Ting Forum explores the life-changing impact of an innovative educational program behind prison walls

On October 25, the School of Criminology hosted a David and Cecilia Ting Occasional Forum on “The Decolonizing and Transformative Pedagogy of Walls to Bridges Prison Education”. Attendees and facilitators engaged in meaningful reflections around the life-changing experience and the pedagogy behind Walls to Bridges (W2B), an educational program where incarcerated and non-incarcerated students pursue higher education courses in custodial facilities and community correctional centres in Canada.

The event began with a rendition of the “Strong Women’s Song”, by Rosie Smith and W2B B.C. coordinator Cathee Porter, followed by a thoughtful presentation on the origins of the collective, with personal testimonials from the facilitators describing how this program transformed their lives and continues to do so even today.

“The stigma and the stereotypes, the violence, all the things that you think about prisons are not present in these classrooms,” says Porter, attesting to the powerful positive impact of the W2B program. “It doesn’t even feel like you are there, you are just grateful to be getting an education.”

During the event, the facilitators created an immersive experience by transforming the event space into a W2B classroom, allowing attendees to experience what it is like to be in one of their courses. Through various activities, attendees reflected on the issues faced by people impacted by criminalization.

At the end of the session, the facilitators asked attendees to share one word about what they took away from the experience. Responses varied from gratitude and inspiration to opportunity and enlightening experience. Everyone left the room grateful for the opportunity to learn from each other.

The School of Criminology extends its heartfelt gratitude to the David and Cecilia Ting Foundation for funding this event; to Tiina Eldridge, Cathee Porter, and Lorraine Pinnock for their inspiring testimonials and for leading such an insightful workshop, as well as to senior lecturer Danielle Murdoch, whose unparalleled passion for learning, unlearning and relearning made this event possible.