council for insight, compassion & resilience

“The inmates are now looking at each other as individuals, they're able to meet themselves and understand that we all are human, we all have issues, and that's made for a lot safer environment both for our inmates and our staff. They're learning to listen without judgment, they're learning empathy, and that's huge.” 

Theresa Cisneros, Chief Deputy Warden, Avenal State Prison

"What I found with this was something totally unexpected. I started to recognize a need for a change in me, a need to give back. I wasn't seeing people as who they were, I was only thinking of me, what can they do for me... and that way of thinking got me to prison. I thought, what can I do to change that? I've been taking, taking, taking... how do I flip that? What council has helped me to see is that I can give back, that I have something valuable to offer that I didn't realize I had."

Joseph, Inmate Council Program Participant at Avenal State Prison

"Literally, within the first day, four of these big old tough guys were in tears, sharing their heart ... it was an amazing thing to see ... I track their 'disciplinaries' and ... I've seen a huge transformation and I can truly tell you that these guys, they have been successful, they are staying out of trouble, and they are opening their eyes to new ways of thinking ... I've been very impressed. I'm so happy the program is here and we're proud to have it."

Carey Ochs, Community Resource Manager, Ironwood State Prison

"I've been in pretty much every group in this prison and this one is different. Being in this group, I learned how to feel someone's story, someone's pain. It's broken stereotypes and the usual way inmates view people who look different. This has almost re-sensitized me to be more human again. I used to have a lot of false strength, I was very selfish before and ... it's humanized me. I truly, genuinely care about the next man. Council helped me develop a sense of trust and has helped me empathize and gain insight into my childhood. It put me in a place where I could be vulnerable inside a place you're not supposed to be. I'm forever thankful for it. It's truly helped me on my path. "

Mitch, Inmate Council Program Participant at Ironwood State Prison

"I think it's great, it's one of the best programs that anybody could participate in. I was hooked the first time. I'm a lifer and I continue to get a lot of growth out of this program.

Council is all about developing skills sets to live an ethical life and to express humility and kindness to other people as well as being able to work on self-esteem and self-dignity. Council allows us to go deep into areas of our life that we never thought would be possible; it's a way to heal the shame that has bound us up and kept us from being our true self.

This allows us to feel like we're human beings, not just inmates…Beyond Us & Them creates a ripple effect of personal growth."

James, Inmate Council Program Participant at Ironwood State Prison

"What I found with CICR was something totally unexpected. I started to recognize a need for a change in me, a need to give back. I wasn't seeing people as who they were, I was only thinking of me, what can they do for me... and that way of thinking got me to prison. I thought, what can I do to change that? I've been taking, taking, taking... how do I flip that?

What Beyond Us & Them has helped me to see is that I can give back, that I have something valuable to offer that I didn't realize I had."

Joseph, Inmate Council Program Participant at Avenal State Prison

"Council has pushed me. It's been healing for me. It actually got me to communicate, it actually helped me to open up more, it actually helped me learn how to empathize with other people and see things from other points of view … When you're opening up to other people, and they're listening to you, and you have the opportunity to express yourself without being judged and criticized, you hear the commonality, and it helps you.

Council helps you learn to discover the true you, that part of you that God created, who you really are: someone who is loving, caring, and compassionate. That's what the human spirit is, and that's what Council has helped me bring out."  

Edward, Inmate Council Program Participant at Ironwood State Prison

“When Jared Seide, the director of Beyond Us & Them, came to sit with our group, I learned about Council programs in Rwanda, Auschwitz, and Bosnia and about how people that were once considered enemies are now using this process to come to terms and get along.

Jared talked about how they’re working toward healing and forgiveness for acts of horror and terror committed against one another. He spoke about empathy, compassion, and listening and how that connects with tolerance, acceptance, and peace. I started to understand what was happening in this group. If perpetrators of genocide can be forgiven by their victims and sit at the same table together, why can’t we?

I no longer saw other inmates through the lens of the gang, as the enemy; I see them as someone waiting to be heard, listened to, understood with compassion and empathy, potential links in this chain of peace and human-kindness.”

Sam, Inmate Council Program Participant at Salinas Valley State Prison