A lifelong teacher establishes a bookclub at Women’s Correctional Facility in Chillicothe, Missouri

Beginning in January, 2025, I have facilitated a monthly book club at the women’s correctional facility in Chillicothe, Missouri.  My inspiration for creating this book club came from two sources. In spring, 2017, Fr. Tom Curran, the President of Rockhurst University at the time, established an Associate of Arts degree program at the Chillicothe for the incarcerated women and for the Department of Corrections (DOC) staff with Rockhurst faculty teaching the courses. I had just retired from the Department of Education the previous summer, so I was unable to participate but the program and its social justice focus stayed with me. The other reason was my disappointment in the book clubs I had belonged to over the years. We would discuss the book for about 10 minutes, then go on to talk about topics like where members were going for spring break, etc. The idea of a book club started to hatch in fall, 2023, with thoughts of having an intellectual discussion about quality books and providing something different from their typical day.

14 months later I met with my group of 15 readers for the first time. They had to apply to be a member and commit to a year of attending the club. I don’t know what were the criteria for participating nor could I ask. I know there is a wait list of women who want to participate. We have to call each other by our last names, so I have name cards for each. I asked them about topics they liked when reading. I knew the books we’d read needed to be well-written, offer rich discussion topics, and be books where they could make connections to self, world, and other texts. I have chosen books that are fiction, non-fiction, historical fiction, classics, and memoir with a wide variety of protagonists. We have to call each other by our last.

Prior to giving them a new book, I provide guided reading which gives them “look-fors," gives a historical context, defines words they likely would not know, and a purpose for reading. They tell me these notes are helpful. This is what I did when I taught to help students make meaning of what they were reading instead of just telling them to read the book. We meet for an hour and the women engage in lively discussions with deep insights. They are all bright and insightful gauging from our discussions. Many times, they tell me they loved the book which tells me I am on the right track with my choices. Several women thank me as they leave which makes me cry when I get back in my car to drive home. They want to continue this club and I am thrilled to continue it, too.

Back to newsletter >>

Would you like to donate to JPEN?

Visit the Jesuits of Central & Southern Province support page to learn more about how you can contribute.

To designate your gift to the Jesuit Prison Education Network, scroll down the webpage to "Donation information" to select a gift amount. Then scroll down to the "Designation" box, click on it, and select JPEN from the drop-down menu.