[Bookstoprisoners] Mission Statement

[Danielle Chynoweth]

In response to the question of mission --

Publishing prisoner writing and and displaying prisoner artwork has been an
active and important part of B2P as well.  I always showcase the prisoner
poetry books and prisoner artwork during tours.

This aspect of B2P avoids being (merely) charity and ties B2P to the larger
IMC mission of providing venues for people to tell their own stories -
speaking instead of being spoken for.

Stories can kill and stories can save lives. The current prison system is a
consequence of a certain way of telling the story about people, their
behavior, and what our options as a society are.  Therefore stories from
prisoners and those who work with prisoners are a necessary component in
changing the current prison system.  Democracy falls apart in the places
where there are silences.

Thanks for asking.

- Danielle


On 8/27/07, Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks Leslie.  (adding group distro)
>
> - Jay
>
> On 8/27/07, Leslie Srajek <lesliesrajek at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > Jay,
> >
> > This is a very good idea also if BTP wants to continue to pursue
> > funding possibilities.  While it's not necessary or even appropriate
> > to organize a mission statement around seeking funding, it can be very
> > helpful to use the criteria that funding groups list as a format or
> > guideline for a mission statement.
> >
> > The reason for this is that these criteria try to get to the purpose
> > and need of an organization, and that seems like it should be part of
> > a good mission statement.  What all funding agencies will look for
> > are:
> >
> > --a clear community need that is being met
> > --the methods for meeting the need
> > --what difference the group is making
> >
> > So these can be a useful way to organize group thinking about what you
> > do and why.
> >
> > This may seem sort of obvious, but I'll say it anyway--what seems
> > clear and useful to someone in the group is probably not to someone
> > outside of the group.  If the group's mission statement is about
> > educating self and community, it's important to remember that you most
> > often will have to take what you know about BTP issues, and take about
> > 3 steps back in order to start where an uninformed person will be
> > starting.
> >
> > So for example, if you take the three components of a mission
> > statement that you've listed, one might ask "Why provide books to
> > Illinois prisoners?   And then, "How do you provide the books?"   And
> > then, "What difference does the group make in people's
> > lives--prisoners, families of prisoners, volunteers?"
> >
> > Leslie
> >
> >
> >
> > On 8/27/07, Jay Schubert <jay.schubert at gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Hello,
> > >
> > > In the past, we've discussed the need for mission statement.  I think
> > that
> > > as we evolve and mature as an organization it will become increasingly
> > > valuable for us to consider having a mission statement.
> > >
> > > I'd like to place this topic on the agenda for our Sept 15 meeting
> > (which
> > > will primarily focus on the upcoming book sale), however I'd like to
> > do as
> > > much of the discussion as possible by email, prior to the meeting so
> > that we
> > > can use that time together for book sale planning, and if we've
> > arrived at a
> > > point in our discussion where we can reach consensus about a mission
> > > statement, we can formalize it at that time.
> > >
> > > Here are some general components I'll put on the table, these are
> > concepts
> > > which have been prevalent as far back as I can remember.  I'd like to
> > invite
> > > you to to add to / modify / mold into a paragraph and generally
> > discuss this
> > > idea on the list.  Please reply to all with any thoughts you have
> > about this
> > > proposal so that we can all participate in the discussion.
> > >
> > > 1. Provide books to Illinois Prisoners
> > > 2. Educating our selves and the community
> > > 3. Providing a meaningful volunteer experience
> > >
> > > Our business meetings are open to everyone.  Please consider attending
> > the
> > > Sept 15 meeting to help us make important decisions about the details
> > of our
> > > upcoming book sale (happening just two weeks after this meeting), and
> > to
> > > participate in formalizing our mission statement.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Jay
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > BooksToPrisoners mailing list
> > > BooksToPrisoners at lists.chambana.net
> > > http://lists.chambana.net/cgi-bin/listinfo/bookstoprisoners
> > >
> > >
> >
>
>
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>
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