The Art of Soulmaking Program

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2024/11/24

Caryn Roth is the Executive Director at Unconditional Freedom, where she leads transformative programs aimed at improving well-being in underserved populations, including incarcerated individuals. With a background in biomedical informatics and public health, she has a passion for data analysis and research. Caryn holds a Master’s in Public Health from The Ohio State University and has extensive experience in project management, analytics, and community engagement, having worked across various sectors to foster positive change. She is committed to creating impactful solutions that address societal challenges and promote health equity.

The Art of Soulmaking program connects incarcerated individuals with volunteers, fostering transformative growth through letter exchanges. The initiative promotes reflection, emotional well-being, and personal development. Survey results show reductions in stress, anger, and depression. Yoga and meditation complement the program, helping participants engage in meaningful self-exploration, and creating positive societal contributors.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What inspired the creation of the Art of Soulmaking program? 

Caryn Roth: The author of the book, Nicole Daedone, focuses her work on “turning poison into medicine.” Taking that which we as individuals, or society, try to discard, to create richness, creativity and beauty. She saw the massive waste of human potential and money of prisons and saw a way to do prisons differently. Penitentiary comes from the word penitence, which means sorrowful reflection for the purpose of change. Daedone’s vision, “The Prison Monastery,” seeks to use prisons for their original intent of penitence, rather than punishment. The Prison Monastery uses the existing structures, protocols, and staff of prisons, but changes the intent from punishment to penitence.  There is an in-person program which was piloted and well-documented at two different penitentiaries. The Art Of Soulmaking represents “A monastery in a book,” a guidebook specifically written for those incarcerated to do the meaningful soul searching that leads to true change of the heart.  

Jacobsen: How has the COVID-19 pandemic shaped its development?

Roth: The program came to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. As Unconditional Freedom staff set out to implement The Prison Monastery at Central California Women’s Facility, they were informed that no one was allowed to visit because of COVID related lockdowns. However, they would allow for a correspondence course and penpal system. Daedone, with the help of Beth Wareham, wrote the book The Art of Soulmaking in three months while incarcerated women at CCWF signed up to participate. In November 2021, the program launched at CCWF with 73 women.  Within one year, there were over 400 women signed up for the program, quickly becoming the most popular program at CCWF with close to 20% of the population enrolled.  

Jacobsen: What has been the growth of Unconditional Freedom from zero to 50,000 participants in 1000+ facilities?

Roth: After the launch at CCWF, the Unconditional Freedom team quickly expanded the program. The initial expansion focus was on death row, where the incarcerated typically have the fewest privileges for community and outdoors. It was here that The Art Of Soulmaking could have an outsized impact. We sent out invitations for books, with a message that the book contained the opportunity to turn one’s cell into their monastery. Within 24 months, 7% of the entire death row population in the United States was enrolled. 

Every week we receive letters from incarcerated individuals who hear about the book and mail us requesting a free book. Since the launch in 2020, enabled by generous donors, we’ve been able to maintain our policy that we will ship a free book to anyone incarcerated who asks for one.  

Edovo, the prison tablet and education provider has also been an incredible partner and supporter. Edovo features The Art Of Soulmaking book, along with our videos and related programs on their tablet, bringing great awareness to their users of the program. 

Jacobsen: How do yoga, meditation, and other practices help the well-being of the incarcerated?

Roth: Yoga and meditation are offered as daily practices, along with freestyle writing, to support people as they go through The Art of Soulmaking journey. The journey of Art Of Soulmaking is both rewarding, and rigorous. Participants are asked to consider the types of questions that take a lifetime to answer. For example, can they find perfection within themselves in the face of anything destructive they may have done? What does forgiveness really mean for them? Yoga and meditation help ‘yolk’ the heart, body and mind, making them fertile and supple so that areas of deep pain, shame, and darkness become accessible for examination and transformation. 

Jacobsen: How does the letter exchange between volunteers and prisoners contribute to positive change?

Roth: The Art Of Soulmaking letter exchange is built uniquely. In this exchange, both volunteers and the incarcerated take the program.  Daedone’s vision is that we are all hungry for something. For example, those incarcerated can often suffer the pain of feeling invisible, forgotten, and shameful. Those outside of prison, too, have hungers: for deep emotional access, for rich connection, to touch “the other side” of those who could not fit in. We then build up these ideas of “other”. And humans don’t do well with “other.” However strong societal norms may reinforce these differences, they are not natural for us. We all yearn for the intimacy of being known, and knowing others. The letter exchange is built to capture these needs: as an exchange between two people, where both acknowledge the benefit of participating. Altruism is the outcome, though not the purpose.  

“Soul Letters exchanged with a penpal from the Order of Malta penpal program, bridged the gap between isolation and connection. For the first time, I felt seen, heard, and understood.” –Miguel Venancio, Kern Valley State Prison 

Jacobsen: What is the rate in anger, depression, and stress reduction? How are these measured? 

Roth: The Art of Soulmaking workbook contains two surveys that participants fill out – once at the start of the program and once after completing the workbook and exercises. The first has likert-scale survey questions where participants self-assess their levels of stress, anger, depression and other metrics.  The second is a Eudaimonia survey around metrics of life fulfillment. Responses are stored electronically and can be compared for individuals who fill out both pre- and post-survey. Our data is based on 120 response sets over the prior four years.

Jacobsen: What makes you confident the program works?

Roth: We have received letters that have shared with us how the Art of Soulmaking has transformed the point of view of those who are incarcerated from feeling that life is hopeless, not worth living, nobody cares about them, and they have given up to feeling hopeful and positive and seeing their life circumstances in a new way. Participants have shared experiences of release of long-held and destructive emotions, finding a sense of purpose while being incarcerated, mending key relationships with those outside of prison, and feeling more ready for release from prison.  Art of Soulmaking is not affiliated with any religion nor are we against any religion so there is room for people to have their own beliefs and explore our material and come to their own conclusion. The combination of the quantitative results we’ve seen, and the continuous feedback we get from the incarcerated sharing their stories and transformations has us know the program works. 

“My experience has been life-changing, because the information provided in the Art of Soulmaking lessons aids in restoring dignity.  Dignity empowers our purpose, as well as understanding the capacity to convert my life’s pain into a meaningful contribution that not only enlarges our circle of influence, but make a positive impact as well.” —Brent, AL

“I have been in and out of jails, prison, and rehabs for the last eight years. Relapse after relapse charge after charge I had nothing to live for or so I thought, until I ran across your program again and started to value life again. Now I’m rebuilding bridges and seeing life from a different point of view and I think you for that.” —Jermele F, VA Beach Correctional

“The Art of Soulmaking has transformed me and my life here behind bars — I used to be very aggressive and outwardly negative. I showed no compassion to anyone. I have changed so much that the Officers in the Jail here have started to read about the Art of Soulmaking. I can communicate with compassion and I can see all situations clearly.” —Rich G, Jefferson County Jail, NY

Jacobsen: How does Unconditional Freedom work with prison authorities?

Roth: A unique component of our program is that we believe in changing the whole prison ecosystem. Daedone has written a corollary workbook for corrections officers, called Guards To Guardians, designed to help officers transform the traumas endured on the job and re-envision a way of doing incarcerated that focuses on cultivating transformation for those within their care. The program is supported by over 30 senior mentor officers who travel to prisons speaking about the program and mentor junior officers. Our holistic approach has been well-received by prison authorities, many of whom are eager to have our programming at their facilities. 

Jacobsen: What are the next steps?

Roth: The next step is adding a program called Art of Soulmaking: Free the Artist. Through our Art of Soulmaking program, we have been blown away by artwork which incarcerated residents send us, showcasing their genius and creativity. The Free the Artist program provides a place for participants submit to their art of any medium to be shared on a central, publicly accessible website and newsletter. In this way we continue to encourage creative expression and healing for those involved, and provide a platform for creativity otherwise locked away in prison to be expressed for the world 

Jacobsen: How do you plan to expand its reach?

Roth: There is potential for our program to reach 600,000 people on the Edovo tablet as they expand their reach into prisons across the country. We are currently in conversations with three prisons for in person programming, which would include Art of Soulmaking, yoga, meditation and gardening. 

Testimonials:

This one is so great: 

Anthony H

Bibb Correctional 

Brent, AL

I am very grateful for the Art of Soulmaking. I would like to receive the Art of Soulmaking packet and I am very interested in being a facilitator. My experience has been life-changing, because the information provided in the Art of Soulmaking lessons aids in restoring dignity.  Dignity empowers our purpose, as well as understanding the capacity to convert my life’s pain into a meaningful contribution that not only enlarges our circle of influence, but make a positive impact as well. I love the alchemist paradigm as taught by the Art of Soulmaking, converting pain into power, poison into medicine, getting the crown out of the cross. Thank you Unconditional Freedom Project for your time and concern for us and we are now in a Monastery instead of a Prison.

This is a good one: 

Charles Finney, Union Correctional, Death Row

The Unconditional Freedom Program appeared to me as a means to recognize and escape the mental chains that bind one’s soul. Meditation and yoga exercise is the key to unlocking the inner regions of the self. I believe that ignorance is a much greater prison than bars and cement, so it doesn’t matter where you are in life, it’s what you make it that counts. I make all my sculptures out of q-tips and paper towels, so it doesn’t matter what you have if you find a way to use it and let your soul shine.

Jermele F

VA Beach Correctional

I am an inmate at Virginia Beach Correctional C’enter and I was sentenced to the drug program due to my addiction and upon completion I get to go back in front of the judge with my certificate and completion letter and have a chance to give my time back to the program. But it really wasn’t giving me the help I truly needed so I started taking courses on the Edovo tablet in order to further chase my sobriety. That’s when I stumbled across your course and read the Art of Soulmaking.  

I learned the art of yoga. I learned meditation. I learned how to tap into the inner me. I finished the course, earned the certificate. But I feel I can learn so much more from you guys. Can you send me information so I can share with my classmates? We need this program in this facility. I will be presenting the certificate I earned for passing your course and telling them that your program helped me rewire my brain and made my stay here not so bad. In the end, there was a part that said share your story and maybe I will help someone so here is a little bit about me.

I have been in and out of jails, prison, and rehabs for the last eight years. Relapse after relapse charge after charge I had nothing to live for or so I thought, until I ran across your program again and started to value life again. Now I’m rebuilding bridges and seeing life from a different point of view and I think you for that. I would love to go more into detail with my story. Maybe I’ll help someone.

Jose Mendiola, High Desert State Prison

My experience with the program was a pivotal moment in my life. It shows me that people do

care of the hard things that other people go through without even knowing who I am. It

changed me now because I care about others too now. When I can help them, I do my best and I feel very good when I help them. I feel like I made a difference for the greater good of this world.

Rich G testimonial 

Jefferson County Jail, NY

The Art of Soulmaking has transformed me and my life here behind bars — I used to be very aggressive and outwardly negative. I showed no compassion to anyone. I have changed so much that the Officers in the Jail here have started to read about the Art of Soulmaking. I can communicate with compassion and I can see all situations clearly. 

Michael D. Gallman

Evans Correctional Institution 

I let my pride get the best of me and I’m always stressing over the little things. But since I’ve taken this course, it taught me the unique ways of life. By me feeling confident and positive about the New Me, I know how to deal with things on a daily basis.  It took me forty five years to truly find myself. But once I did, I really do feel proud of myself. Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.

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