If Ever There Was a Captive Audience

By Jane Harnadek

I’m standing in line with my badge and materials, and I’m waiting to get into Unit Five. There are two people ahead of me and I quietly ask myself, “What is taking them so long?” Finally, I am buzzed through the first door. I empty everything in my pockets as well as my materials into a try which is then put through an X-ray machine. Then it is my turn to walk through a metal detector. Next, I walk through a series of doors – one, two, then a third one, and then…a final clang. I am inside the walls of a prison.

I pick up the list of attendees and I begin the long walk to Unit Five and through the final locked door. I am on my way to begin session four of an eight week rotating Life Skills session at a local correctional facility. I am a volunteer, and once a week (during my lunch hour); I present a Life Skills session to inmates. At the facility, there are set volunteer hours (1:30 pm to 3:30 pm) and usually I arrive at my final destination by 2:00 pm

Each Life Skill session begins the same way. Greetings and sign in, a confidentiality statement, and then a review of what we have covered and what’s to come. I only have 45 minutes so there is a lot to teach and a lot to learn. The best way to assist them is by letting them run the session, with me guiding them. It’s amazing how much they know and are not aware of it. They know so much more about body language and communication skills than others I’ve met. It is also great for me as well and I learn so much from the men I am working with. For example, did you know that carpenter’s glue is the trade secret of carpenters? Apparently, it’s the strongest glue around.

I prepare all my sessions in advance and review material that is to be presented while making sure that I have extra copies just in case there is an unexpected attendant. I research information on the Internet and visit the library to bring along books on the day’s topic. Before the session is repeated, I revisit websites to ensure they are still up and running and gather the books I need for the session. To cover as much information as possible in 45 minutes, I utilize a 3-fold flyer that I’ve created along with one or two handouts and then an exercise. I have a simple ROPES lesson plan and I’m allowed to use my pen while the men use golf pencils. We use the community room and sit on hard plastic chairs at round tables. There can be from one to eight men in a session with a maximum of fifteen. There are no markers, no tape, no staples, no paper clips, NO computers, and no phones. I did have an easel at one time, but now it’s gone.

The eight sessions are as follows:

• Body Language
• Goal Setting
• Communication
• Resume Writing
• Job Preparation
• Being a Father
• Anger Management
• Money Management

Job preparation is the most fun of all the sessions. During the last 10 minutes, we ask each other various types of mock interview questions (traditional, behavioural, social, and emotional). I remember one particular session when one of the men was asked to answer this question: What was your favourite job and why? He responded by saying that his favourite job was when he was the owner of an Adult Entertainment Club. He said he liked making everyone happy and especially enjoyed interviewing the women who had applied for positions within the club.

During each session, I try to encourage the men to check out the book Chicken Soup for the Prisoner’s Soul from the Chaplain’s library. The stories of hope can help on those not so good days and can offer them some additional encouragement. Then there are days when I throw out all the prepared materials, and we talk from the heart and soul. Each session also ends with words of encouragement along with handshake, smile, and “see you next week”.

I have to say that being a volunteer facilitator of Life Skills is an amazing experience. Although I may never get to see the fruits of my labour, I know I have made a difference in the lives of some of the people I work with. I have the opportunity to encourage those who are feeling discouraged, to become open and accepting of other people, and to learn about things in a totally unexpected way. Whether it’s body language or money management, job preparation or being a parent, we all have one thing in common, we learn from each other.

When it’s time to leave, I ask the guard to “buzz” me out and then I begin the process of walking to the front doors. After dropping off the attendance form, walking through the series of doors, and dropping off my badge, I am able to walk out of the final door. As I’m driving out of the parking lot and heading back to work, I think to myself, ‘Hurry up Wednesday, I’m ready for the next session”.

Jane Harnadek has been a Registered Volunteer at the largest Provincial medium to maximum security correctional facility outside the Greater Toronto Area for 3 ½ years. She is an Assistant Teacher at a childcare centre in Mississauga. She is currently attending night classes at Sheridan College to obtain her Adult Educator Diploma and determined to finish what she started a while ago: Early Childhood Educator diploma. She has also facilitated Introduction to Sewing for Adults and has many years of administrative experience. She volunteers at her church as a lector and choir member (Alto). She is a single mom with two grown daughters. Contact: janeharnadek@yahoo.com