What is InsideOUT Writers?


InsideOUT Writers volunteers conduct writing classes in three juvenile halls in the Greater Los Angeles Area: Central Juvenile Hall, Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall and Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall. Over 300 students between the ages of twelve and eighteen attend classes one to two times per week on a voluntary basis.

In a classroom environment free of judgment, students are encouraged to write with clarity and authenticity without worrying about sophistication or grammar.  Before each session ends, students are offered the opportunity to read their work aloud.  InsideOUT Writers gives many of its participants a first-time opportunity to hear their words aloud and see their work published.

Teachers lead classes in personal narrative and poetry to help students better understand themselves and reevaluate their judgment of the world. As the students’ ability to express themselves grows, so does their self confidence and motivation to improve other aspects of their lives.

Our Results


In a study conducted by the Rand Corporation for the Los Angeles Probation Department it was shown that InsideOUT Writer’s participants are less violent than the general population of incarcerated youth. It has also been determined by the Probation Department and the teachers within the Court School system that IOW helps youth express their negative feelings through writing, rather than through violence, and that IOW students are better prepared to pass their high school exit exams. Participation in the IOW program increases students’ self esteem as well as their attitude toward learning.

Not only do the youth recognize the value of the writing program, but the staff at the various juvenile halls recognizes its value as well.  Staff has consistently said that the writing program helps ease the young people’s pain and enables them to express it in a positive way rather than through violence in the units. 


Our History


InsideOUT Writers was established in 1996 and became a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization in 2000.  InsideOUT Writers grew out of the vision of a juvenile hall chaplain, Sister Janet Harris; children’s book author and illustrator Karen Hunt;  Los Angeles Times journalist Duane Noriyuki, and a few professional writers who volunteered to go into Los Angeles’ Central Juvenile Hall to teach creative writing. 
 
InsideOUT Writers has evolved through the years and the program has grown from three classes a week to more than 41 classes weekly.


Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Staff


Board of Directors

Michael Mandelbaum, Chair
Eva Stern, Vice-Chair
Dellene Arthur, Treasurer
Joe Brandolino, Ex-Officio

Jeryl Bowers
Lucy Firestone
Richard Gant
Ian Graham
Sister Janet Harris
Flo McAfee
Walter McMillan
Barry Nugent


Advisory Board

Haig Bagerdjian
Deborah Baskin, Ph.D.
Dr. Joan Dusa
Ronen Elad
Martha Escutia
David Gale
Claudia Graciosa
Gigi Levangie-Grazer
Marlon Rivera
Eric Roth
Mark Salzman
Mary Turco
Adam Winick


Staff

Wendelyn P. Killian, Esq., Executive Director
Sheri Lin, MA, Writing Program Director
Liza Bray, Alumni Program Director
Manuel Martir, Case Manager
Wendy Gough Soroka, Office Coordinator 
Nathaniel Halpern, Program Assistant

 

 

What is InsideOUT Writers?

Our Results

Our History


Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Staff
 
 
 
 

 

 

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