordinary. When we completed the course, students had formed a tight community and saw themselves as thinkers and creative writers.vStudents not only learned how to read and interpret literary texts, but they also produced compelling stories and poetry, which led to a publication illustrated by them.
- Fall 2023: Creative Writing Workshop at the Gardner and Betts Juvenile Facility.
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor) and graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs)
Guest instructors from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina: Sabrina Charaf and María José Rubín.
This was a bilingual course where the students had a first encounter with creative writing. The class was built around the reading and the study of Junot Díaz’s book of shortstories Drown (1996)
- Summer 2024: Book Club at the Coleman Correctional Facility.
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor) and graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs)
Collective reading of Señales que precederán al fin del mundo (2009) de Yuri Herrera.
“Pudimos ingresar a la prisión y tener nuestra primera sesión del club de lectura. Las chicas estaban muy emocionadas por volvernos a ver, al igual que nosotros a ellas” (Gabriel)
- Summer 2024: Podcast workshop at Garder and Betts Juvenile Facility
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor) and graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs)
The students developed communicative skills, enhanced their abilities to self-expression and showed empathy towards each other’s stories. They became familiar with podcasting techniques and equipment. It is worth noting that this workshop was focused on developing story-telling and interviewing skills. Twelve meaningful interviews were recorded, reflecting the personal narratives and aspirations of the young participants.
- Fall 2024: Second Credit Bearing Course at the Coleman Correctional Facility.
Teaching team: Prof. Gabriela Polit (supervisor) and graduate students: Alex Voisine, Isabel Ibánez (GRAs), Oscar Chaidez, Yefferson Ospina, Gabriel Noriega.
Guest instructor from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina: Ana Laura Camarda.
Ongoing. The texts produced in this course will be the material of our second magazine to be published in November 2024.
- Fall 2024: Second Creative Writing Workshop at the Gardner and Betts Juvenile Facility.
Teaching team: Prof. Adela Pineda (supervisor) and graduate students: Gabriel Noriega, Yefferson Ospina (GRAs).
Guest instructor from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina: Ana Laura Camarda.
Ongoing.
