
Help Fund Mother's Keeper
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Friends, Colleagues, Countrymen, lend me your ears;
As many of you know, I have a passion for shifting the rates of mass incarceration and recidivism. Over the last short, but intensive, six months, I have worked tirelessly to build a non-profit organization called Mother’s Keeper. The goal of Mother’s Keeper is to develop a community resource for teenagers with incarcerated mothers and to strengthen the familial bond between mother and child by nurturing pride, diminishing shame, and strengthening communication skills amongst these underserved youth. I hope that, with my efforts in Research and Community Development, and your community support, we can create a positive change in this movement toward Social Justice.

What Experience Do I Bring to the Table?
When I first felt moved to enter the Social Justice community, I signed up to work, what I thought would be, one month as a Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate with the Valley Trauma Center (VTC). VTC offered immediate counseling and advocacy to survivors of rape and sexual assault, largely minority youth. One month turned into three years as I embraced the opportunity to create a safe environment for young survivors experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with sexual assault. I was able to offer support and resources unique to each survivor’s needs while maintaining sensitivity about the fear, distrust, sadness, and anger that they were experiencing.
While attending CalState Northridge, I joined the on-campus Social Psychology Research Team that was exploring racial biases within the court system. I worked hands on with racial minorities, working to identify in-group and out-group stigmas associated with skin color, and contribute to a broader understanding of the injustices that are interwoven into our Justice System. Since moving to New York, I have become heavily involved in the movement to end Mass Incarceration, and have worked tirelessly on my own contributions toward minimizing the rates of incarceration among children of incarcerated mothers.
I have spent the last six months developing a non-profit organization and three-month arts-program for teenage children with incarcerated mothers, with the intent to minimize shame, build pride, and strengthen communication skills. I frequently attend large events to raise awareness, engage communities, and meet with key figures in the field to facilitate discussion and propel action toward parole reform, recidivism rates, and race equality. I have simultaneously designed a research study that will be facilitated at the Fortune Society this summer to explore the effects of stigma on children with incarcerated mothers.
As I prepare to graduate from St. John’s University with a B.A. in Psychology at the end of this Fall term, I am looking to expand my impact and advocate for greater change. The work that I have done in the field is just the beginning. I hope to partner with my community of friends, family, and colleagues to strengthen efforts in the field of Social Justice.
What Unique Needs are Being Addressed?
I have designed an arts-based summer program for teens whose mother has been incarcerated. The process of making art has been shown to be an effective tool for working with adolescents because of the developmental urge of youth to “make their mark” while also being sensitive to the image they project to peers. Artistic expression allows adolescents to constructively express themselves while neutralizing the battle over what to reveal and what not to reveal (Riley, 2001). The involvement of youth in art-based programs has been shown to strengthen a number of key cognitive skills (Eisner, 2000). The internalization of negative societal beliefs, however, such as parental incarceration, can produce feelings of shame, a deeply felt fear of being judged as defective or unworthy (Fife & Wright 2000; Scheff, 2000; Shweder, 2003). Thus, it is important for those experiencing parental incarceration to experience a sense of pride and accomplishment that will validate their self-worth; an accomplishment that is made public, so that the individual is seen as valuable-- a person who should not be rejected (Azar, 2006).
My interest is in exploring how our arts-based program may enhance communication skills, lessen shame, and support a sense of accomplishment in these at-risk youth. It is my hope that this program will lead to a resource that can be easily implemented in communities with high incarceration rates.
Funding for What?
I am seeking funding to run the pilot program this Summer at the Fortune Society for twelve teenagers with incarcerated mothers. The Fortune Society is a comprehensive organization, committed to serving those who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, helping them to become positive, contributing members of society. The money will allow me to purchase high-quality art supplies, sponsor students’ travel expenses to and from the program, bring in professional artists and relevant guest speakers, and treat all students to a professional art performance in NYC at the completion of the program.
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum, guest speakers, or specific needs of my program, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I sincerely thank you for your support,
April Hinkle
Mother’s Keeper, NY
This is me, April Hinkle, at the PsiChi International Honors Society Inauguration ceremony (April 2015)
What First Steps Have Been Taken?
Mother’s Keeper is proud to present the Art Will Set You Free Contest! When words fail us, art can help tell our story – triumphs, struggles, emotions, and desires. Show us your artistic rendition of the relationship between a prisoner and their loved ones outside. Each piece should have an accompanying paragraph explaining what is depicted in your drawing/painting/design. Each entry will be featured on the Mother’s Keeper Instagram account along with your write-up. Entries will be accepted through July 4th (Midnight EST) and voting will be open via Instagram through July 31st, 2015 at (Midnight EST). Each “Like” on Instagram will equal one vote. There will be two winners. The First Place winner will receive $150 plus a $50 gift card for art supplies. The Second Place winner will receive a $75 gift card for art supplies. First and Second Place Winners will be announced on Saturday August 1st, 2015. Good luck!!!!
Follow this contest and cast your votes by following us on Instagram: @MothersKeeperNY
As many of you know, I have a passion for shifting the rates of mass incarceration and recidivism. Over the last short, but intensive, six months, I have worked tirelessly to build a non-profit organization called Mother’s Keeper. The goal of Mother’s Keeper is to develop a community resource for teenagers with incarcerated mothers and to strengthen the familial bond between mother and child by nurturing pride, diminishing shame, and strengthening communication skills amongst these underserved youth. I hope that, with my efforts in Research and Community Development, and your community support, we can create a positive change in this movement toward Social Justice.

What Experience Do I Bring to the Table?
When I first felt moved to enter the Social Justice community, I signed up to work, what I thought would be, one month as a Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate with the Valley Trauma Center (VTC). VTC offered immediate counseling and advocacy to survivors of rape and sexual assault, largely minority youth. One month turned into three years as I embraced the opportunity to create a safe environment for young survivors experiencing post-traumatic stress symptoms associated with sexual assault. I was able to offer support and resources unique to each survivor’s needs while maintaining sensitivity about the fear, distrust, sadness, and anger that they were experiencing.
While attending CalState Northridge, I joined the on-campus Social Psychology Research Team that was exploring racial biases within the court system. I worked hands on with racial minorities, working to identify in-group and out-group stigmas associated with skin color, and contribute to a broader understanding of the injustices that are interwoven into our Justice System. Since moving to New York, I have become heavily involved in the movement to end Mass Incarceration, and have worked tirelessly on my own contributions toward minimizing the rates of incarceration among children of incarcerated mothers.
I have spent the last six months developing a non-profit organization and three-month arts-program for teenage children with incarcerated mothers, with the intent to minimize shame, build pride, and strengthen communication skills. I frequently attend large events to raise awareness, engage communities, and meet with key figures in the field to facilitate discussion and propel action toward parole reform, recidivism rates, and race equality. I have simultaneously designed a research study that will be facilitated at the Fortune Society this summer to explore the effects of stigma on children with incarcerated mothers.
As I prepare to graduate from St. John’s University with a B.A. in Psychology at the end of this Fall term, I am looking to expand my impact and advocate for greater change. The work that I have done in the field is just the beginning. I hope to partner with my community of friends, family, and colleagues to strengthen efforts in the field of Social Justice.
What Unique Needs are Being Addressed?
I have designed an arts-based summer program for teens whose mother has been incarcerated. The process of making art has been shown to be an effective tool for working with adolescents because of the developmental urge of youth to “make their mark” while also being sensitive to the image they project to peers. Artistic expression allows adolescents to constructively express themselves while neutralizing the battle over what to reveal and what not to reveal (Riley, 2001). The involvement of youth in art-based programs has been shown to strengthen a number of key cognitive skills (Eisner, 2000). The internalization of negative societal beliefs, however, such as parental incarceration, can produce feelings of shame, a deeply felt fear of being judged as defective or unworthy (Fife & Wright 2000; Scheff, 2000; Shweder, 2003). Thus, it is important for those experiencing parental incarceration to experience a sense of pride and accomplishment that will validate their self-worth; an accomplishment that is made public, so that the individual is seen as valuable-- a person who should not be rejected (Azar, 2006).
My interest is in exploring how our arts-based program may enhance communication skills, lessen shame, and support a sense of accomplishment in these at-risk youth. It is my hope that this program will lead to a resource that can be easily implemented in communities with high incarceration rates.
Funding for What?
I am seeking funding to run the pilot program this Summer at the Fortune Society for twelve teenagers with incarcerated mothers. The Fortune Society is a comprehensive organization, committed to serving those who are incarcerated or formerly incarcerated, helping them to become positive, contributing members of society. The money will allow me to purchase high-quality art supplies, sponsor students’ travel expenses to and from the program, bring in professional artists and relevant guest speakers, and treat all students to a professional art performance in NYC at the completion of the program.
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum, guest speakers, or specific needs of my program, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I sincerely thank you for your support,
April Hinkle
Mother’s Keeper, NY

What First Steps Have Been Taken?
Mother’s Keeper is proud to present the Art Will Set You Free Contest! When words fail us, art can help tell our story – triumphs, struggles, emotions, and desires. Show us your artistic rendition of the relationship between a prisoner and their loved ones outside. Each piece should have an accompanying paragraph explaining what is depicted in your drawing/painting/design. Each entry will be featured on the Mother’s Keeper Instagram account along with your write-up. Entries will be accepted through July 4th (Midnight EST) and voting will be open via Instagram through July 31st, 2015 at (Midnight EST). Each “Like” on Instagram will equal one vote. There will be two winners. The First Place winner will receive $150 plus a $50 gift card for art supplies. The Second Place winner will receive a $75 gift card for art supplies. First and Second Place Winners will be announced on Saturday August 1st, 2015. Good luck!!!!
Follow this contest and cast your votes by following us on Instagram: @MothersKeeperNY
Organizer
April Hinkle
Organizer
West New York, NJ