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Volunteering to teach writing workshops at the Fairbanks Correctional Center has been a profound and humbling experience, revealing the transformative power of language in spaces of confinement. Each session, I step into an environment where time seems both stagnant and oppressive, yet within that stillness, writing becomes a conduit for movement—of thought, of self-perception, of possibility. Poetry, prose, and first-person narratives serve as instruments of reclamation, allowing participants to articulate their inner landscapes, to wrest control of their own narratives, and, in some cases, to discover a voice they never knew they possessed. In these workshops, I have seen how literature serves as both an anchor and a horizon—offering stability in the act of self-expression and a vision of something beyond the present moment.

These workshops are made possible through the Learning Inside Out Network (LION), a grassroots initiative dedicated to fostering education and creative collaboration between those inside and outside of 91��Ƶ’s jails and prisons. LION recognizes that rehabilitation is not merely about reform but about connection—about restoring dignity, agency, and the right to be heard. Through their advocacy, individuals affected by incarceration, both directly and through their families, find opportunities for intellectual and artistic engagement that extend beyond their immediate circumstances. Here, writing is not an academic exercise but a deeply human endeavor, one that bridges divides, challenges isolation, and insists on the worth of every participant.

I embarked on this work with the hope of sharing my love for the language arts—the solace, joy and insight it has offered me. Yet, in the process, I have been profoundly shaped by the honesty, resilience, strength and depth of the women who participate in these workshops. Each session reaffirms the power of language—not merely as a vessel for self- expression, but as a force of healing, a means of reclaiming lost narratives, and a bridge that forges connection even in the most isolating of circumstances.These workshops have reinforced my belief that storytelling is a fundamental human need, one that exists beyond privilege or circumstance.

The impact of these workshops extends beyond the confines of Fairbanks Correctional Center, finding a wider audience through , a blog that shares the creative work of incarcerated women writers. This platform offers a space where their words—often silenced or ignored—can be read, heard, and valued. Through poetry, essays, and personal reflections, participants assert their identities, challenge stereotypes, and engage in larger literary and sociopolitical conversations. Voices Uncaged serves as a testament to the power of storytelling as an act of resistance, a means of reclaiming personhood, and, ultimately, a profound assertion of humanity.

We are thrilled to announce that Jericho Williams, Associate Professor of American Literature, applied for, and received, the UAF People's Endowment award for the spring of 2025. The People's Endowment was established by the UA Foundation in 1986. The purpose of the endowment is to provide an alternative source of funding specifically for projects that will improve UAF.

The Department of English's People's Endowment project centers around Tea Time. Tea Time gatherings started during the fall semester of 2024 by the Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Activity Student Belonging and Community Award recipient Naomi King. Click here to learn more about Tea Time.

To expand the roots of Tea Time, a large monitor will be installed in the 8th floor lounge of Gruening (room 850). This monitor will be equipped with smart technology that will allow others, like Naomi, to be part of Tea Time gatherings whether they are in a different state, country, or simply not able to come to campus that day. The English department's goal is to foster a sense of belonging, create professional development opportunities, and help students envision potential paths forward. By having the physical lounge space combined with a screen, Tea Time will connect students with faculty, peers, and alumni while showcasing the values of collaboration and networking.

Come join our Tea Time events that are student-led discussions and informational interviews with guest speakers. Tea Time promotes intellectual and social engagement while providing students with leadership and networking opportunities. Contact uaf-english-dept@alaska.edu for more information about Tea Time.

"Growing up as a reader I really loved the classics which was unusual in my age group to have read The Great Gatsby, Jane Eyre, and Shakespeare. All loves I've really had the pleasure exploring in classes from faculty here on campus in my American lit focused classes and even in Dr. Harney's and Dr. Reilly's classes focusing on Shakespeare and Medieval literature. As I've gotten older though I've really embraced my love for romance novels. I have a penchant for the classics: Johanna Lindsey, Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, and of course the humble Harlequin paperback. Though luckily now we have had such growth in the genre. Recently loved reading A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall and You Should be so Lucky by Cat Sebastian more recently. I also love horror and thriller novels, I guess you could say that I enjoy the breadth of the extremity of human emotion, I've been reading the manga series PTSD Radio by Masaaki Nakayama (a good series for Junji Ito fans). Perhaps it's not what one would expect someone like me to read, but I love my genre fiction."

-Aviv Snowberry’s response to submitting a short paragraph about themselves as a writer and/or reader. For the first edition of Footnotes, February 2025.