Storytelling and Identity - Fall 2023

we are made of stories

Month: September 2023 Page 4 of 14

Prep Note 9/26/2023

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On September 24, 2023

In Julia, prep note

Reading the article written by McConnell was eye-opening for me because it dove deeper into the effects that government sentencing has on children. It’s hard to reprimand teenagers, especially ones that have had hard childhoods because no one can provide the comfort and help needed to reconcile with that kind of past. Additionally, I don’t think any juvenile should be sentenced to life without parole because that doesn’t allow for growth or change, just reinforces harsh justice practices. That is why I was so inspired by the Bon Air facility because it allows for growth and understanding of how the crimes committed were actually very harmful. But in addition to this, it allows each juvenile to confront their past and get the help they need. If one grows up in an environment with abuse or neglect, it’s probably going to be hard for them to open up to others. Bon Air however understands this struggle and works with juveniles to better themselves, rather than sticking them in a cell for the rest of their lives.

I also found the video from The Atlantic very helpful in understanding what life is like at Bon Air. For example, Marquez explained that he was able to decorate his room, and that Bon Air provided everyone with stability they may have never had before. I’m hopeful that more facilities like Bon Air will open up around different parts of Virginia, just because it is so removed from the rest of the state and makes visiting hard for families. But also facilities like this should be open around the country; it’s like Terence said, you can’t have rehabilitation if you don’t have habilitation in the first place, and that’s what Bon Air does. It provides habilitation.

Question for McConnell

  1. Where are convicted juveniles sent if they are not sent to Bon Air, and where are those located in regards to their homes?
  2. Are there other facilities that are going to have the same goals as Bon Air built around Virginia?

Prep Note 9/26/23

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On September 24, 2023

In kristine, prep note

Reading about the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center’s Post-D Program was enlightening because I learned about the different services offered to those in the program. It also discussed how there are certain criteria a person must meet to be in the program, and the approval process they must undergo. The video about the Bon Air Juvenile Correctional Facility provided even more information about juvenile incarceration. Watching it made me realize the cold hard reality of being incarcerated at a young age. Everything in your day is structured, and staying connected with family is so difficult because Bon Air is the only juvenile facility in Virginia, so the commutes are often far. I found it atrocious that there is only one juvenile facility in Virginia, so I was happy to find out that some people are advocating for a new one to be built in eastern Virginia. 

As for the reflections on the class syllabus and Endeavor values, I found myself thinking about my progress so far in this class and program. In terms of the class goals, I think I have made some progress on communicating orally. In high school, I often didn’t raise my hand to speak because I was afraid of being judged if I said something I perceived as unintelligent. In this class, however, I am more comfortable with expressing my ideas because it feels like a safe space to say things and move the conversation forward. Also, I have started to become aware of narratives that drive society, specifically, stereotypes about incarcerated people. From the texts we have read and the conversations we heard from our lunch visit, I have been able to debunk negative stereotypes that permeate society in relation to incarceration. For the Endeavor goals, I think I’ve made progress on ethical understanding because I’ve started to realize that my ideas and actions have ethical consequences on the people around me, so I have to be mindful about this.

Lastly, I haven’t thought much about my learning philosophy statement before. If I were to narrow it down into a sentence, I’d say that I value finding meaning in what you learn. If you try to memorize information just to regurgitate it during an exam and forget about it later, that’s not learning to me. I like thinking about how my learning relates to my own life and the world around me.

Question for McConnell: How do correctional facilities prioritize connecting youth with their families and communities?

Prep Note 9/26

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On September 24, 2023

In prep note, Will S

I think there’s no one set definition for who the “incarcerated youth” are. Everyone who ends up in those correctional facilities ahas a different story to tell and a world of different experiences. This is part of the reason why I thought the video by The Atlantic rung true when it mentioned building multiple correctional centers throughout the state instead of just having Bon Air. I think this idea goes along with the idea that the people being incarcerated at a young age are all so varied. What works for one person might not work for another, so having multiple different facilities to accommodate people who live in different places or have different backgrounds is a smart move in my opinion. Additionally, since Bel Air wasn’t built for correctional programing, I think a complete renovation of the facility like what was mentioned in the documentary, is a really good idea. By living in a place that’s obviously focused on correction, I’d imagine the youth living there would be more inclined to really work to improve, as opposed to the current Bel Air layout which makes correction feel like an afterthought. I assume there are a bunch of logistical issues that are hampering the progress of these changes, but I think that the effort required to make said changes happen will be well worth it in the long run.

About teaching/professors and what we are doing in this class

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On September 23, 2023

In Dolson, Uncategorized

When I read the class notes from Thursday, I realized it was a good time to clarify and follow up on something that was mentioned as an aside.  I was commenting on stylistic difference between Coogan and me, but being tired and stressed that day, I don’t think I explained it well, or why it mattered to our conversation.  So I’m taking the opportunity to say more here, on the blog.

Coogan teaches at a large university with a different set of expectations and opportunities. He sometimes has 75 students in a class! And he teaches more upper-level rhetoric and writing classes. And when he started the project that resulted in Writing Our Way Out, he did not have any VCU students in the class, and the participants in the jail did not get academic credit. Since he first started the writing project, he has grown and transformed the program as well as educating many other educators on how to create similar projects. Currently, Richmond judges can, at their discretion, “sentence” non-violent adult offenders to take Coogan’s writing class and if they successfully complete their memoir, they will have no criminal record.

Our project in the spring will be different.  I have always worked with juvenile offenders, and from the beginning I wanted the project to include university students AND incarcerated youth.  My interest is in the way stories build bridges between strangers. And I have developed this project because of who I am and what I teach.  I specialize in teaching first-year college students, helping them to gain skills in academic writing and research that will help them meet college-level requirements across all the disciplines. Here is my teaching philosophy statement:

I believe people are born curious and ready to learn. We learn our language and how to take care of ourselves and many complex skills before we ever enter “school.”  I like to find ways to minimize the amount that school makes us doubt, and maybe even forget, our natural abilities.  My method for doing this is to create learning communities that engage all the members in wondering, discovering, connecting ideas in new ways, trying things out, reflecting, transforming, and leading.  My classes always engage with the world outside of school in some way, which makes for a degree of unpredictability that causes some students discomfort. I don’t think discomfort is always a bad thing.

I design every class I teach with learning goals in mind.  This class has student learning goals related to this specific course in the policy/syllabus statement.  And I also based the design on these goals for the Endeavor program: 

self-efficacy, community, intellectual engagement, and ethical understanding

I challenge you to  re-read the policy statement and also the definition of the Endeavor goals and write/reflect about:

1. what progress are you making toward the class goals so far?

2. what progress are you making toward the Endeavor goals?

3. what is your learning philosophy statement?  What do you believe and value related to learning?

Is there any part of these reflections you would feel comfortable sharing with the class? Post it to the blog : )

Doing these reflections will be great learning which will prepare you for your portfolios.

Class Notes 9/21/23

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On September 21, 2023

In Daily Class Notes, Will L

Differences between Prof. Dolson’s teaching style and Dr. Coogan’s

  • Dr. Coogan – more rigid, get an assignment, turn it in, get feedback, and rework.
  • Prof. Dolson – more of a flow, not specific

At what points did the discussion feel awkward?

  • Kaylee – when she asked about social services.
    • Terence asked if anyone had been in a similar situation as him, and he noted that there were no black people in our class. Kaylee actually did grow up in a similar situation to him, she wasn’t asking from an outside/above perspective but actually, she just wanted to hear his opinions because 
    • Context plays an important role when asking these questions
  • Julia – witnessing the dynamic between Dr. Coogan and Terence and Kelvin, him “shushing them.”

What did Terence view as bad with social services?

  • Its just so different of a service now vs. when it could have affected him.

What is the assumption/cultural views about white women when it comes to black men?

  • Bad things can happen, for example, the woman calling the cops on a man just watching birds.
  • Karen – a stereotype and narrative in our culture
  • Prof. Dolson and her friend on parents telling them what to do if they ever got lost.
  • “If you get lost find a policeman” vs. “go and find an older woman.”
    • Completely different scripts
  • Prof. Dolson was having a hard time making Terence feel welcome because he took what she was doing as hovering. She told him however that she is a mom, and she makes people feel welcome by feeding them, and he started laughing and understood why she was doing what she was doing.

When we share a personal story, it sets a different tone and a different level of trust.

  • It allows for a different kind of conversation.

Family

  • Your family is still your family.
  • They put out things about their family exactly as it is
  • Nick – if someone calls out one of your family members since you identify so closely with your family, it then feels like they’re calling you out.

Identity – your family is such a big part of your identity, and once you start college you get away from that part of your identity and you get a chance to view that part from a different perspective.

Do you (international students) have thoughts/questions about American culture?

  • Angelos had a bigger culture shock coming here compared to when he went to Singapore when he was sixteen
    • He saw a lot of ignorance and privilege, which led to a lot of assumptions and stereotypes leading to his culture shock
    • Greece is much more homogenous, whereas people in the US feel they are already diverse simply because they are around different cultures
  • Wesley doesn’t consider himself a typical Chinese, he uses a VPN to access information that a lot of Chinese don’t; ways of entertainment are different, but lifestyles are very similar between the two cultures.

When we were telling our stories from our childhoods in the first week, the goal was to get to know each other and create a level of trust. We’re going to go back to that with our memoirs, 

  • Personal storytelling – We are going to “work up” one of our stories, we will pick one of our childhood stories and expand on it

Realness

  • Mitch – Since they chose what to put in their story ten years ago and now, we got to hear from them in real life with no filter it was so much more real, and even their talking about it couldn’t be everything they wanted to share.
    • You can only say so much, but they were so animated and loud
  • Javier – They commented how much more there was to their lives, but they kept them out because they didn’t want it to become embellished.

What was important about having the opportunity to tell their story and then come talk to us?

  • It’s real it’s messy, uncomfortable, and sometimes funny; you feel good when you make a connection
  • We are so privileged that when reading written text, we can lose the power of oral storytelling
  • Looking for shaping and impact → close textual analysis
    • Why is that an academic discipline? 
      • Brice – It helps you to connect your own world and personal experience/perspectives to other things
      • Mitch – science is much more rigid whereas English is a lot more interpretive, free form, less boundary
  • WOWO was a nonfiction memoir
    • It is a memoir, it is a book, but it’s not a novel because it’s not fiction
  • In the past priests were taught to read so that they could pass down the knowledge of the bible or religious text so they would tell the stories and interpret them for the people
    • When the printing press happened people could get the book for themselves and have their own interpretations but people also stopped telling the stories orally
  • Collegiate Gothic

Our class focus going forward:

  • Focusing on language and our interpretation of stories
  • Learning from experience, peers, writing, and reading
  • Our portfolios will be process portfolios
  • Several pieces where we’ll quote ourselves about a certain quote.

Reflection Questions:

  • Look at the number next to my name in the blog, how many times have I written to the blog? What were those like? What are some other opportunities to contribute to the blog that I will have in the future?
  • Have you gone back and read the class notes yet? If so when? How might it be helpful to read them?
  • Have you read other people’s prep notes? Is that something you would want to do? What would be the effect of doing that? Have you commented on someone else’s prep note?
  • Thinking about the assignment instructions for the analysis essay how many times did you read them?
  • Thinking about the content of the class, what interests you the most? Is there something you might do to pursue that further?

Prep Note – 9/21/2023

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On September 21, 2023

In Javier, prep note

Albeit writing this late, the majority of my consensus and thoughts were detailed in my extensive Class Notes. As recalled in class today, one of the interesting points I noticed was how much more they could’ve written and what a broad spectrum of possibility their lives had of material that could’ve made its way into the book but was held back– for either length constraints or mistakenly glorifying experiences.

I thought Terrence to a certain extent was intimidating at first, but soon understood that it was simply his passion over the project. His interactions with Bryce and Kaylee’s questions certainly brought to light the significance of the project in his eyes, and although the tension certainly broke near the end due to the questions asked and bringing laughter, it was a valuable learning experience from all of the guests.

Prep Note 9/21/23

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On September 21, 2023

In Kaylee, prep note

I thought that the lunch with Terence, Kelvin, and David went really well and was extremely insightful. I was surprised that they (especially Terence) were extremely interested in what our goal was in the class. Their goal while writing differed, and our goal as a class seems to be to learn and grow as people. Hearing the men talk about how much they cared and the difference they wanted to make with readers was truly eye-opening. I’m very grateful that they spent time with us, and that they were so open and honest.

Prep Note 9/20

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On September 20, 2023

In Uncategorized

After the interview, I spent some time reflecting and these are some of the main takeaways:

  • I am extremely privileged
  • No matter how hard it is to be vulnerable, it is totally ok to
  • Share your experiences with your peers, both of parties get rewarded
  • The book is a serious demonstration of their lives, not function

In preparation for the next class, I did the following steps:

  • I listed all the interesting quotes from Naji’s story
  • I connected them by theme
  • I analysed them and gave them meaning
  • Starting writing paragraphs and raising bigger ideas

Prep Note 9/21

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On September 20, 2023

In Haven, prep note

I  definitely enjoyed the lunch conversation we had with Dr. Coogan, Terence, and Kelvin. One thing that struck me, especially on the walk from the parking lot to the dining hall, was the easy camaraderie between all of them. The way that they all interacted with each other was very telling in that they treated each other like normal people. The moment when all of them started laughing about Stan as “the Preacher” felt so human. Also, like a lot of us, I think, I was struck by how real the stories in that book were. I knew – logically – that it was real, but seeing those guys in person really drove it home. Everything – every sad, wrong, or gut-wrenching thing – that they described in the book, whether about their lives or about the criminal justice system, exists in our real world. And I guess the moment we were able to actually lay eyes on them, there was absolutely no avoiding that anymore.

Prep note for 9/21

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On September 20, 2023

In Ana, prep note

I am very sad that I was not able to attend the group lunch with Kelvin, Terrence and Dave but Nick’s prep note and Kristine’s reply also gave me really good insight. One thing that surprised me was how much they were interested in us as students and curious to why we choose to take this class. I had envisioned the lunch going more like an interview, students asking visitors a lot of questions but it seemed to end up to be more like a conversation. Something that really stuck with me was “Terrence could’ve written a lot more, and extraordinarily. Could’ve shared so much more. However, his experience wasn’t something to glorify but to help him heal and move forward.” Knowing your limits, and always understanding why you’re doing something and trying to do it for the right reason is so important. Terrence talks about struggling with understanding his identity, but based on his actions I think he is more aware of himself and who he is than he knows.

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