Page 42 - 2021_American Jails NovDec

Inmate Comments their submissions. I commend
• “This is awesome! Thank you for Stephanie Ruane for facilitating this
putting this together, my stuff impressive and inspiring newsletter.
really looks nice.” Keep up the great work!!”
• “I can’t believe I made the front
page.” “I am honored to be a part of
• “My family is going to love this!” something so significant, which has
• “It’s nice to be noticed for doing made such an impact on our clients
as well as the entire staff. This is all
something right for a change.”
done by the inmates—I am just the
lucky person who gets to work with
Comments from Administration a team of creative, thoughtful, and
page, generating competition for “I commend everyone who took generous human beings who want
this spot. part in making this program a to share their talents with the rest of
An interesting development is success. It is a pleasure to view us. There is not much in my profes-
that a few inmates, who have left these submissions and has become sional career that makes me prouder
the Monmouth County Correctional something to which I now look than doing this newsletter with
Institution to either go home after forward to reading. The SMART them. I am honored to be a vehicle
completing their sentence or to Way Newsletter started out as an for them to share their gift with the
serve time in state prison, can outlet for the inmates to help get world.”
continue to mail submissions for them through the pandemic, but I
consideration for publication. The am confident that this will be some- “I congratulate the inmates for their
newsletter has become a symbol for thing that will continue long after participation and personal submit-
the grace and beauty of the human this pandemic has passed.” tals for the SMART Way Newsletter.
spirit shining through an opportu- The challenges during any incarcer-
nity for artistic expression called the “I look forward to reviewing all the ated period are not easy and the
SMART Way Newsletter. poetry, artwork, and stories each impact of a global pandemic has
month. I commend the inmates for only heightened those challenges.
consistently impressing me with

40 | NOVEMBER | DECEMBER 2021 AMERICANJails