InsideOUT Writers (IOW) was founded in 1996 and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in 1999.  IOW grew out of the vision of juvenile hall chaplain, Sister Janet Harris, former Los Angeles Times journalist Duane Noriyuki and several other professional writers who volunteered to teach creative writing in Los Angeles County's Central Juvenile Hall.  IOW's long-term goal is to reduce recidivism among juvenile offenders by providing youth and young adults with tools for pro-social means of self-expression, self-reflection and positive inter-group communications.

Today, IOW offers two innovative programs for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated youth and young adults.  The Writing Program offers 39 weekly and bi-weekly creative writing classes for youth incarcerated at four Los Angeles juvenile detention facilities.  The Alumni Program provides a continuum of care for former Writing Program participants (Alumni) who have been released from detention.

WRITING PROGRAM

The Writing Program was designed to provide youth incarcerated at Los Angeles juvenile detention facilities with activities that discourage violence and support positive social values.  Youth are encouraged to express themselves through writing and other pro-social activities rather than through violence.  The Writing Program offers:

• 39 weekly and bi-weekly creative writing classes led by volunteer teachers.
  
  
• Quarterly newsletters of the students' writings.
  
  
• Annual Writers' Retreats for all IOW students at each facility to come together as writers to celebrate their accomplishments.

ALUMNI PROGRAM

The Alumni Program is comprised of five interconnected components which work in concert to address the multitude of risks, opportunities, influences and needs that impact an alumni's successful re-entry back into their communities:

• Case Management - Transitional support services and referrerals, including assistance with housing, transportation, employment and education.
  
  
• Mentoring Program - One-to-one mentoring program provides Alumni with access to positive adult role models, acknowledging that family and social connections are vital to successful re-entry.
  
  
• Writing Circle - Creative writing classes provide opportunities for self-reflection and self-discovery.
  
  
• Enrichment Sessions - Alumni participate in a year-long series of activity based, interactive sessions that focus on developing their life, social and leadership skills.
  
  
• Leadership Development Opportunities - Positive social and civic activities that support and enhance an alumni's continued personal development.
  
  
  

Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Staff

Board of Directors

Michael Mandelbaum, Chair
Ian Graham, Vice-Chair
Dellene Arthur, Treasurer
Honorable Joseph Brandolino, Secretary

Zev Borow
Lucy Firestone
Ian Fischler
Brian Leuchtenburg
Barry Nugent
Todd Rubenstein


Advisory Board

Dr. Joan Dusa
Martha Escutia
David Gale
Richard Gant
Jedd Gold
Claudia Gracioso
Gigi Levangie-Grazer
Sister Janet Harris
Flo McAfee
Dr. Walter McMillan
Marlon Rivera
Eric Roth
Van Gordon Sauter
Mark Salzman
Eva Stern

Staff

Wendelyn P. Killian, Esq., Executive Director
Leslie Diane Poston, Writing Program Director
Liza Bray, Alumni Program Director
Alex Montes, Writing Program Assistant (on-site, Central Juvenile Hall)
Mindy Velasco, Writing Program Assistant
Wendy Gough Soroka,  Manager of Administration & Special Projects
Jimmy Wu, Alumni Case Manager

 Past Editions of The Writers' Corner

Vol. 1, Issue 1	Vol. 1, Issue 2	Vol. 1, Issue 3

Board of Directors, Advisory Board and Staff