For many women leaving the criminal justice system is a difficult transition, the journey to rebuilding their lives is full of obstacles; unstable housing, limited job opportunities, and adjusting to the world with a criminal record. Many reentry programs help women with their challenges, but Women Healing & Empowering Women (WHEW, *an exhale of breath*) does more than that. This arts-based healing program in Houston, TX, works to understand the deeper reasons why women end up in jail. By helping them heal inside and out, WHEW gives women the support they need to rebuild their lives. On the organizations website CEO Busi Peters-Maughan states “When you educate a man you educate an individual, when you educate a wombyn, you educate a NATION. First they Wombyen heal the Wombyen, then the Wombyen, Heal the MEN.” Reentry is a term that’s used for people who are formerly incarcerated and reentering society. Peters-Maughan spoke with AFRAM News to share insight into WHEW’s mission, the challenges women face after incarceration, and how the organization is helping them rebuild their lives through healing and empowerment. According to the organization’s website, WHEW’s mission is “USING the ARTS as a HEALING TOOL to address interconnected challenges women face such as former incar- ceration, homelessness, and domestic violence, starting local going global. WHEW’s vision is to be an organiza- tion committed to empowering wom- en globally through economic, edu- cational, environmental, and cultural programs that work to end prison recidivism, homelessness, gender and ethnic biases, inter-generational poverty, the lack of access to adequate, and sufficient education.” Peters-Maughan is from the “boogie down” Bronx, New York. Born just four days after Malcom X’s assas- sination, she recalled growing up in a pivotal time which ultimately led her to starting WHEW. “I grew up in a family of community that instilled values and urgency that wanted to give back to know that we don’t walk on the streets by ourselves, that we repre- sent our families, our communities.” She wanted to attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and moved to Houston, TX to enroll at Texas Southern University […]
The post WOMEN’S REENTRY PROGRAM appeared first on African American News and Issues.
