Below are a series of podcasts created by undergraduate students at Skidmore College, and is is part of the States of Incarceration’s exhibit in New York: “New York: Closing a Prison, Deferring a Dream“. The body of work is one of many that poses reflects on the question “What is lost when a prison closes?”. Learn more about the exhibit here.
The students conducted interviews with formerly incarcerated men, volunteer teachers, prison officials, and other people tied to Mount McGregor to tell a personal, human story about the struggle to survive life behind bars in a medium-security prison. They hope to encourage a dialogue about how to help incarcerated people overcome the challenges they face behind bars and as they reenter society.
INTERVIEW WITH SEAN DALPIAZ
Many prisoners recognized that Mount McGregor offered some unusual programs that could help them recover their lives. In this clip, former prisoner Sean Dalpiaz talks about how positive prison programs can help lower recidivism rates.
INTERVIEW WITH MARCELLA ANDERSON
Mount McGregor offered prisoners educational opportunities that helped many of them survive in prison and return back to society. Here, Marcella Anderson shares her thoughts about how such programs helped her husband, Derrick.
CARA BENSON: THE IMPORTANCE OF POETRY
In 2005, Cara Benson, an aspiring writer and teacher, began offering a poetry class for prisoners at Mount McGregor. Is this audio clip, she explains why reading and writing can be so liberating to incarcerated people.