- InsideOUT Writers

Fact Sheet
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 to youth
incarcerated in Los Angeles County’s Central Juvenile Hall. The mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the
juvenile recidivism rate by providing a range of services that evolves to meet the needs of currently and
formerly incarcerated youth and young adults. Using creative writing as a catalyst for personal
transformation, these young people are empowered with the knowledge and skills necessary to successfully
re-integrate into our communities, becoming advocates for their future.
WRITING PROGRAM
The Writing Program offers positive and empowering activities for youth who are incarcerated in Los Angeles
County juvenile detention facilities, Men’s Central Jail and Ironwood State Prison. Creative writing is the vehicle
used to positively impact their attitudes and behaviors. The Writing Program is comprised of three components:
 Creative Writing Classes – 42 weekly classes, led by volunteer teachers who encourage positive peer
interaction, provide a safe space for students’ creativity to flourish.
 In Depth – Students’ writings are published in a quarterly literary journal.
 Writers’ Retreats – An annual event at each facility celebrates and gives “voice” to students’ writings.
Currently, an average of 200-275 students per week participate in the Writing Program. Since 1997, more than
15,000 students have participated in more than 11,000 classes.
ALUMNI PROGRAM
The Alumni Program provides a continuum of care to Writing Program students who have been released from
detention, offering an array of re-entry programming and services to support their transition back into our
communities. The Alumni Program is comprised of six interconnected components which work in concert to
address the multitude of risks, opportunities, influences and needs that impact one’s successful re-entry:
 Case Management – Case Managers provide coordinated care to identify and address the short-term
needs and long-term goals of alumni.
 Mentoring Program – Paired with an adult mentor in a year-long program, alumni have the opportunity to
foster positive and healthy relationships in the community.
 Writing Circles – Writing continues to serve as a catalyst for personal enhancement and transformation.
 Life Skills Enrichment Sessions – Interactive workshops and seminars are designed to build the critical
thinking, social, communication and leadership skills of alumni.
 Community Engagement – Alumni speak at a variety of community and educational venues to hone their
public speaking skills and literally give a “voice” to each of their personal experiences.
 Cultural Events & Field Trips – Trips to attractions and institutions provide team building opportunities for
alumni, while exposing them to the local, regional and global human experience.
Since its launch in July 2010, over 100 youth and young adults have participated in the Alumni Program.
InsideOUT Writers
1212 N. Vermont Avenue, 2nd Floor | Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone (323) 660-1866 | Fax (323) 660-2072
www.insideoutwriters.org
Board & Staff
BOARD OF DIRECTORS – OFFICERS
Todd Rubenstein
Dellene Arthur
Honorable Joseph Brandolino
Chairman of the Board
Attorney
Morris, Yorn, Barnes, Levine,
Krintzman, Rubenstein & Kohner P.C.
Treasurer
Financial Consultant
Michael Arthur & Associates
Secretary
Judge
Los Angeles Superior Court
DIRECTORS
Zev Borow
Writer
Bernard R. Cahill II
Founding Partner
ROAR
Carol Chodroff
Juvenile Policy Attorney
Tim Daly
Actor
Lucy Firestone
Entrepreneur & Producer
Brian Leuchtenburg
Brenda Robinson
Vice President
Merrill Lynch
Alternative Investments
Southwest Region
Prophet Walker
Michael Mandelbaum
Project Engineer
Morley Builders
Chair - Emertius
President
Muirfield Partners
Partner
Faegre, Baker, Daniels LLP
Barry Nugent
Head of Talent Development
and Casting
Game Show Network
ADVISORY BOARD
Aaron Bergman
Cheryl Bonacci
Scott Budnick
Gabe Cowan
Dr. Joan Dusa
Martha Escutia
Ian Fischler
Richard Gant
Jedd Gold
Claudia Grazioso
Susan Harbert
Sister Janet Harris
David Hiller
Piper Kerman
Ben Lear
Floydetta McAfee
Walter McMillan, M.D
Andrew Meyer
David Moss
Marlon Rivera
Jeff Robinson
Joyce Robinson
Jeff Rubenstein
Mark Salzman
Van Gordon Sauter
Eva Stern
Eric Volz
STAFF
Wendelyn P. Killian
Executive Director
Leslie Poston
Writing Program Director
Sherreeta White
Mindy Velasco
Alumni Program Director
Writing Program Coordinator
Jimmy Wu
Eliana Yoneda
Office Coordinator
Case Manager
InsideOUT Writers
1212 N. Vermont Avenue, 2nd Floor | Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone (323) 660-1866 | Fax (323) 660-2072
www.insideoutwriters.org
Volunteers
InsideOUT Writers’ work inside the halls and on the “Outs” is possible because of the time, talent and dedication of
its outstanding volunteers.
Teachers
The Writing Program relies on a dedicated and highly respected cadre of 45 volunteer teachers to lead the creative
writing classes. Teachers include award-winning screenwriters, educators, poets, journalists, bloggers, artists and
youth workers.
Two of IOW’s original teachers, include former Los Angeles Times staff writer Duane Noriyuki and Pulitzer Prize
nominee Mark Salzman. Mr. Salzman is also the author of True Notebooks, a memoir of his experiences teaching an
IOW class at Central Juvenile Hall.
Mentors
Caring and supportive adults who reflect the racial, cultural and generational diversity of Los Angeles, serve as
mentors to Alumni. Through the mentoring program, IOW seeks to facilitate the development of relationships that
can positively influence Alumni’s attitudes and behaviors, including reducing their contact with the criminal justice
system.
Since the launch of the mentoring program in 2011, 25 Alumni have been “matched” with adult mentors and
participate in a variety of one-on-one and group events. Over the course of a year, the same-gender matches
interact individually (in-person meetings, phone calls, etc.) for at least four hours per month. The individual pairs also
participate in a variety of group team-building activities with the other matches to encourage and facilitate the
development of a new positive peer group.
2014 VOLUNTEERS *
Aimee Baik
Ana Lilia Barraza
James Becerra
Brian Bellomo
Aimee Bender
Phyllis Berger
Aaron Bergman
Jesse Bliss
Rebecca Boss-Masi
Makenzie Brandon
Scott Budnick
Suzanne Campbell
Janet Campos
Anna Carey
Nika Cavat
Mary Christianakis
Susan Cuscuna
Gustavo De Haro
Mollie Elicker
Marissa Engel
Lawrence Eubank
Aja Evans
Mike Flynn
Elizabeth Frazier Donnell
Robert Fox
Kevin Garnett
Rasha Gerges
Gary Gilbert
Jesus Gonzalez
Jessica Gordon-Burroughs
Dave Grenley
Jessica Grande
Emmy Grinwis
Michelle Gubbay
Julie Haire
Sally Hamilton
Gaby Hernandez-Gonzalez
Gale Holland
Halima Hudson
Howard Ibach
Eden Jeffries
Anne Kiley
Victoria Kim
Johnny Kovatch
Christina Ledesma
Brian Leuchtenburg
Bruce Lisker
Elizabeth Little
Gina Loring
Christina McDowell
Kevin McGahey
Hyacinth McLeod
Michael Miner
Matt Mizel
Ken Mirman
Alex Montes
Richard Mora
LaToya Morgan
Andrew Murr
Shannon Murray
Wendy Nguyen
Jennifer Pauline
Eve Porinchak
Dawn Prestwich
Megan Quirk
Ed Rice
Leisette Rodriguez
Todd Rubenstein
Angelica Salazar
Arnold Seigel
Mila Shah
Susy Sobel
Sally Sowter
Jon Shaw
Amy Shimshon
Brent Sims
Jim Stevens
Carolyn Tan
Darlene Taque
Garrett Therolf
Ella Turenne
Gabriel Vallejo
Carmelo Valone
Patricia Verducci
Roberta Villa
Monona Wali
Harry Weston
Virgil Williams
Eliana Yoneda
Stephanie Zill
*As of January 2014
InsideOUT Writers
1212 N. Vermont Avenue, 2nd Floor | Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone (323) 660-1866 | Fax (323) 660-2072
www.insideoutwriters.org
Breaking the Cycle
of Juvenile Recidivism
Today is a beautiful
day to be free and to
free others from their
struggles.
Fernando
IOW alum
1.
History and Mission
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 Sister Janet Harris,
juvenile hall chaplain, Duane Noriyuki, former Los Angeles Times journalist,
and several other professional writers who volunteered to teach creative
writing to incarcerated youth in Los Angeles County’s Central Juvenile Hall.
The mission of InsideOUT Writers is to reduce the juvenile
recidivism rate by providing a range of services that evolves to
meet the needs of currently and formerly incarcerated youth and
young adults. Using creative writing as a catalyst for personal
transformation, these young people are empowered with the
knowledge and skills necessary to successfully re-integrate
into our communities, becoming advocates for their future.
Today, through its Writing and Alumni Programs, IOW provides a
continuum of care to youth and young adults who have been impacted by
the criminal justice system both during and following their incarceration.
Sister Janet Harris (front row center) and IOW Teacher Susan Cuscuna (front row right) with the
Alumni Writing Circle.
The IOW Way
Empowering young people to find their voice and
write the next chapter of their lives
Engage and encourage currently incarcerated youth to use writing
as a vehicle for self-reflection, self-expression and personal
transformation.
Offer unique activities to complement the writing experience and
further support the development of students’ self-identity and
voice.
Refer students to Alumni Program upon release from detention.
Offer case management support and linkages to community
services to address the short-term needs and long-term goals of
the alumni.
Develop and hone the life, social and leadership skills of alumni.
Foster the development of positive peer and adult relationships.
Expose and engage alumni in a variety of community and team
building activities and experiences.
g
2.
3.
Writing Program Components
CLASSES
39 weekly classes, led by volunteer teachers who
encourage positive peer interaction, provide a
safe space for students’ creativity to flourish.
LITERARY JOURNAL
Students’ writings are published in a quarterly
literary journal.
WRITERS’ RETREATS
An annual event at each facility celebrates and gives “voice” to students’ writings.
4.
Classes Offered
CENTRAL JUVENILE HALL
24 Wednesday and Saturday
classes offered in 15 living
units.
BARRY J. NIDORF JUVENILE HALL
6 Monday and Saturday classes
offered in 5 living units where
students are being tried as
adults.
LOS PADRINOS JUVENILE HALL
7 Wednesday and Saturday
classes offered in 6 living
units.
CAMP GONZALES
Weekly class taught in
partnership with New Roads
for New Visions.
COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS
•Girls & Gangs
•New Roads for New Visions
I can’t change my past, but I can change my future.
Special
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall
5.
Alumni Program Components
CASE MANAGEMENT
Case Managers provide coordinated care to identify and
address the short-term needs and long-term goals of alumni.
LIFE SKILLS ENRICHMENT SESSIONS
Interactive workshops and seminars are
designed to build the critical thinking, social,
communication and leadership skills of alumni.
MENTORING PROGRAM
Paired with an adult mentor in a year-long program, alumni
have the opportunity to foster positive and healthy relationships
in the community.
Alumni Program Components
WRITING CIRCLES
Writing continues to serve as a catalyst for personal
enhancement and transformation.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
IOW alumni speak at a variety of community and educational
venues to hone their public speaking skills and literally give a
“voice” to each of their personal experiences.
CULTURAL EVENTS & FIELD TRIPS
Trips to attractions and institutions provide team building
opportunities for alumni, while exposing them to the local,
regional and global human experience.
6.
To Learn More...
…about IOW’s programs and volunteer opportunities, please contact:
Writing Program
Alumni Program
Mindy Velasco
Writing Program Coordinator
[email protected]
Jimmy Wu
Case Manager
[email protected]
Leslie Poston
Writing Program Director
[email protected]
InsideOUT Writers
1212 N. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90029
Phone (323) 660-1866
Fax (323) 660-2072
www.insideoutwriters.org
Sherreeta White
Alumni Program Director
[email protected]
Press Packet
LA Opera Performs Stories by Incarcerated Youth at Juvenile Hall
KPCC
LA Opera Hits High Notes with LA Juvenile Hall-inspired Poetry
KNX 1070
Poetic Justice: LA Opera to Serenade Incarcerated Youth
laist
Ópera ‘Libera’ a Presos Juveniles
La Opinión
LA Opera Puts To Music The Words Of Incarcerated Teens
The Voice of Annenberg
Digital News
Freeing Spirits in Detention
LA Times
The Velvet Hammer: Sister Janet Harris
USF
Grantee Focus: InsideOUT Writers
California Wellness
Foundation
California Teacher Uses Writing to Inspire Incarcerated Youth
Juvenile Justice
Information Exchange
Press
LA Opera performs stories by incarcerated youth at
juvenile hall
November 11, 2011 | Fareeha Molvi | KPCC
An enthusiastic group of incarcerated minors were
treated to cupcakes and high-energy performances
by the L.A. Opera in the auditorium at Central
Juvenile Hall Friday. The performance pieces were
based on original works by the detained youth.
The performance, titled "Words & Song," was a
collaboration between the opera, the L.A. County
Department of Probation and InsideOut Writers
(IOW), a nonprofit that organizes writing workshops
within the L.A. County Juvenile Hall system.
Four members of the L.A. Opera were at the facility
to perform: Baritone Eli Villanueva, baritone LeRoy
Villanueva, mezzo-soprano Nandani Sinha and
 L.A. Opera baritone LeRoy Villanueva performs an original piece based
pianist Daniel Faltus. Eli Villanueva composed the
on the writing of an incarcerated youth at Central Juvenile Hall.
work; LeRoy Villanueva is his brother. The quartet
took on opera classics as well as five original
pieces, each composed from the writings of students from the juvenile hall.
"It brightened up people's faces to see that people actually care about those who are incarcerated," says LaNisha,
who was in the audience. "It brings us hope to have a better life."
The performance culminated with a work titled, "Free at Last," written by Alton Pitre, a formerly incarcerated youth
and alumnus of InsideOut Writers. He wrote the work to express his feelings about his release. LeRoy Villanueva
performed his piece, mixing classical opera with
gospel sounds to produce a finale that piqued the
interest of many in the audience.
"It just really comes from the bottom of my soul,"
Villanueva says.
IOW conducts weekly writing classes in juvenile
detention facilities taught by writers, lawyers,
screenwriters and others who volunteer their time.
IOW Executive Director Wendy Killian says the
classes consist of 250 to 300 incarcerated youth
per week.
“We get these kids to open up and be selfreflective in a way that they’ve never been
L.A. Opera Composer Eli Villanueva introduces famous works of opera
at Central Juvenile Hall
Press
LA Opera performs stories by incarcerated youth at juvenile hall (continued)
encouraged to do,” she says. Killian says the students’ writings tell stories of abuse, the pain of losing friends to
violence and include apologies for what they’ve done. “[The classes] are an opportunity to encourage them to deal
with the challenges they face as an incarcerated young person,” she says.
L.A. Opera Director of Education and Community Programs Stacy Brightman says the partnership with IOW is a
natural fit for the organization.
“Our artwork always starts with the stories, with the
words,” she says.
According to Brightman, the creative process of
transforming the students’ stories to opera pieces
was easy. Their writing “demanded to be
musicalized, says Brightman.
Composer Eli Villanueva says that the point of the
program is to show the students another art form
through which their writing can be expressed. He
says he connects to the writing because of the
personal nature of the works. "You see this desire to
go somewhere else, to be somewhere else."
Alton Pitre, a formerly incarcerated minor and alumnus of InsideOut
Writers, talks with Gary Murphy of the L.A. Opera after hearing his
words performed.
make it a stand-alone event.
Killian says Friday's event grew out of a past
collaboration in which the L.A. Opera performed at
an IOW retreat at Central Juvenile Hall. The
performance was so well received, IOW decided to
“Eli is so exciting and happy to be there and full of energy,” Killian says, “He brought the kids in instantly.”
http://www.scpr.org/news/2011/11/11/29801/l-opera-set-perform-pieces-written-incarcerated-yo/
Press
Opera Singers Hit High Notes With LA Juvenile HallInspired Poetry
November 11, 2011  Pete Demetriou  KNX 1070
The stirring notes of classical opera were heard inside the walls of an unusual venue on Friday : a Southland juvenile
detention facility.
KNX 1070’s Pete Demetriou reports while the singers and music came from outside the walls, the lyrics came from
those who have served time inside.
Los Angeles Opera baritone/composer Eli Villanueva, mezzo soprano Nandani Sinha, baritone LeRoy Villanueva and
pianist Daniel Faltus performed at Central Juvenile Hall as part of a program that brings artists to the facility to give
surprise performances of poems written by the minors.
Those minors did not know their poems secretly chosen by the musicians and arranged into separate classical music
pieces until the actual performances.
Villanueva sang “Free At Last”, an original composition set to lyrics written by Alton Pitre, who until recently was
inside Juvenile Hall.
Pitre was among a group called Inside/Out Writers that educates young people on how to become songwriters,
poets, screenwriters, and other disciplines.
The performance may have even inspired Petrie to change his focus and how he sees his future as a songwriter.
“I would have thought of hip hop or R&B or something, but never in one day would I have thought opera,” he said.
Each minor whose poetry was chosen as a performance received the sheet music of their poem signed by the
performers.
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/11/11/opera-singers-hit-high-notes-with-la-juvenile-hall-inspired-poetry/
Press
Poetic Justice: L.A. Opera to Serenade Incarcerated Youth
November 8, 2011  Lauren Lloyd  laist 
The Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles County Probation Department and InsideOUTWriters have a special event up
their sleeves for over 100 minors currently incarcerated at the Central Juvenile Hall in downtown L.A.
InsideOUTWriters hosts weekly writing workshops within the L.A. County Juvenile Hall System that are led and
facilitated by professional writers, poets, screenwriters, journalists and educators. Participants are given the creative
chance "to tell their stories, reflect on the past, and decide how they will 'write' the next chapter of their lives," per a
press release.
Members of the L.A. Opera - baritone/composer Eli Villanueva, mezzo-soprano Nandani Sinha, baritone LeRoy
Villanueva (the composer’s brother) and pianist Daniel Faltus - have secretly selected poems penned by the youth
and have arranged them into separate musical works.
Only during the live performance on the morning of November 11 will poets discover that their work has crossed an
artistic threshold from written word to music. Chosen poets will receive signed sheet music of their poetry.
We are loving this collaboration and focus on art to help heal lives.
http://laist.com/2011/11/08/la_opera_to_serenade_incarcerated_youth.php
Press
Ópera ‘libera’ a presos juveniles
Organización intenta motivar a los menores a expresarse a través del arte
November 13, 2011 | Jorge Morales | La Opinión
Las voces, las caracterizaciones, los gestos, la música de piano y el desarrollo escénico de dos barítonos y una
mezzosoprano mantuvieron atentos y muy entusiasmados a 80 adolescentes recluidos en el Central Juvenile Hall
que hace unos días tuvieron su primera experiencia con la ópera.
Era la presentación de la compañía de ópera de Los Ángeles en la cárcel para menores, como parte de un programa
que intenta motivar a los jóvenes a expresarse a través del arte que lleva a cabo la organización InsideOUT Writers.
"Porque cuando te comprometes con el arte, la vida es mejor", dijo Stacy Brightman, directora de educación de L.A.
Ópera.
Parte de la misión de la compañía L.A. Ópera es compartir el
conocimiento y el arte, apuntó Brightman, y por eso se decidió
colaborar con el Departamento de Libertad Condicional (Probation)
para llevar este género de música teatral a los adolescentes que
están presos.
"Estos jóvenes están tratando de mejorar su vida a través de la
poesía al articular sus emociones y experiencias, y así es como
empieza la ópera, con una historia, con la palabra escrita", comentó
Brightman.
Sebastian, un joven afroamericano de 16 años de edad, dijo estar
encantado con el espectáculo que presenció.
"Me gustó mucho, fue divertido al principio y luego se hizo bastante
emocionante, nunca había estado en una ópera, me encantó", dijo
el muchacho.
El barítono Eli Villanueva canta ante un grupo de
jóvenes de la cárcel central para menores en el centro
de Los Ángeles. J. Emilio Flores/La Opinión
Este evento es la segunda vez que se lleva a cabo en el Central Juvenile Hall y en esta ocasión se elegieron cinco
poemas escritos por los jóvenes que participan en el programa literario para musicalizarlos.
El barítono Eli Villanueva fue el encargado de adaptar los poemas para darles ese toque melodramático que se crea
con la ópera y el encierro.
"Fue una sensación que realmente toca el corazón", dijo Villanueva sobre su experiencia de trabajar con los
jóvenes. "Porque me di cuenta cuenta lo difícil que es para ellos la vida y poder expresarse y encontrar un camino
para hacerlo".
La ópera, dijo el cantante, ofrece una oportunidad para que amplíen su visión del mundo y desarrollen sus talentos.
"Esperamos que al mostrar esto los jóvenes se den cuenta de que hay diferentes vías para expresarse y
experimenten la vida, que tengan contacto con otras historias, con otras vidas y otras culturas. Porque si solo estás
en contacto con lo que está a tu alrededor, no puedes entender el mundo", comentó el barítono.
Press
Ópera ‘libera’ a presos juveniles (continued)
Como directora ejecutiva de InsideOUT Writers, Wendelyn Killian comentó que esa organización no lucrativa se
dedica a trabajar con menores encarcelados o que recién salieron de prisión.
El año pasado atendió a unos dos mil adolescentes a quienes ofreció apoyo para su reinsersión a la sociedad.
Kerri Webb, portavoz del Departamento de Libertad Condicional, dijo que ese tipo de programas y talleres son de
gran ayuda para los jóvenes, porque no solo los involucran en la literatura, sino que los asisten para expresar sus
emociones, algo que muchos adolescentes requieren.
"Los ayuda extremadamente en su comportamiento, ya que ellos han pasado por muchas dificultades, relacionadas
con asesinatos, violaciones, etcétera", comentó Webb. "Estas actividades son muy benéficas para su desarrollo
educativo y esperamos que les ayude en sus carreras".
‘Esperamos que al mostrar esto los jóvenes se den cuenta de que hay diferentes vías para expresarse y
experimenten la vida, que tengan contacto con otras historias, con otras vidas y otras culturas’.
Eli Villanueva
Barítono
http://www.impre.com/laopinion/noticias/primera-pagina/2011/11/13/opera-libera-a-presos-juvenile-282070-1.html
Press
The Voice of Annenberg Digital News
LA Opera Puts To Music The Words Of Incarcerated Teens
by Kim Nowacki
Staff Reporter
March 28, 2010
Participants in the annual InsideOUT Writers Retreat held Friday at
Central Juvenile Hall. (Kim Nowacki)
In opera, a good story has plenty of tragedy. Or comedy. Or both. There's typically a lot of wishing and hoping and
longing. Many times the characters make foolish, rash mistakes. Often, someone dies.
Unfortunately, the same is very true of the stories and poems written over the past 12 years by the teenage boys and
girls who participate in InsideOUT Writers (IOW), a creative writing program held at Los Angeles County's three
juvenile halls.
Each year, more than 300 incarcerated youths voluntarily take the classes where they write about drugs, rape,
suicide, crime, violence, lost freedom, busted families and broken hearts. But they also write about lying in bed at
night and dreaming about a better life and about a future free of trouble.
"I love to write, it's my passion, I write everyday,"
said Michelle, an 18-year-old girl with a million-watt
smile but also a serious toughness about her.
There's a similar sense of toughness mixed with
vulnerability among the 100 or so other incarcerated
youth that guards led Friday afternoon into the boys
gymnasium at Central Juvenile Hall, a walled-up,
khaki-colored facility off Eastlake Avenue.
But on this afternoon, the teens were here to relax as
their IOW instructors served them burritos, soda and
cupcakes before watching -- in what's a first for
Central Juvenile Hall -- a performance by three
members of the LA Opera.
Participants in the annual InsideOUT Writers Retreat held
Friday at Central Juvenile Hall.
(Kim Nowacki)
This special treat is part of the annual IOW Retreat, which honors the students' writing. Attendees included IOW
board members and L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky (who this past Tuesday participated in the L.A. County
Board of Supervisors' unanimous vote that ordered a thorough inspection of the Probation Department).
This year's retreat also served as the surprise debut of four new LA Opera pieces that put to music four poems
Press
written in the IOW program.
One of them, called "Safe," is Michelle's.
"I was happy. I was like, 'For real?' and then, I'm here. I was real happy," said Michelle, who was transferred from a
detention camp in Santa Clarita to see the performance. (Michelle's real name has been changed for this story
because once juveniles have completed their sentence their records are sealed.)
Her poem begins:
Something that seemed like an ordinary day
Started off as promising but ended wrong in every way
Driving pretty fast in my Mercedes goin' 80
As I come along the bridge and see a
young girl on a stump going crazy,
steppin' to the edge while rocks are tumblin'
off the road, and as I read the sign ahead
we're 200 feet in the air is what I'm told.
Using my first mind I got out of the car
and started preachin'. Next thing I know
I'm walking towards a person and I'm reachin'.
My hands extended, my tears on edge,
all I can do is pretend that this person
is not my baby sister, about to reach her end...
The idea to bring the opera to juvenile hall was Eva Stern's, a philanthropist and chair of the IOW board of directors
whose husband happens to be LA Opera chairman and CEO Marc I. Stern.
"This is not about opera, per say, this is about giving children an experience," said Stern, who was on crutches after
breaking her hip last week. "And because opera is a dramatization of life, it was an unexpected surprise to realize
how the poetry that the children wrote actually resonates with opera."
Conversations between Sheri Lin, the IOW writing program director, and Stacy Brightman, LA Opera's director of
community programs, led to the idea to incorporate student poems into the opera performance.
Eli Villanueva, a baritone, composer and resident stage director for LA Opera's Education and Community Programs,
was given 11 poems to choose two from. He picked four.
"What I was hoping to do was to write this in a way that is not too far from what they might be used to but still trying
to touch them in a more 'fine art' way, rather than trying to do straight music theatre or trying to do rap or something
they are comfortable with," said Villanueva. "We're trying to really point out the stories within these poems, so
hopefully they can find a connection in how we have set these poems to music."
Press
While there were some snickers and the squeak of chairs being shifted during the 30-minute performance, most of
the young writers watched and listened politely, even intently, and erupted into loud cheers at the end of each piece,
especially when it was pointed out Michelle was the author of such a moving story.
"What I love is the fact that it's taken their very personal, thoughtful, heartfelt words and adding music as an opera,"
Stern said before the performance. "I'm anxious to see how they will respond to the acknowledgement that what they
have written is so meaningful and that it's not just their story, it's a universal story. I think that it will impact them in
some way. Sometimes a moment in time is transformative and this could be one of those moments in time."
The nonprofit IOW program began in 1996, and now conducts 41 weekly creative writing classes in L.A. County's
three juvenile halls: Central, Barry J. Nidorf and Los Padrinos. It also includes an alumni component to support
members of the program after they are released from juvenile hall.
InsideOUT isn't so much about the mechanics of writing, but instead the goal is to give incarcerated youth, ranging
from 12 to 18, an outlet for their emotions and a means of self-reflection.
"A lot of the themes of the lessons tend to center around what their lives were like before, what got them to this place
and then how they hope to change in the future," said instructor Eve Porinchak, a novelist and former first grade
teacher who's been with the IOW program for about two years.
"The one thing I found that surprised me is that the students in it become really bonded to each other," added
Porinchak. "This becomes sort of like a surrogate family for them. A lot of crying, a lot of sharing emotions and
experiences with other students that maybe they've never told anyone before. It gets really emotional with the boys
and the girls."
In fact, the writing is actually secondary to the relationship building between the teacher and the students and
between the program itself and the students, said Lin, the program's director, a self-described non-writer whose
background is in social service work.
"If they buy into this," she said, "they become different people."
Each writing class ends with the students invited to read their work out loud. Friday evening closed the same way,
with each young writer going up the microphone, although not all were eager to speak in front of such a large
audience.
One boy began quietly and stumbled over his words at first, but the more he read, the more momentum he gained,
ending strong before breaking into a smooth R&B refrain and even a subtle dance move.
As with all the poems read that night, loud cheers followed.
http://blogs.uscannenberg.org/neontommy/2010/03/la-opera-puts-to-music-the-wor.html 4/15/2010 11:37 AM
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L,A. Opera artists ,
perforrnaspart of a
writing programfor
juvenilehall youths,
YvoNNE
VILLARREAL
They shufled in singlefile lines - headsloweredas they made their way to
the gf'mnasium. For these
incarcerated youths at the
Central Juvenile Hall faciiitv
in'l the Lincoln Hbiehti
neighborhoodof Los Angeles,it was time for lunch. . .
and a bit ofopera?
,"When would a g1r1like
me ever hear opera?'rsaid a
female detainee;dressedin
the facility's gray uniform,
herhairpuled backin a bun.
That wasthe point.
In a first forthe detention
centel three members of
Los Angeles Opera performed Friday afternoonfor
about 100 or so incarcerated teens as part of the
"writer's retreat" conducted
by InsideOUT Writers, or
IOW, a nonprofit program
that teachescreative writing
to kids in L..!,. County's juvenile hall system.There are
no reqnirements to loin the
progl'am; participation is
voluntary
"This is a chance for the
kids to be exposedto somelSee Opetra, D8l
ii;.'t
t'.
AL!EN
i.'ilil.,':l
-"j:,
:
J, SbsABsN I.os Ang.tcs 'fimoi
SOARING: L.A. Opera's Lili Vi[Januevaperforms
at Central Juvenile Ha]1. He a].ro
has composed music for )yrics writtcn by teenagers at the facility.
;rrics catchattention
[Opera, from D1]
.
thing,they would never be
exposedto otherwise," said
Shed Lin, the viriting pro$am3director.
,.. The 30:minute prograrn,
which commenced after a
lunch of burritos and.taquitos, lncluded classics* performed by EIi ViUanueva
(baritone and composer),
Karenvuong (soprano)and
Daniel tr'altus (pianist) from the operatic and musi.
cal theater, such as the
"Largo al ,factotum" from
Rossini's"Barbei of Seville"
and "Toireador" from Bizet's
"Carmen." . Each
prompted slsslesand snicl(e-rsttom tne uninitiated audrence.
But it was the lyrical content ofthe remaining selections thatwontheir closeattention: "Walls,cells,chambers/AU of these can
hurt/We may grow like a
flower/But we're captured
in the dirt / In our minds we
know love i But our hearts
nqhtrrrad
noih
"
'Captured," with music
.
Dyvuanueva andl)mcswTltten by a teen identified only
by his/her age and housing
unit, had its debut Friday. It
was one of four original
songs composed by Viilanueva ..'wno servesas restdent stase di.rectorfor L.A.
opera's e"ducationand commiiniW programs|'- f"om
words written by teens in
Central JuvenileHall.
"When I started reading
these poems," Villanueva
said, "they just sort of produce thls instantaneous reaction. There's pain in each
ofthem.. .butalsoashadow
ofhope in eachofthem. And
it's truly amazing.. They
touch yor-lin such an intense
way.'l
r,in selected 11 poems
written by students in 2008
and 2009.From those, Villanueva chose four ani:l com- '
posedmusic forthem. Titles
included "Ghettoprophecy,::
'llf .I Played .
My Song
Bacl(wards" and' "Safe"
'(written
by a young woman .
who.was in Friday's audi.
enqe).
"Itwas a challengechoosing wtllch ones to compose
music for,,' Villanueva sald.
*And once that
hurdle is '
.reached, it's finding that
emotion that they're leeling,
giving a realnessto their experience.I hope,from.this,it
will inspile them tir write
more .... and to..flnd the
strength to gxow from their
ex?eriencesothey don't find
themselvesback here."
'I'mgqaleful'r
,
L.A.. Opera'S.partlcipation is part ofthe IOW annual writer retreat, whlch honors the students'writing and .
hcludes a guest perusualJ.y
fomer or speaker.The inaugural couaborationwith the
opera was initiated by Eva
Stern, a philanthropist and
chair otthe IOW board ofdirectois whose husband,
Marc L Stem, happeirsto be.
L.A. Opera chaj.rman and .
chiefexecutive.
And the g]rynnasium reflected the students' appre-
ciation: Posters adorning
the bleak wa.lls read "Wel.
comeL.A. Opera."
"It was really nice of Ithe
L.A. Operal to come down
here,"said a male detainee.
(As requestedby CentralJuvenile Hdll authorities, all
minors interviewed lbr this
article have been liepl
anonymous.) 'Am I a t'anof
opera? HecI(, no. But you
know,peoplejust think olLrs
as criminals. They don't
want to give us a chance.So
Ih gatefuI that theylooked
past our mistakes to spend
timewithus."
Attendees also inaluded
1,.A.County SupervisorZev
Yaroslavskyand IOW boaid
members.
The nonprofit writinf,
program launched in 1996
and no\jvconducts41weekly:
creative writing classes ln
L.A. County's three juvtini-le
ha.lls:Central,Los Padrinos,
andBarryJ. NidorL
The program doesn't
dwell too much on bhe me:
chanics and grammar of
writing; rather, its focus is
serving as an emotiona.lly
creative outlet for the incarcerated youth, whose.ages
rangeftom 12to 18.It alsoin::,
cludes an alumrli compei'r
nent to support member{il
once they are releasedfrom
juvenilehall.
:,
As each classends,stu:.:
dents are invited to read
theirwork atoud.
And it was the same on
Friday evening, with the
young writers approaching
fhp
mi.r^nh^ra
No operatic vocal gym-'
nastics. Jilst.their
voices.
AlIdtheirwords.
yvdnne.'qiUalfeal
(@latimes.com
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M A G A Z I N E
'60
Juvenile
Justice
SrJcnetHcrris Tockles
withc BlenCcf Foithcnd Relentlessness
BY KIMBERLY WINSTON
PHOTOS BY BARBARA RIES
i
admirationfor her.Shehasfaceda lot of hard groundbut
sheis dedicatedto plantingseedswhereshecan."
That dedicationhasearnedher awardsand national
recognition-amongthem are the honorarydegreeUSF
pursuitof
awardedher last Decemberfor her unstoppable
shehasreceivedfor
lusticefor childrenand the accolades
foundingInsideOUl a writing programfor incarcerated
so soft people sometimes lean forward to catch her words.
youth in Los Angeles'luveniledetentioncenters.Yet in what
That's usually where the illusion ends.
her associates
describeastypicalof her modestyand acute
"I always say God is a mystery. A mystery and a pain
senseof opportunitn shehasusedthe spotlightto highin the butt," she says, her words lightly tinged with the
light the injusticesheseesin the way our societydealswith
tones of her Bronx childhood. "But I am stubborn. I am
like a mountain goat that just puts one foot in front of the youngoffenders.
ln2007, therewereapproximately14,000youngpeople
other, BecauseI have the big picture, I've been in those
detainedin California stateand county facilities.California
prisons and I know what they are like."
is oneof 42 statesthat allow childrento be tried as adults
Not the words one might expect from an 80-year-old
for seriouscrimes.USF'sCenterfor Law and GlobalJustice
nun, but then Sr. Janet is one of the most outspoken and
tireless advocates for iuvenile offenders in the United States. reportedthat in 2008 therewere245 California minors
servinglife sentences
without the chanceof parole.The
She once grabbed a judge by his lapels in an elevator to
get him to grant a young man's lawyer more time to prove United Statesis the only country in the world that allows
for juveniles,accordingto the center."As
his innocence. (He did.) Another time, she walked across suchsentences
for our California criminal justicesystem,I am sorry to say
a crowded Beverly Hills restaurant on her knees to get
Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley to help with a gang reform it is more like a limping horseheadedto the glue factory,"
program. (He didn't.) One friend describesher as a velvet shesaidwhen acceptingthe honorarydegreefrom USF.
Sr.Janet'sdedicationto youngpeoplein troublebegan
hammer. Another describesher-fondly-as
"a pest." An
occasional four-letter word slips through her lips, usually not long after shegraduatedfrom USFin 1960.Ifhile
in reference to some prosecutor, lawyer, or judge she finds teachingin an EastLos Angeleselementaryschool,she
volunteeredin a home for delinquentboys. "They were so
misguided. Friends and colleaguessay it is this blend of
real," shesaysof thoseboys,many of whom weregang
perseverance and pigheadednessthat has made her instrumental in winning fair representation, trials, and sentencing members."They werepretty angry.I just felt very connectedto them becausethey wereso gut honest.Authentic.
for countlessincarceratedyoung Californians.
'We
They had suffereda lot, so what they saidwas really to
"The first time I met her, she made the comment,
plant seedsand sometimes they fall on hard ground,"' says the bone." Shespenttime with the boysalmosteveryday
afterschoolfor years,buildingrelationships
with them,
Duane Noriyuki, a longtime friend and colleague. "That
their familiesand, eventually,their children.
is something that has stayed with me. It is part of my
verythingaboutSr.JanetHarris'60, P.B.V.M.,
A blue fleeceberetcovers
speaksof gentleness.
her snowywhite locks,wire-rimmedglasses
frame paleblueeyessetoff by fine lines,and
her body is swathedin a doublelayerof creamy
pastelsweatersover a flowing skirt. Her voiceis
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Toughgal:Sr.Janetlaysdownsomelawof herown.
It was the beginning of a lifetime built on listening
to young peopleno one elseseemsto hear. In return, the
teenagersbestow on her a trust they give to no one else,
sharing with her in words and in letters things they tell
no one. Most are from poor families,and many are immigrantswho get caught up in the gangsthat prey on their
neighborhoods.They are all too often ignored by society,
but not by Sr.Janet.
ln 1989, she took that interestone step further when
she took on the role of chaplain at Los Angeles'Central
JuvenileHall. \ilhen Noriyuki, at the time a writer for
the Los AngelesTimes, cameto profile the petite, slender
nun who had the attention and respectof so many tough
kids, Sr. Janet asked him to lead some of the boys rn
writing exercises.InsideOUT was born.
"A lot of theseyoung peoplehavewithin themselves
somethingthat needsto be heard," Sr.Janet says."lf
you grow up without someoneto hear you-a teacher,
a mentor-you shut down. They developthat devil-maycare attitude and they join gangs.In the program, they
are heard on a very profound level and they feel safeand
affirmed. They begin to seethemselvesas a person,not
just asa criminal."
InsideOUT now has 42 weekly classesin Los Angeles
juveniledetentionfacilities,with 27 teachersand 400 boys
and girls. The kids write stories,poems, essays,playsanything they want-and then read them aloud to each
other. "She givesthem hope," saysSr. Rosina Conrotto,
head of The Sistersof the Presentation,and the person
Sr.Janet creditswith supplyingthe emotional and financial resourcesto start InsideOUT. "She is able to work
through all the garbagethey carry to help them find a
senseof self worth, dignity, and hope. Societylooks at
thesekids as evil and she tells them they are good."
O n e o f t h e s ek i d s w a s M a r i o R o c h a ,a t h e n 1 6 - y e a r o l d w h o s e c a s eb r o u g h t a d u l t s e n t e n c i n gf o r y o u t h f u l
o f f e n d e r sn a t i o n a l a t t e n t i o n .l n 1 9 9 6 , R o c h a w a s a t a
p a r t y w h e n s o m eg a n g m e m b e r sb e g a ns h o o t i n g .S o o n ,
Martin Aceves,17,lay deadfrom a gunshot wound to the
chest.Another young man was shot in the hand. lfitnesses
identifiedMario as the shooter.
Mario, a first-time offender,was sentencedas an adult
to 29 yearsto life for the attemptedmurder and 35 years
to life for murder. In juvenile hall, he enteredSr.Janet's
fledgling writing program, and everything he wrote, Sr.
Janet felt, was contrary to the district attorney'sportrayal of a cold-hearted,gang-bangingmurderer.
Shesensedan injusticeand it energizedher. For the next
two years,Sr.Janet pored over the 13-volumetrial transcript, questioningprosecutorsand seekingan attorney who
would take Mario's casepro bono. It took two yearsbut she
finally got through to Latham and Watkins, a prominent
L.A. law firm, and severalattorneys,includingIan Graham.
"lf Sr. Janet knows of an inlustice,shewill not stop
until the caseis taken as far as it can go," saysGraham,
whose forthcoming memoir, Ilnbillable Hours, describes
how his work for Mario at Sr.Janet'srequestcausedhim
to abandon corporate law for juvenilelaw. "That is the
only way, barring changing legislation,that changegets
made. You get one caseoverturned and you go on to the
next one. Not a lot of people have the fortitude to do that,
but she does. And at some point, there are going to be
enough of thesecasesoverturned that the laws are going
to changeand sheis going to be a major foundation of that."
Mario-the subjectof the 2006 documentary film
Mario's Story-eventually had his conviction overturned.
His new lawyers argued that his original attorney failed
to adequatelydefend him, and they uncovereda new
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l i o n s . I I t . r t r l i t s \ t ' . f . l t c t ' : e o n l l i l n t ( n t t ( ) l r i r r rf o t . \ l ) . l . l . l n g
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s l l t : . " l r o r ' l t t r ' . t - t ] r g i o t ri s r t o t s o n t t ' t l t i n gv o r r r . c l t . l r. t i ,
\ ( ) n r ( ' t l r i n g\ ( ) l l ( . \ l ) r . t ' i ( l t el Lr r q i r i i l g r O t r r : t , l ft ( ) t l t ( \ t r . l l g g l ( .
o l o l l t c t I t o I l t ' . I i r t l t i s t l r r r ,s l t t . i : o n t o f n t r l t c t . o t s . "
\ o l o n q t ' rr r j t r r c n i l Ll r . r l l c l r r r I l . r i \r rr .. l r r r r r r' tr o s s P l i t s
l r c l l o t r r s l , r ' t t l t t n i n t l r r i t l r r r r!l i l \ r ' \ . I e g i \ l r l t i r t r' . tl o r . n t .r t n t l
( ) l l I ' s f r t r l t t l r r t i o n\ l. r c t l t o o : t ' sr r h i c l te i t \ ( \ l ( )
lnsitle
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b r r : t . lo n n r ( ) t r ' t l r , l lj r r s rl r l t ' t ' l i n gt l t c e l t i l t li s i n n o c L r r t .
" I l r i r r g s1 r 1 t 1 . 1 ,. 11 11 (1\l ( ) 1 s . r r . ' l l r i s i s r r ; e p g , " ' s l r i 's l r r : .
" l t l o n ' t t l r i n l .o f i t i n l t c r r l l r ' r r \ . I j t r s rr h i r r l .t l r r s( t l r i l r l ' ,
s i l t r r r l i o nr )s s i n l ' r r ll .h r s i s r r r ' ( ) n gt ,l r i \ i : t ' r r l . " I t ' s ; r r r o r . r l
: l r t r - t s t r r t s f o r ' ( . , r I i l o l r i . r ' I: ) r ' o PI.I . l . , r r r , , ] i n l 0 ( ) 0 .
r r l l i r l t t . t i s t t l l t t ' p 11 1 l, 11 t t r l , , r e 1 1 l ( \ ! ( ) l l t t t r f t t Lllr r r 6 r r t l t .
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irrtlgcu
s i r l r i n t c g r . i t rr r n t l
l o . l , s l l r t r r i l l t o i L l t t l i n gl t l i l ! h i l t rj'L t s t i . t . "S t . . . l i | t ( \l i t \ \ .
"lt iscril."
\ l r e l i q ] r t : t l r i l t c \ r l r r i t h t l r e \ \ . r , r l 1 l ( )snhst . s ; l r , ( i o t l g r r r t '
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r r g t . " \ l r t ( l ( ) r ' \n ( ) l l t r r r cr r t . r l l . o n sl i l i c n r , , n t r o l i n l l r r r ' r r r t ' . "
l r .r '
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\ l l r ' ! . l t g ( t I r ' ( ) l ) l rl'o l o o l . . t t l . r t l st r l t , , r r , , t r l , lo l l t t t . r r , r : r ' l r t '
i r r ri r i l , l c i s l r r n o t g r r i r l t r l l .\ l r t ' u i l l 1 , , ,1, .. , r 1 1 1 i 1b1r.r t l , l o
I t L r ' 1 . o i 1 !1( 1) n. r i n g1 , , t . l ti , , r o r r . "
. \ n t l , r t S ( ) . s l t t , i s r t o l T t r r r l rt o r l o r r , l , r r v n .\ l t t , l r t , g l n ,
( \ ( l - \ r l . t \ r n l t t r ' \ o r r l l t l ) r t s r t t l c Ii lr lt) i l l t n t ( ' n. tl t . j i l . n t .\ \ i l l t
i r f u l ) ( ) l t 0 l l t t . t n t l . r I ) : . t l r | .I I t r . l r t r 0 r . i l t , i Ist s r t l n lt ] - :
" I l n ] t r s t l r ( l ( ) r ' (l l, L r i l r l l. r o r r s rt l t c r l . r l r o r . i rr rt r i nt l r r r b
t rriltl
i t . " " l r r o t l t t r r r o l r l s . r r n l r ' r :( , o t l i s 1 r r l ' o
t f t l t r ,I t . o c t s : .r , r r r
( . l r t ' l ( l ( ) i t r r l 0 n r ' . "s l t t t r I l r r i r r s . " \ o r r r | . r 'i n r r
1tr|.tntrsltilr
r r r l l r ( i o t l . I t r , r ' lt l r r r t. l o s t n t ' s s . "
I l r r ' ns l r t n r , t l i r ' :p l t o r t r ' c . t l l s ( l ( ) / r ' n \( ) l l l t r , l l ( . \ ( r . \ ( l i l \
t ( ) l i t \ \ \ ( ' l \ . j t t t l g t ' s .r l l t rl f r ( . 1\ . I ) t . ( ) \!(u l ( ) T \ . i l l t \ ( ) n c s l t r ,f r , r , l s
MarioRocha,30, spenta decadein jail for a murderhe didn't
commit.Thanksrn largepart to the perseverance
of Sr.Janet
Hanis '60, Rocha'sconvrctron
wasreversedrn 2006. Herehe
sharesa commentary
he wrotewhtlestillrmprrsoned.
"SweetDee,"I hadwrittenwhenthe roofbeganto runrble.
L y r no
g n m y s t o m a c hp,e n c illn h a n d b
, a r ef e e tr nt h ea i rl i x e
a teenager
in love,I triedto go backto my letter,butthe norse
abovekepton growing
louderwitheverysecond,
forcingeveryone
in thecells
a r o u n 0m et 0 p a u s eI n o u rt h o u g h tasn da c t i o n s .
As thebeating
and bangirlg
continLled
above,
thesoLlnd
of silence
crystall
zed
d o w nb e l o wt i l is o m e b o dsyc r e a m e d" D
, a l eg a s ,h o m i e srl A n ds l o w l tyh e
flanres
of ignorance
and hatebrokeout,caustng
eventhequietest
of soulsto
s c r e a noru tr na n g e ar g a i n st ht es e n s e l e s s n e"sRsa: d i or.a d i or,a d i o ! "
BLrtthewillof theweak-minded
had prevailed.
Thesoundof fleshbea|ng
fleshand bodiesbouncing
off thewallscreatedan instantuproar.
ThosewhocoLrld
onlyhearand inragtne
wlratwasgoingon insidethoseother
cellswhereblackand brownweremixedpounded
thesteebarsthatheldthenr
back.Andwhileothersscreanred
out raciststupidities
backandforthlikekids
Ingrownmensbodies.
Isimplyshookrnyheadtndisappointnrent,
in disapprova.
in disbelief.
Howcouldwe.the brownand blackcaptives
of the LosAngeles
CoLrnty
Jarlsystem,be f ghtingeachotherafterso longin thesarrestrLjggle?
"SweetDee,"I triedto go backto my etter,"F.low
I wishthat1couldhear
y o u rt o n c j e r h e a rvt e
od
i c ea n dl o o kn t ot h o s el u m i n o ubsr o w ne y e s . . .B u t t
becanre
toohardto concentrate,
toohardto ignorethe n.ogat
v ty andviolence
al arouncJ.
toohardto pretend
thatthe notwasnothappening.
Delicate
cursve
etters5i:camedarkstrokes
of frustration:
heavy.sweatypalntssrnearing
the
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Press
California Teacher Uses Writing to Inspire Incarcerated Youth
by Chirstine Archer | Juvenile Justice Information Exchange | August 6, 2014
Johnny Kovatch and former InsideOUT Writers students in 2010.
LOS ANGELES — The walls of California’s juvenile halls act as a barrier to a world most people will never
experience or understand. More often than not, these halls are viewed as places of isolation and despair.
However, others, like Johnny Kovatch, see an infinite amount of potential and opportunity that can be found just on
the other side of these walls.
Kovatch, a long-time juvenile justice advocate, volunteers at several of California’s most well-known juvenile halls
and prisons, including Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall, Ironwood State Prison and Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles.
He first began volunteering at these institutions as a way to connect with incarcerated youth around the state.
“I wanted to work with a population that was underrepresented,” Kovatch says. “These kids don’t know it but they
represent truth and they represent purity.”
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A personal tragedy in Kovatch’s own life also contributed to his desire to help reform the juvenile justice system.
“When I was in high school, my friend was murdered and robbed for $40,” Kovatch says. “I always wondered what
would cause a kid to do something like that. I wondered what was missing from that life, and whether it was a
parental influence, a lack of love or a lack of support that was the incentive behind it.”
Kovatch first began volunteering in juvenile detention centers as part of a program called Restorative Justice, where
he provided one-on-one counseling to juvenile inmates. During his time in the halls, however, Kovatch discovered a
new passion: InsideOUT Writers.
“I saw a teacher named Todd Rubenstein
teaching a writing class through the glass within
one of the units,” Kovatch says. “I always
wondered what he was doing, and knew that I
should be a part of that program.”
InsideOUT Writers is a nonprofit organization that
uses creative writing to encourage personal growth
and transformation within the California juvenile
justice system. The organization is funded both by
the county and private donors, and it ultimately
aims to reduce the juvenile recidivism rates by
offering a range of services to currently and
formerly incarcerated youth.
The main focus of InsideOUT Writers is the Writing
Program, which is open to students who are being
held in various juvenile detention centers across
Los Angeles County. Currently, there are 39
classes being taught each week by volunteer
instructors like Kovatch.
“During my first class with InsideOUT Writers, what
I discovered was that all of the students were
Johnny Kovatch holding a student’s son while attending his court date
extremely grateful that I was there,” Kovatch says.
“At the end of class, every kid came up to me and
said thank you, welcomed me back and asked if I would be there the following week.”
Carol Chodroff, who has been involved in juvenile justice issues for almost 20 years and is now a board member of
InsideOUT Writers, has seen firsthand the positive impact that the Writing Program can have on students.
“The first time I sat in on a writing circle, I saw the kids interacting and the power of literature and poetry. I felt change
happening in the room,” Chodroff says. “So many of the kids in the program have lives that are filled with sadness,
obstacles, challenges and pain. Now, they have this opportunity to express themselves and to find their voices.
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Seeing them work together in class shows the best of the education process, the best of rehabilitation and the best of
humanity, really.”
The classes and writing prompts address a wide variety of topics, but they all ultimately have one goal: to give the
students the confidence to express themselves and get their thoughts and ideas out in the open.
“The biggest thing I encourage is when there’s something they feel like they don’t want to write about because it
would too hard or too painful, then I tell them that’s exactly the type of stuff that they should write about,” Kovatch
explains. “They write about everything. They write about how they grew up, they write about abandonment, their
peers, maybe those who have been incarcerated or have died in gang related activities, and they write about wanting
to have a better life.”
Participation in the Writing Program is completely voluntary, and it can often be challenging for students to first
decide to attend a class.
Johnny Kovatch and his former InsideOUT Writers
student, Jaki Murillo.
Jaki Murillo, a former student in the Writing
Program, was tried as an adult for attempted
murder and robbery at the age of 15. After being
found guilty, she began serving her prison sentence
at Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar, Calif. It
was here that Murillo first heard about InsideOUT
Writers.
“My old roommate first told me about InsideOUT
Writers and she told me I should go, but I didn’t
want to. I didn’t get along with the other girls and
wasn’t open to new people, so I didn’t go.” Murillo
says. “Instead, I used to write by myself in my room,
but I would flush it down the toilet because I didn’t
want people to read it.”
However, one day after a yoga class that was being
held in Murillo’s unit was cancelled, she decided to
finally give the writing class a shot. That was when
she met Kovatch for the first time.
Johnny Kovatch and his former InsideOUT Writers student, Jaki Murrio
“From day one, the way Johnny presented himself,
the way that he cared, I had never experienced
something like that before,” Murillo said. “He never
gave up on me. He would always come up to my
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room and ask me to come out, and eventually I just gave in.”
Although it was not easy, Murillo slowly started to become more open with her teachers and her classmates.
“I started seeing everybody sharing and eventually you just start sharing yourself,” Murillo says. “I would write a lot
about betrayal and drugs and drug addiction, and it helped me be more comfortable with myself. I went through a
really deep guilt process about a lot of the things I’ve done and it really helped me heal. I was able to share with
people from a whole other world and way of life.”
Kovatch continued teaching Murillo for the next year, and was constantly inspired by her both inside and outside of
the classroom.
“She always showed up with a positive attitude, she was always smiling and she showed a courage and strength that
inspired others to open up and be as honest and truthful as possible,” Kovatch says. “It was her vulnerability that
gave others the courage to be just as vulnerable.”
Murillo’s time with InsideOUT Writers did not end once she was no longer incarcerated. Now, she is part of the
organization’s Alumni Program, which aims to transition former Writing Students into productive lives once they are
released. She is also getting ready to begin classes at Los Angeles Mission College this fall, and she hopes to
eventually pursue a career in the film industry.
For Kovatch, Chodroff and all of the other InsideOUT Writers volunteers, it is crucial that programs like this one
continue expanding to juvenile halls across the country.
“In my mind, one of the biggest issues we have as a society is that we put our emphasis on the wrong end. All of the
money gets thrown into putting a Band-Aid on the problem and paying or incarceration and giving kids long
sentences rather than preventing them from ending up in that situation in the first place,” Chodroff says. “InsideOUT
Writers really advocates for the kid when they’re on the inside. They try to help them survive in this culture that is
really counter to everything children need. When they get out, InsideOUT Writers acts as a preventive measure for a
new cycle, supporting their reentry and giving them new opportunities.”
No matter where the students and alumni are at now, what Jaki Murillo and many other InsideOUT Writers will
remember most are the instructors that guided them throughout their journeys.
“Johnny has a tattoo on his arm that says ‘No estás solo,’ meaning ‘You are not alone’,” Murillo says. “No matter
what the struggle, he never gave up on me and he always showed up. “
These three simple words written on his arm constantly remind Kovatch’s students that they will always have
someone supporting them along the way.
“I want them to remember that they have their whole lives ahead of them,” Kovatch says. “Kids are redeemable and
it’s important for them to understand that why they were incarcerated doesn’t define them. They are more than what
led them in there.”