People and Earth Are One
People and Earth Are One
Earth Hope in Prison
(Posted November 2010)
Cece invited Marya to spend a day at the Sonoma County Adult Detention Facility and the deputy in charge of education arranged for her to speak to over 700 inmates in recreation areas, solitary confinement blocks, and a dining hall. Marya began each of her talks to the inmates by alluding to hope, which is small and sometimes hard to feel; then she asked her listeners to think of another power that started small - the Universe, which began from an infinitesimal point. The energy of the Universe expanded at an incredible rate but then had to cool down for 400,000 years before it could direct the energy into something creative, namely the elements hydrogen and helium, which then evolved into the first stars. Stars spent millions of years creating the rest of the elements, out of which our Earth was created. Earth has evolved through 4.5 billion years and numerous geologic eras, culminating in the present era and us. Each person is an expression of that same small initial energy. All people are part of something bigger, something that started small. Marya then challenged each listener to claim a dream. It might take a while (remember the Universe has been on its journey for 14 billions years) and the road to the dream may not be perfect, but life is waiting for each of us to contribute to the dream of the Universe through realization of our positive personal dreams.
As Marya and Cece planned for the Earth Hope Prison Program, they pondered the analogy of goldfish. Yes, goldfish. If a goldfish remains in a small container it will remain small. Given a larger container, a goldfish will grow proportionately. The same holds true for inmates: Earth Hope is reaching people without a window to the world to help them grow beyond violence to self-esteem and respect. The Earth Hope program gives participants an opportunity to get GED credit as well as good behavior credit off their prison time. Administrators are amazed that the program has already begun to shift hearts to a sense of respect for others and reverence for all creation. They note positive behavioral changes in Earth Hope students.
Prison administrators are excited by the Earth Hope program and there are plans to increase the number of classes offered. Earth Hope staff hopes to expand the program to other prison and jail systems. This would require developing the class curriculum and materials into packets, as well as training teachers and volunteers.
The Earth Hope in Prison program, launched in 2007, is directed by Cece Gannon, licensed therapist and teacher, who developed the curriculum in cooperation with Marya. The program’s goal to help prisoners build self esteem by learning about and connecting to the origins of the universe and to one another with respect and compassion.
Earth Hope received a $3,000 grant from the Kalliopeia Foundation to help fund this project. Cece is searching for qualified volunteers with teaching and/or therapist training, and is also working on refining the curriculum for use by others. In 2008, Sister Mary Nerney, licensed therapist, successfully began the program with women inmates in Rikers Island Jail, NYC.
Here is a sampling of comments Sister Mary got when she asked for feedback from the women. From their hearts to yours: this program helps us women heal as one; I enjoy the meditation and the peace I feel as I become one with myself; I learned a lot about evolution and the Earth and animals; I wish the class was longer and hope I can receive something like this on the outside.