Mission: Information. Education. Inspiration. Vision: Our goal is community. Our vision is quality.
Staff
EDITORS
Kelsey Dodson
Geneva Phillips
WRITERS
Felecia Andras
Mary Arreola
Rebekah Cooper
Phina Franklin
Angie Gilbert
Jamie Mullis
Courtney Quillen
Raye Dawn Smith
ADVISORS
Hannah Covington
Ellen Stackable
The staff of The Warrior Standard wishes to thank the Prison Journalism Project for all their training, guidance and encouragement. We extend a special thanks to the Oklahoma SPJ Pro Chapter for the generous program grant that made this anniversary edition of the newspaper possible. We also gratefully acknowledge the generous contributions of donors from Poetic Justice. We wish to thank staff from the Oklahoma Department of Corrections for supporting our endeavors to launch a community newspaper. Finally, to Kaya Dierks: Thank you for all the time, research, care and kindness you poured into our program this summer. We couldn’t have done it without you and wish you all the best in your next chapter!
Ideas? Feedback? Concerns?
We'd love to hear from you!
We are always looking to uphold a standard of excellence. Our aim is that every member of the broader community at Eddie Warrior feels their perspective and voice are welcome in this publication. To submit story ideas or provide feedback, contact The Warrior Standard at
Attn: The Warrior Standard
Poetic Justice PO Box 4117 Tulsa, OK 74159
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FROM THE EDITORS
Happy Birthday
Welcome to the commemoration of our first anniversary. It has been one year since The Warrior Standard launched and during the last 12 months we have covered a lot of ground, from being introduced to Oklahoma legislators at the Capitol to winning first place at the National Stillwater Awards. We’ve even been granted membership to the Oklahoma Press Association; to risk sounding cliché and to take a line from Shinedown, “A lot can happen in a year.”
As we look back over the events of a busy summer, we are still looking forward to our future. In this issue we want to encourage you to think about purpose: what it is, how it does or perhaps does not yet apply to you, and what does your future contain without it. We realize prison seems an unlikely gateway to achievement and personal success; in fact, society perpetuates the story that prison is a place of and for losers; we contest this assertion. While prison is usually a terrible and often tragic turn in our life stories, it is not the end of those stories. Many of us and many people we know have used the circumstance of a prison sentence as the impetus to attain an improbable outcome — meaning, we have chosen to take the very thing meant to punish us and used it as an opportunity to lay a foundation for a better life, which invariably begins with becoming a better version of ourselves. You might think this cannot be your outcome. We hope you will reconsider this notion.
So far this year we have hosted another Play Day where mothers and their children can spend quality time together, reinforcing their vital bond. Bethany Church returned for another Yard Event, and we
were grateful to see them back after an unavoidable postponement last year. Some notable firsts this summer included a visit from an award-winning poet, an all-day Block Party, the opportunity to help those who suffer from food insecurity in other countries, and the great honor of being included in Ear Hustle’s Live Summer Tour, which unfortunately, took place too close to this edition’s print time to be highlighted properly.
What do these things have in common? Every one of the people involved in these activities found their purpose in prison, either as a volunteer coming in, or as a previously incarcerated individual revisiting the place that had once, also, held them captive. Improbable outcomes all. So, as you thumb through these pages, we hope you think about that, and that you see yourself in these stories, or possibly glimpse a version of yourself that has the potential to emerge, if you are willing to pursue the best life has to offer you. Because life didn’t end when we came to prison and it doesn’t start when we get out. Life is happening right now. Life is endless work, but it is also endless possibility. We believe in you and we hope that you will dare to believe in yourself, because one way or another, we are all in this together.
Thank you for believing in us, too. It’s been a great year, and we couldn’t have done it without your support!
All the best to you!
The Editors
Staff photo. The Warrior Standard staff gathers for a photo on July 28, 2025. Front, from left: Jamie Mullis, Kelsey Dodson, Raye Dawn Smith, and Angie Gilbert. Back, from left: Geneva Phillips, Courtney Quillen, Felecia Andras, Rebekah Cooper, Phina Franklin and Mary Arreola. (Photo by Chaplain Shannon Kearns)
‘Next opportunity’: Positioning your purpose for college and career
Raye Dawn Smith | Staff Writer
In September 2007, I was processed into the Oklahoma Department of Corrections at Lexington Assessment and Reception Center, a maximum security prison. Later, I was transported to Mabel Bassett Correctional Center where I, a naive 27-year-old woman, would begin a 27-year sentence.
As the ODOC van took the winding road, Oklahoma’s largest women’s prison came into view and nothing about it said “college opportunity.” The gray cement block structures, chain linked fence, and razor wire had no resemblance to a university campus. For the next seven years, I remained in a state of distraction, self-loathing, and hopelessness. I could not see beyond my current circumstances.
Prison culture discourages one from focusing on goals that prepare us for a better future. This was my reality, until 2013, when I noticed a pink flyer hanging on a bulletin board that read, “College Enrollment.”
Instantly, I had an epiphany: I was the only thing standing in my way. I would go on to earn an Applied Science degree from Rose State College, a Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Marketing minor from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and receive acceptance into Adams State University’s Masters of Business Administration program.
BY THE NUMBERS RECIDIVISM RATES
Source: Northwestern University
suing your purpose. Every woman deserves the opportunity, and many of us have enough time to complete prior to release.
Nina Webb served almost six years at MBCC and to date, is the first and only to earn a Geosciences degree from RSC while incarcerated, according to Jan Bugby, who oversaw the college’s distance education program from 1999 to 2023.
“I wanted to prove everyone wrong and turn the status quo of what an inmate is on its head.”
Nina Webb
Here at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, women have minimal time to complete a bachelor degree (BA), but a shorter sentence should not discourage or prevent you from pur-
“I wanted to prove everyone wrong and turn the status quo of what an inmate is on its head,” Webb said.
She enrolled in University of Oklahoma’s geology program in addition to correspondence courses. Post-release she completed her geology degree, a math minor and eventually obtained
her masters from OU. Currently, she is a research scientist in the physics department at Washington University in St. Louis.
Webb cites her most notable accomplishment as seizing the opportunity to be the Co-Investigator/Science Lead for two NASA Small Business Research Phase I and II proposals.
Webb was active in getting Free Application for Federal Student Aid reinstated and also served on Oklahoma’s Prison Education Program oversight board that focused on ensuring students could finish their degree post-release with transferable credits.
Whichever degree-granting institution you choose, it is important to confirm its accreditation status, which ensures that an institution “meets specific standards of educational quality, operations, and resources,” according to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. You can contact any university by mail to learn about its ac-
creditation status.
It is encouraging to see so many women earning associate degrees from Connors State College; however, very few are aware of available correspondence options.
ASU and Upper Iowa University offer different B.A. degrees for incarcerated students through correspondence, but neither currently offer FAFSA to Oklahoma.
Kelli Pech, executive director of financial services at UIU, said in an email that incarcerated students in Oklahoma enrolled in paper-based, self-paced courses would need to pay out of pocket or by other means.
However, she added that the university recently got approval to offer aid at two facilities in Louisiana.
“We are hopeful to expand this in the future,” Pech said.
INSPIRATION | “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” - Albert Einstein ... COLLEGE continued on page 4
Nina Webb: Nina Webb enrolled in University of Oklahoma’s geology program in addition to correspondence courses. Post-release she completed her geology degree, a math minor and eventually obtained her masters from OU.
COLLEGE ...cont. from page 3
The lack of financial resources is often a barrier, but volunteers, churches, and nonprofit organizations can sometimes provide resources to help incarcerated women further their education.
Webb’s advice: “Don’t be afraid to ask. No simply means ‘next opportunity.’”
Unsure of your interests? Webb suggests reflecting on your inner child. What was she interested in before life happened?
Reminiscing on a childhood family vacation at Cripple Creek in Colorado, Webb said she spent hours deciding on the perfect rocks to fill a little velvet bag. As a little girl, Webb said she was fascinated with outer space and curious about how the moon affects the earth.
As an adult working in OU’s Geochemistry lab, she realized she could combine both interests and have a career she would love.
Almost nine years post release, Webb describes her life as “a whirlwind.”
Prison is full of distractions, drama, and chaos, where the struggle is definitely real, but discovering your ‘why’ creates an anchor and drive no thing or person can destroy.
“No matter the obstacle, if you dig deep enough, you will tap into a part of your brain that otherwise would go untouched,” Webb said.
A step up for success
Kelsey Dodson | Staff Writer
In life, whether inside or outside of prison, it is easy to lose sight of what is important. It seems easier to focus on things we can attain here and now. When we lose sight of the “Big Picture,” getting caught up in everyday life, we end up doing the same old things that got us to where we are now, and going nowhere fast.
never know what you are good at.”
A student in the Licensing Trade Program, Donja Griffin, 36, said that in order to find your purpose you must want it and be active in pursuing it, put your bad habits behind you and live a healthy lifestyle.
achieve them. We are the only ones who can change us.
Bachelor’s degrees available through correspondence
1 Upper Iowa University info@uiu.edu
605 Washington St. Fayette, IA 52142
2 Adams State University prisonedprogram@adams.edu Prison Education Program (PEP) Adams State University
208 Edgemont Blvd. Suite 3000 Alamosa, CO 81101
Living without purpose and meaning is living in hopelessness, and especially in prison hopelessness abounds. What is it that you are passionate about? Your passion is usually tied to something you’re innately good at. You just have to ask yourself the right questions. Most importantly, find out who YOU are and what YOU like regardless of what others think. It is possible to find a purpose in prison.
Kylie Friend, 27, is someone who has taken advantage of many opportunities while incarcerated. Her most recent accomplishment is receiving her journeyman’s license through HVAC.
Having been incarcerated for nine years she offers this advice: “Spending time in The Word and self-reflection, allowing yourself to feel and determine what you will and won’t allow going forward. Try new things, you
A big problem with being in prison is that people become so focused on the gate and getting out that they never self-reflect. Having a plan for the future is a must, and the only way to do that is by making the necessary changes to our lives. The first step is being honest with ourselves, then by making a list of the things we would like to be different and start the hard work of change.
It is easy to fall into complaining and making excuses; waiting lists for classes are long and not everyone qualifies for college, but there are opportunities for every level of education on this yard. Edovo is a great resource for educating yourself and completing valuable classes on your own. If you are determined to change, nothing can stop you.
Rather than viewing prison as something negative, use this time as an opportunity to become the best version of ourselves.
Change is a part of life. We should always view ourselves as a work in progress. Rather than viewing prison as something negative, use this time as an opportunity to become the best version of ourselves.
Learn something new. Take advantage of every opportunity on this yard. Take classes, go to college or join a program, read books, listen to podcasts, make a goals list and work hard to
Prison is a state of mind. We may be physically in a prison, but our minds can be free. Practice gratitude and be positive because what we think about ourselves we will attract. Happiness is a choice and regardless of our current circumstances we can choose to be happy. We are in control of our thoughts and emotions, if we don’t like what we are thinking we have to catch those negative thoughts and change them to positive ones. It takes practice and a lot of self awareness to be in tune with oneself, but it is possible.
Opportunities in prison are few, but when a door opens go through it. You may discover something about yourself.
COLUMN
Farewell letter to the Dr. Eddie Warrior Hispanic Community
Querida comunidad hispana de Dr. Eddie Warrior:
Gracias por su apoyo durante esta trayectoria y por el tiempo que compartimos juntas, apoyándonos continuamente como la comunidad hispana y latina que somos.
Ocupar su tiempo en algo positivo para su futuro mientras están encarceladas es una decisión difícil de tomar, pero no imposible. La decisión más común y cómoda es de hacer su tiempo destruyéndose, pero no es la única opción. También pueden elegir aprovechar las oportunidades y recursos que hay para crecer como personas y prepararse para un futuro mejor, para que cuando llegue el momento de regresar con sus seres queridos, tengan las herramientas necesarias para no volver a este lugar.
Aquí en la prisión Dr. Eddie Warrior existen muchas maneras de mejorar y hacer su tiempo productivo: pueden estudiar para obtener el G.E.D, continuar con estudios universitarios, o participar en programas como Carrera Tech, donde pueden prepararse para licencias en plomería, HVAC, electricidad y más. El programa OSHA también es una herramienta valiosa que les servirá en el futuro laboral. No olviden asistir a clases en la Iglesia y mantener un trabajo; no solo son importantes para subir de nivel (4) o conseguir un cube, sino que también las preparan para reintegrarse en la sociedad.
Recuerden que como hispanas y latinas, no estamos solas. Hay muchas compañeras trabajando en distintas áreas del compad: en la escuela, la cocina, el gym, mantenimiento, la iglesia y más. Si necesitan una intérprete o tienen preguntas, no duden en pedir ayuda; estamos aquí para apoyarnos con cariño y respeto. También hay oficiales y trabajadoras sociales dispuestas a ayudarles. Yo, Mary Arreola, me despido con este último artículo. Les quiero decir que no se den por vencidas, a pesar de las circunstancias difíciles que enfrentamos Es normal perder la esperanza y sentir que hemos perdido nuestra voz, nuestra fe. Pero también debemos recordar que somos hijas de Dios, y que todavía hay personas que nos ven como seres humanos, no solo como números Encuentren su fe en Dios y en si mismas, su esperanza en el futuro y su voz en este proceso de reconstrucción. A mí me ayudaron mucho las clases de Poesía Justicia, que me permitieron recuperar mi voz. Mis amigas en la iglesia me ayudaron a volver a tener fe. Y juntas comenzamos a recuperar la esperanza. Después de 11 años, estoy a punto de salir. Me voy con el corazón lleno de gratitud y con el deseo sincero de que todas ustedes encuentren fortaleza unas en otras. Que Dios las bendiga siempre. Recuerden: querer es poder.
Con cariño, Mary Arreola
Dear Dr. Eddie Warrior Hispanic Community:
Mary Arreola
Thank you for your support during this journey and for the time we shared together, continually supporting each other as the Hispanic and Latino community that we are.
Spending your time doing something positive for your future while incarcerated is a difficult decision to make, but not impossible. The most common and comfortable choice is to spend your time destroying yourself, but it is not the only option. You can also choose to take advantage of the opportunities and resources available to grow as individuals and prepare for a better future, so that when the time comes to return to your loved ones, you will have the necessary tools to avoid returning to this place.
Here at Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, there are many ways to improve and make your time productive: you can study for a G.E.D., continue your college studies, or participate in programs like CareerTech, where you can prepare for licenses in plumbing, HVAC, electricity and more.
a cube, but they also prepare you for reintegration into society.
Remember that as Hispanics and Latinas, we are not alone. There are many compañeras working in different areas of the compund: in the school, the kitchen, the gym, maintenance, the church, and more. If you need an interpreter or have questions, do not hesitate to ask for help; we are here to support each other with love and respect. There are also officers and social workers willing to help you.
I, Mary Arreola, sign off with this last article. I want to tell you not to give up, despite the difficult circumstances we face. It is normal to lose hope and feel like we have lost our voice, our faith. But we must also remember that we are daughters of God, and that there are still people who see us as human beings, not just numbers.
Find your faith in God and in yourself, your hope for the future, and your voice in this rebuilding process. The Poetic Justice classes helped me a lot, allowing me to recover my voice. My friends at church helped me regain faith. And together we began to regain hope.
The OSHA program is also a valuable tool that will serve you in the future. Don't forget to attend church classes and keep a job; They are not only important for leveling up (4) or obtaining
Find your faith in God and in yourself, your hope for the future, and your voice in this rebuilding process. The Poetic Justice classes helped me a lot, allowing me to recover my voice. My friends at church helped me regain faith. And together we began to regain hope.
After 11 years, I'm about to leave. I'm leaving with a heart full of gratitude and the sincere hope that all of you find strength in one another. May God bless you always. Remember: where there's a will, there's a way.
Love, Mary Arreola
INSPIRATION | “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to be.” - Carl Jung
ESPA Ñ OL
Dealing With Depression
Understanding that you are not alone.
Courtney Quillen | Staff Writer
Depression can be defined as sad feelings of gloom, a pessimistic sense of inadequacy, or a mental state characterized by a despondent lack of activity. For the many individuals that experience depression, it is not so easily defined.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. For some individuals, it can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities. Depression can be a huge weight to those who carry it around. Especially for those who are unable to put a finger on the exact issue they are having. While many experience the gloominess and lack of motivation, and immediately understand what they are up against, others have discreet symptoms that disguise themselves in fatigue, irritation, and a sense of disconnect.
There are many factors that can trig-
ger depression. According to a 2021 article from Harvard Health Publishing, health issues, loss of a spouse, family member, or friend are common triggers and lead to persistent sadness and loss of enjoyment. However, the triggers do not stop there. The reasons may vary depending on the individual.
Many have tried to deal with their depression alone in isolation, or they have turned to medications to help ease their suffering.
According to Harvard Health Publishing, antidepressants can be helpful to relieve and control symptoms, but they are not always the right choice.
It is suggested by health care professionals that you always consult with your doctor if you experience symptoms of depression. Depending on the severity of your condition, medication may be appropriate, at least in the short term, according to the Harvard Health Publishing.
For the many adults who do not want to be reliant upon antidepressants, there are non-drug strategies that can be added to your daily lifestyle to help improve symptoms.
Whether or not you decide to go the route of taking prescribed medications,
improving your lifestyle is a step in the right direction.
According to the Harvard Health Publishing, exercise combats depression by enhancing endorphins — natural chemicals that create a sense of euphoria.
This simple lifestyle change has the potential to not only improve depression symptoms, but boost our self confidence as we become healthier.
Exercise doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. It can be as simple as a 30 to 45 minute walk a day.
“Focus on doing whatever gives you enjoyment, regular movement is key,” Dr. Darshan Mehta, medical director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, told Harvard Health Publishing.
Another suggestion to help with depression symptoms is keeping a regular journaling practice.
This will help you better understand what you are going through, and to recognize any changes.
The quality of your life can be improved, and depression doesn’t have to be a forever symptom. You can begin to make a change — one step at a time.
The World Health Organization recommends physical activity for everyone, including those with chronic conditions and disabilities.
NON-DRUG STRATEGIES TO HELP IMPROVE DEPRESSION SYMPTOMS
EXERCISE: There is strong evidence that any kind of regular exercise is one of the best antidepressants.
NUTRITION: Focus on what not to eat. Dr. Mehta said, “ Curbing refined sugar found in sweets, soft drinks, and processed food may be especially beneficial.”
GRATITUDE: Expressing gratitude has been shown to have a positive effect on people with depression.
SOCIAL CONNECTION: The evidence is clear that social isolation increases a person’s risk of depression and can make symptoms more severe and longer lasting.
Information collected from Harvard Health Publishing
49% 22%
Women
Men
Women in state prisons report being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder at 49% rate compared to men in state prisons 22%.
Source: Prison Policy Initiative
(Photo credit: Canva)
HEALTH
Weighing in on the best you
Jamie Mullis | Staff Writer
“All you need is you!”
Have you ever said to yourself, “I really need to lose some weight,” but you just didn’t seem to know how to get started? You are not alone.
In December 2023, I was released from custody back into my community on a GPS ankle monitor. While I had prepared myself for my re-entry in many ways, one thing left out was my physical health.
After release at my first doctor visit, I stepped on the scale and realized I had gained over 40 pounds in that 15 months. I had no idea it would affect me in such a negative way. It didn’t take long before the disappointment and shame kicked in and caused a decline in my mental health too.
I felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I didn’t feel as confident as I did before and didn’t know exactly how to get it all under control, and eventually I relapsed. I not only failed my GPS — I failed myself and my loved ones and was headed back to prison.
It wasn’t long after my return I knew something had to change for me to be successful once I was released again. In that moment, I made a promise to myself that I would do anything and everything needed to change to better myself inside and outside.
Losing weight is more about the calories we intake than the burning calories by exercising. Your diet is the most important part of losing weight.
Tips to help you along the way
• Calorie deficit: Burn more than you intake, multiply your body weight by 14 and that will give you the number of calories you should eat in a day to maintain your current weight. To go into deficit, subtract 500. That will give you the number of calories
you should eat daily to lose a pound a week, according to research studies from scientists at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.
• Keep track of your daily calorie intake using a food journal.
• Measure instead of weigh (we retain water in this process).
• Positive self affirmations (self motivate).
• Be easy on yourself.
Successful workout combination
• Three to five one-hour weightlifting/ resistance training sessions per week
• One to three 30-minute HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions per week
• Two miles or one hour of walking per day at least five days a week
This process takes time, and patience is important. You’ll not only feel better
and look better on the outside but the inside too. Physically, emotionally and mentally.
Using these tips I’ve been able to lose the 40 pounds I gained. I feel more confident, and I’m proud of myself for the progress I have made. And you will as well.
MYTHBUSTER
Myth #1: You can burn the fat covering specific body parts.
There is no such thing as targeted weight loss. That is why it’s called body fat levels. You must reduce overall body fat levels by proper diet and exercise.
did you know?
Fish Oil
• Improves mood
• Offers better cognitive performance
• Reduces muscle and joint soreness
• Improves fat loss and prevents fat gain
• Helps faster muscle gain
INSPIRATION | “Hard work works.” - Denzel Washington
Myth #2: Wrapping yourself in plastic to sweat more will help you lose more weight.
Using plastic wrap to sweat or lose weight while exercising does not lead to more fat loss, according to a health resource from Columbia University. Sweating profusely may cause you to drop water weight, but this is only temporary and not the same as losing body fat. Any water weight will return after you re-hydrate. Using wraps or body suits can also be unhealthy. In fact, rubber “sweat” suits were banned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association after three wrestlers died in 1997 while wearing these suits. They were attempting to lose weight quickly by wearing these and working out in hot weather. It’s crucial to stay hydrated before, during and after physical activity.
Image by Vidmir Raic from Pixabay
Feeding The Hunger
Opportunities to help those less fortunate comes to Eddie Warrior
Geneva Phillips | Staff Writer
Prisoners in the United States are offered three meals a day. It may not be what they would choose to eat, but it is available. In contrast, many children around the world have nothing to eat. This was the motivation behind the Pack-A-Thon, an event held simultaneously at Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center and Jess Dunn Correctional Center on July 17, 2025.
The event was facilitated through Crossing Community Church, based in Oklahoma City, and Feed the Hunger, a nonprofit which has been providing meals for food insecure people since 1968. The nonprofit serves underprivileged communities in 27 countries, including the U.S.
Fifteen percent of the resources that Feed the Hunger distributes stays in America, serving those suffering from the impact of natural disasters and extreme poverty-stricken parts of the U.S. like Kentucky and the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Although JDCC has hosted this event previously, for the women at EWCC, this was a first. A crew of 20 women helped the outside facilitators set up
In addition to EWCC and JDCC, the John Lilly Correctional Center also contributed to the effort.
This enterprise was part of a larger endeavor to deliver 700,000 to families in underdeveloped countries.
140,000
The packed meal goal for all three facilities
for the event and clean up afterward. It took almost a hundred resident volunteers about three hours to pack 43,000 meals. The women premeasured lentils, rice, dehydrated vegetables and a nutrient rich powder into bags and heat sealed them. The bags were then packed 40 at a time into boxes. Each box they packed fed one child for an entire school year.
The event took place in the facility gym, which is not air conditioned and temperatures soared into the 90's on the day the event took place. Plenty of water and cold drinks were provided and despite the heat, all of the women were in high spirits throughout the affair.
"It was hot, but it was good," said Olinda Rodriguez, one of the resident volunteers.
Feed the Hunger volunteers reported that they provide food to families, schools and orphanages all over the world, to people who otherwise would go hungry. Children who attend these schools receive one meal a day; it is usually the only meal they get. The meals that the EWCC women packed
are slated to go to hungry children in Bangladesh. Feed the Hunger serves 15,000 impoverished children a day.
The organization also ships hygiene packs and provides a bible in each box of food which is translated into the heart language of the country receiving the meals, to address spiritual along with physical hunger.
The resources travel by container ship across the ocean and take about three months to reach their destination. The meals packed at EWCC will reach Bangladesh in October of 2025.
Giving back, whether to communities locally or halfway across the globe, is an important part of establishing compassionate rapport with the world at large. It allows incarcerated individuals to form connections with each other, while feeding their hunger to feel connected with humanity as a whole.
Not everyone had the opportunity to participate in the event but that shouldn't discourage anyone who would like to offer their services next year, because even though this was the first Pack-A-Thon at EWCC, it won't be the last.
Giving back: Resident volunteer Shonna Perry readies boxes to be packed with meals for Feed the Hunger on July 17. (Photo by Lance West)
Meal packing: Kayla Moreno and Megan Ward pack meals into boxes for Feed the Hunger on July 17. (Photo by Lance West)
POLL WHAT ABOUT YOU?
We would like to find out what the yard thinks about sports. Fill out this poll and drop it off at the chapel. Results will be included in the next issue.
Do you watch sports?
q Yes
q No
What is your favorite sport?
What is your favorite team?
Oklahoma City Thunder Finds Victory in Taft
Phina Franklin | Sports Writer
When the NBA finals began on June 5, it was a nail biting, back-and-forth display of which team wanted to win the most.
At the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center, some women crowded the TV room during games, while others were glued to the televisions in their cubicles. All were in high hopes that the OKC Thunder could take the championship and joined fans across the state in celebrating the team’s 4-3 triumph over the Indiana Pacers in the 7-game series.
Many women at EWCC are avid sports watchers when championship games are being aired on television. Whether it be the NBA finals, National Football League Super Bowl, or Major League Baseball World Series. Watching sports is a way of uniting with others in prison, giving them an opportunity to connect and find commonalities in their love of sports.
Courtney Quillen, 33, didn’t consider herself a basketball fan but decided to watch the playoffs anyway.
“I have a friend who is really into sports and I wanted to be able to connect with her with something she loves, but when I started watching the games I found that I was glued to my bed until the game was over,” Quillen said. “I was excited to watch the Thunder play cause they played with heart and determination.”
“They represent unity. They play together. They celebrate together. They step out on the court in one accord and win or lose, they are determined to step it up for the next round. They leave their heart out on the court and you can tell the game means a lot to them.”
Quillen ended up enjoying herself so much she also watched the parade.
“I was excited to see how the players interacted off the court, and I was happy to see that they remained humble and they represented OKC with dignity. I felt proud to be in that moment,” she said.
The Oklahoma City Thunder victory against the Indiana Pacers has made fans proud to be Oklahomans. They were able to come together and celebrate the team's win while the Indiana
FACTBOX
The Oklahoma City Thunder play in the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association.
The franchise was based in Seattle for the first 41 years of its existence, during which, as the Seattle Super Sonics, won three conference titles (1978,1979,1996) and one NBA Championship (1979).
In 2008, the team moved to Oklahoma, was rebranded as Oklahoma City Thunder, and won the NBA title in 2025.
Pacer fans mourned their team's loss. Tammera Baker, incarcerated since 2018, uses sports as a way to connect with others outside of prison.
“Watching sports while in prison
makes the bond with my family stronger. I grew up in sports and it's been my family’s tradition,” Baker said.
With Oklahoma City making their claim as the NBA Champions, Araceli Anchondo agreed to an interview on the condition that everyone be informed of her die hard, super fan status with the Dallas Cowboys. (The Cowboys play in the NFL.)
Anchondo says she wasn’t a Thunder fan before they won the championship but she is now. Watching the games fascinates her. She likes witnessing the talent each player exhibits.
“Each year it's different,” says Anchondo.
Anchondo watched the OKC Thunder Championship game against the Indiana Pacers in the TV room with all the Thunder fans in her dorm.
“I’m going to watch all the Thunder games from here on out,” she said.
Anchondo, who is from Ulysses, Kansas, is scheduled to be released this summer and plans on going to a Thunder game next season.
Maybe you can’t win them all, but the Thunder’s championship victory is certainly winning people over.
Champions: The OKC Thunder mark their NBA Championship win with a parade in Oklahoma City on June 24, 2025. (Courtesy of the Oklahoma City Thunder)
poetry purpose and
FEATURE
Award-winning poet Reginald Dwayne Betts delivers both to the women at Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center during his recent visit.
Geneva Phillips | Staff Writer
by Lance West
In a nondescript prison chapel situated in the small town of Taft, Oklahoma, an award-winning poet and Guggenheim Fellowship recipient is scheduled to give a book reading. It is set to occur on a Saturday morning, one of the rare days when prisoners are allowed to sleep in.
Eighty women signed up to attend the event, a little over fifty show. The mood is hushed expectation. What these women are expecting, however, even they probably couldn't say.
What none of them expect is what unfolds as a man wearing a t-shirt professing his friendship with books, topped by a multicolored sweater, takes the stage and opens the reading with the words “On Joy.”
“You ask me how l'm doing/ And I realized there are not enough/ Words for Joy in this language...”
The articulation of joy is unexpected in prison. Yet, Betts explains that there is no life, inside prison or outside of it, that does not - or should not - contain joy. He recounts that his own journey through some very hard years became the impetus for his latest book of poetry, “Doggerel,” a collection of intensely personal experiences that span the emotional spectrum leaping from joy to love, and far beyond. He concedes that it is the most intimate book he's ever written.
Betts tells the women in the audience that he is breaking out of sorrow and the preconceived identity of himself as a formerly incarcerated individual. His life has been a series of revisions, he says, and in this current revision, he is focusing on the authentic experience of vulnerability.
Betts says the spaces where you find yourself feeling vulnerable are the plac-
es where you can discover more about yourself. He says writing with vulnerability allows him to see other people, which is something he struggles with as a writer.
He reads a poem written for his mother the day before Mother's Day, while recounting to the audience an anecdote of being delayed at the airport; how a missed flight and the inspiration of those moments moved him to write the poem “Arriving Late” and the startling words “May g-d [god] forgive us for not/ knowing that we have always been enough, …”
Being formerly incarcerated himself gives Betts the right to declare such statements to a room full of women fulfilling their prison sentences. He was arrested at the age of 16 for a carjacking that earned him a nine-year prison sentence. Betts is not reluctant to speak about his crime, his incarceration, or the decades that have passed since, in which he reclaimed his life, earned a prestigious law degree from Yale University, and became a world-famous, award-winning poet.
The audacity of his words are not lost on the women absorbing them from the audience. The respect in the room is tangible, the laughter he draws from them genuine, and the silence sometimes shocked but only by the transparency with which he speaks, the authenticity of his intimacy.
Photos
Reginald Dwayne Betts reads to an audience of about 50 women in the chapel at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center on April 26.
When Betts acknowledges that he had been hesitant to read a love poem to women in prison: that a friend of his warned him against it, questioning if women in prison were deserving of love, the tension in the room grows brittle. Women in prison know full well what outsiders think of them, to have it laid starkly on the table, unexpectedly, changes the temperature of the room.
However, the temperature changes again when Betts speaks of an engagement at a men's prison, where he'd been “in a weeping mood,” and the tears which had overtaken him during the reading; recounting how no one commented on this outpour of emotion, except later, one of his sons comforted him.
Betts does read a love poem, entitled “We Never Say Goodbye” and in it addresses both topics, of love and deserving, with the words:
“Shahid knows there / Is no disappearing in prison. What do/ Any of us deserve?”
And the ending ... “You. Breathing. Here./ & now, twice, my tears on your lips.”
There is an uncanny stillness during the reading of this poem; the audience
rapt with a peculiar, tender type of tension, as women soak up this rare occasion; a man speaking of tears.
After the reading, Betts stays for a Q&A during which he responds to a request for advice on reading material for young men with the direct recommendation of trying things you've never tried before, including considering books far outside your normal interest range. He says that during his years in prison, he found himself reading selections such as “Under a Soprano Sky” by Sonia Sanchez and “The Lord of the Rings” by J.R.R. Tolkien. He challenges the women to ask themselves this question, “Who will I be when I go home?”
One attendee asks Betts how he discovered his purpose and he paints a poignant picture of a young man faced with the reality that it wouldn't matter what he did, since the people that needed it the most would never get to see it. He was speaking of those he had left behind in prison.
“There were no scholars or lawyers coming inside. There was just us,” he says.
Betts determined to bring his work back inside and, after obtaining his law degree, he did just that. He helped get some of the men he did time with out of
in “Doggerel” during Betts’ poetry reading on April 26. Right: Participants follow along as Betts reads from his book ”Doggerel” in the chapel auditorium on April 26.
prison and ultimately founded Freedom Reads in 2020; a nonprofit focused on literacy which provides libraries to prisons, supplying them with a selection of 500 curated books. Betts describes it as his life's work.
“The world needs more mercy. I wanted to help build a world filled with hope and joy for those who are incarcerated,” Betts tells the audience.
He has been true to his vision, establishing over 400 custom built shelves housing self-contained libraries in 40 prisons across 13 states.
Betts distributes free volumes of the book for his reading, staying afterward to sign them. He hands the last woman in line her autographed copy, and offers with it an invaluable perspective.
“The one take-away from prison is that you get to name your future,” he says.
Editor’s note: Betts’ visit to EWCC was in collaboration with the Oklahoma Messages Project, a literacy program that provides connection with incarcerated mothers and their children through a book reading program. For more information on this program, visit the chapel or, for those outside, online at okmessages.org.
Left: Attendee Takira Peavy reads along
Food Box vs. Canteen
Recent comparison shows food box items generally more expensive
Rebekah Cooper | Staff Writer
Every quarter the Department of Corrections offers food boxes that family, friends, or inmates can purchase. The offerings change slightly with each quarter — as do the prices.
The ladies at Canteen offer an invaluable service to the yard and while
the Food Boxes are not under the purview of Canteen, it deserves to be noted that 21 items in the Quarter 2Food Box were the same brand, size, and quantity as those at Canteen. When I compared the prices, these were the most noteworthy in price difference:
However, in the previous Quarter 1 - Food Box, the Keefe Columbian 3oz Coffee was more expensive, and it seems there may not be a good indicator for gauging future prices. Prices and the price difference appear to change in varying degrees across each new box.
The best buys might be considered the items that we don’t readily have access to. This would include the Jolly Ranchers candies, International Delights creamer, and body washes. There does appear to be a correlation to the weight of the item and the cost.
Remember that spending limits for boxes are based on custody levels.
• Level 1 - $25
• Level 2 - $50
• Level 3 - $75
• Level 4 - $100
If cost or limits are a concern, be sure to check the prices on canteen against the most current prices for the next box.
There is an 1.5% food tax and a 6% non-food tax, which each increased 0.85% in the 3rd Quarter Box with a $7.95 processing fee. The good news is that taxes and fees don’t count against the spending limit.
A Spark to Start
New license trade students receive hands-on training
Rebekah Cooper | Staff Writer
A year ago the License Trade Program (LTP) received the keys to the building that will become the new home of the program. After many hurdles the building is starting to come together, offering new students experience and hands-on training only a week into their program.
Maintenance and LTP students have worked diligently to clean up the shop and organize materials that are being stored there. From sorting out the recyclables to dismantling parts for reuse, the shop has been busy with activity over the past year.
“This was the best class to fall into because we are getting real hands-on instead of just standing at stations to learn,” said Joanna Kelly, one of the students in the newest cohort.
This seems to be a common feeling for many of the new students who seem to thoroughly enjoy learning as they work. Students who have graduated the program have been a model to the new students by guiding them and teaching them techniques and teamwork.
The previous cohort of students installed the commercial 480 Volt service panel and overhead connections in May 2025 in preparation for the utility company that came to activate service. The old metal walls that had been taken down were cut into reusable scrap metal for maintenance’s welding projects and on June 12, 2025, the utility company came to install the overhead service.
In late June, just a week after start-
ing the current learning cohort, the new students found themselves getting their hands dirty. One group worked installing support struts, rods, and overhead conduit, while another group installed transformers and sub-panels.
“I can’t wait to go back to work in the shop,” said Stacey Goad — her mantra on the days she isn’t in class. She worked diligently to get in the program and even volunteered her free time before classes started to help with cleaning out the shop. She expresses frequently that the hands-on experience helps make the book work “click.”
The building may have had service, but the panels were not energized until July 9. With heat indexes just starting to reach 100 degrees, there were sighs of joy and relief as the fan kicked on and the port-a-cool offered relief after a hard day’s work.
The shop is still currently under construction and has not officially opened the doors for learning. However, the students are learning valuable skills that will serve them later in their field. Working with tools and receiving guidance from the staff and experienced students, the new cohort is well on its way to being capable apprentices.
(Top left to bottom right) Cambrion Washington, Toni Black, Melena Chezem, Rebekah Cooper, Oni Monts, and Diamond Easily pose on scaffolding outside the new LTP building after installing commercial electrical service on May 1, 2025.
LTP instructor and students watch as the electrical utility company installs the overhead line service pole providing power to the new LTP building on June 12, 2025.
(Photos provided by Tony Caskey)
In Memoriam
Remembering Chaplain James Remer
In Loving Memory of Chaplain James Paul Remer 12/10/1967 - 04/17/2025
ODOC Chaplain 2005-2023
ODOC Regional Chaplain from September 2023 - April 2025
Courtney Quillen | Staff Writer
James “Jim” Remer, 57, served as a chaplain for the Department of Corrections since 2005. Mr. Remer was dedicated to his daughter, Elizabeth, those in his care, as well as those in his church. For the many in DOC custody that had the opportunity to get to know Mr. Remer, they lost someone special on April 17, 2025.
Mr. Remer served as a temporary chaplain at the beginning of 2025, at the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. Many of the women had the privilege to learn from him, and he helped some women through some tough times.
lives, and the women at EWCC that knew him wanted to do something to show their appreciation.
I spoke with Janet Meshek, a volunteer with Prison Fellowship Pathways, and asked her about the garden that their group recently planted by the chapel at the facility in honor of Mr. Remer.
“Mr. Remer had been speaking to Whitney “Tatum” Wheeler about his desire to build gardens at EWCC to make it beautiful, and when she presented the idea for a new garden, we all agreed that it should be a memorial garden,” she said.
“We all knew this was a vision that he had for the facility, and we were determined to make it happen, we took our task seriously in honor of him.”
In the time that Mr. Remer was here, he became a fixture at the chapel. There was an unspoken awareness that if Mr. Remer was on the compound, you could get some answers to your questions, and most likely a solution to your issue.
Whitney “Tatum” Wheeler
James Remer became a part of our
“According to my friends that knew Mr. Remer, both inside and outside of EWCC, he was a kind man, who loved the idea of a women’s prison being beautiful,” Meshek said.
I also spoke with the PF Pathways Project Service Coordinator, Whitney “Tatum” Wheeler, and asked her what the atmosphere was like when they planted the first flowers in the memorial garden.
“We are fulfilling a dream that Chap-
lain Remer had for the Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. We all knew this was a vision that he had for the facility, and we were determined to make it happen, we took our task seriously in honor of him. We were praying that it would turn out beautiful like he wanted,” Wheeler said.
Mr. Remer left behind a legacy of changed lives due to his presence and dedication. He showed up ready to serve, and did it with a spirit of excellence.
On behalf of the Eddie Warrior Chapel crew, I would like to say that Mr. Remer’s playful demeanor changed the dynamic of our everyday mundane lives. His love for Disney was conta-
gious, and we all knew that he was here to change things to make them more efficient.
He was truly a man that cared about the incarcerated individual improving themselves, and he was all about getting them the programs and resources for them to do that. Mr. Remer was instrumental in connecting our facility with Crossings Church, who recently sponsored an all day Block Party in May, and a Pack-A-Thon for Feed The Hunger in July.
His presence in our chapel will be missed, but his garden will continue to grow in remembrance of him.
A WORD FROM A FRIEND
Leo Brown, Agency Chaplain and Volunteer Services administrator for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections, and one of Jim Remer’s best friends, had a few words to share.
“Chaplain Remer was a man of integrity and dedication - to God first, then his family, and to the work that God called him to do. More than anything Jim tried to see the individuals under his care, and love them as God saw and loved them. Chaplain Remer had a gift for lifting people’s spirit. He was known for his sense of humor and his ability to make people laugh.
“The lives he touched and the work he did, God will continue to use for generations and the impact will be eternal.”
Garden: PF Pathways participants Donna Laforge, Beth Jennings, Sheri Stallings, Melinda Childress, Tracy Froelich, volunteer Janet Meshek and Whitney Wheeler plant the memorial garden next to the chapel.
Delicious Fish Dip
INGREDIENTS
1 Package Mackerel, Tuna or Salmon Flakes
1 oz Velveeta Cheese Product (Approx ¼ of a 4 oz block)
1 Tablespoon Onion Flakes (pour about a half of an onion flake cap full)
½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
About 3 Tablespoons Mayonnaise (more or less to taste)
Salt and Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS
1. Open and drain fish by squeezing out excess liquid. You can also rinse with cold water repeatedly and drain it to help give the dip a milder fish flavor.
2. Empty drained fish into a bowl.
3. Add Velveeta and cream the mixture together using a spoon. (Press and stir the 2 ingredients together until they are incorporated together fully. This is “creaming.”)
4. Add the onion flakes, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
5. Mix well.
6. Add Mayonnaise stirring it into the mixture completely.
7. The consistency should be thick and creamy, like a heavy dip.
8. Eat immediately with chips, crackers, or Pork Rinds. Can be covered and stored on ice. Double or triple batches for celebrations and dinners!
Peanut Butter Balls
INGREDIENTS
½ Jar Creamy Peanut Butter
½ Jar Crunchy Peanut Butter
Approximately 4-5 cups Bran Flakes Cereal (slightly crunched up into smaller pieces)
1 bag French Vanilla Creamer
1 bag Cappuccino (to roll the balls in)
DIRECTIONS
1. Stir the creamy and crunchy peanut butter together in a large bowl.
2. Add in French vanilla creamer.
3. Stir together well, should resemble thick batter.
4. Add in bran flakes about ¼ at a time stirring well after each addition.
5. Stop adding bran flakes when the mixture is very thick and hard to stir.
6. Note: the finished mixture should still be pliable enough to roll into a ball using the palm of your hand.
7. If the mixture is too dry to roll suc-
cessfully, you may have to add a little more creamy peanut butter to your mixture.
8. Pour some of the cappuccino into a separate bowl or onto a large lid.
9. Scoop a spoonful of the mixture into your palm and roll it into a ball.
10. Then place the ball in the cappuccino and roll it around, covering it completely.
11. Place the finished ball in an empty bowl and repeat the process until all the mixture has been rolled.
12. You may have to add additional cappuccino during this process.
13. Take any remaining cappuccino that you were using and sprinkle it over the finished balls.
This makes a very large batch. Great for celebrations or sharing with friends. For smaller batches just half the ingredients.
You may serve these immediately or store in a sealed container for a day or two.
Geneva Phillips and Kelsey Dodson | Staff Writers
Enlistment vs. Incarceration
Incarcerated
veterans offer insight.
Felecia Andras | Staff Writer
Studies show that one in three veterans end up arrested or jailed. Recent veterans are twice as likely to face incarceration opposed to non-military civilians. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, mood disorders, substance use disorders, unmet discharge needs and post-discharge identity loss are among some of the leading factors that are associated with a greater likelihood of veterans coming in contact with the criminal justice system, according to the nonpartisan organization Council on Criminal Justice.
The similarities between enlisted life on a military base and life in prison are striking. The uniforms are slightly different in color and institutions are separated by sex, but little more is different.
Both are completely self sufficient entities run by the patrons of the institution. Each person has a specific
job and plays a role in the community; however, the hours in the day are regimented. We are told when to sleep, when to wake, when to eat, and so on and so forth.
Life in the barracks is much the same as it is in the dorms. Military showers are communal, oftentimes without even walls or curtains separating the shower
heads. Toilet stalls are typically separated by walls and doors. Beds and footlockers must be made and organized to match all the others. The cleanliness of the unit is a group effort.
There is a similar hierarchy, also known as chain of command. The top of the chain of command are those in power to make decisions for the rest of the structure. Those decisions or orders are filtered down through all subordinates to be implemented. Any thoughts, concerns,or suggestions are filtered back up through the chain of command for review. Incarcerated individuals practice this through “Inmate Request Forms” or “Staff Requests.”
The psychological phenomenon of institutionalization is prevalent in both institutions. Boot camp breaks down the individualization of a person to create a conformist while prisons use sensory deprivation to force uniformity. Both veterans and incarcerated individuals also report higher rates of PTSD.
“Even though I look forward to owning my own life again someday, I know that my mind will always belong to the institutions I have belonged to,” Farber said.
Another fellow veteran, Youlanda Boyd, said she thought the most beneficial services would be counselors that specialize in PTSD and how to handle it, as well as services that help the service member connect with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
While there is currently no Veteran’s Club at EWCC, in 2021, I was a founding member of the first club.
“Even though I look forward to owning my own life again someday, I know that my mind will always belong to the institutions I have belonged to.”
Angel Farber
The similarities aren’t lost on veterans at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. When asked what similarities stand out most to her, Angel Farber pointed to “the inability to make any meaningful choices in my own life and for my future.”
We will be reaching out to the veterans club sponsors of Mabel Bassett Correctional Center, Jo McGuffin with ZoeHealingCenter.com, to see how to go about getting the club back up and running. Chaplain Kearns was very helpful with what resources may be available to our veterans to help lower the recidivism rate and give our soldiers a better chance at success once they return home.
Ella Jefferson Speed with the Soul Survivor Supportive Living Foundation will be coming soon to meet with veterans to find out what support may be needed.
INSPIRATION | “It ain’t about how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” - Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone)
Photo by Filip Andrejevic on Unsplash
Cool Reads for Summer
Editor’s note: All books are available in the EWCC library. Check them out!
Rock Paper
Scissors
Alice Feeney
Genre: Thriller
Rock Paper Scissors
In this twisting and turning story nothing is quite what it seems. Following a husband who has face blindness and the wife who feels unseen, a romantic get-away may just be in order. If you call an abandoned church in the middle of a snowstorm romantic. As chapters progress we get glimpses of the diary kept for each anniversary giving us insight into the couple, or is it more mystery? This page turner will have you on the edge of your seat as we progress through rock, paper, scissors in this domestic thriller.
-Rebekah Cooper
The Little Friend
An unhealthy curiosity and too much time on her hands leads 11-year-old Harriett to investigate the unsolved murder of a brother she doesn't even remember. Running afoul of religious snake handlers, deranged meth cooks and her own family, will she solve the mystery or become another victim?
A literary masterpiece set in the old, but still dirty, south.
-Geneva Phillips
The Secrets You Keep
Imagine getting married to someone after a whirlwind affair, move in with them, then find out you don’t know them at all. In this novel, Bryn takes you on an emotional roller coaster with her as she unlocks secrets about her husband that she never would have found out had she not been in a devastating car wreck and a local girl gets murdered. She just knows the two go hand-in-hand, the journey is just trying to figure out how.
-Felecia Andras
By Blood, By Salt
Book 1 of the Exiled
Prepare to be transported to a world where a righteous people are relentlessly persecuted by an empire campaigning in the name of blood thirsty gods.
Azetla, a conscript in an army that despises him, loses more than he knew he had, but gains what he never expected in a political coup fashioned by a devil, a duke and a God too holy to name. Odom spins an unforgettable tale of striking truths wrapped in glorious fiction, rendered brilliantly in language both sharp and poetic.
-Geneva Phillips
“Doggerel”
“Truth be told, this book... Doggerel, is all about joy. And it's about dogs. And it's about fatherhood. It isn't about prison, though, despite prison running through the books.
Cause this is the thing: Our lives have never been about prison; our lives have been about the tension between freedom and forgiveness.”
Genre: Poetry
Reginald Dwayne Betts, in his own words about his book Doggerel. Quote excerpted from the book “Doggerel.”
GAME REVIEW
Dysmantle
A cinematic post apocalyptic RPG, go on an adventure and slay your way to escape the island. It won’t be easy! With seemingly endless amounts of side quests, unanswered questions full of mystery, and an escape that seems almost impossible to achieve. Kill zombies of varying levels, break just about anything to gain materials needed for upgrades, and cook delicious recipes to up your skill points, you can even build a house, plus so much more! Beautifully constructed, great graphics and hours of playtime. The game is available in the media store on your tablet.
-Kelsey Dodson
By Blood, By Salt Book 1 of the Exiled
J.L. Odom
Genre: Fantasy
Doggerel Reginald Dwayne Betts
Genre: RPG
The Little Friend
Donna Tartt
Genre: Fiction
The Secrets You Keep Katie White
Genre: Mystery
CULTURE CORNER
Native American Culture at EWCC
Stacie Jones, Seminole | Guest Writer
As of December 2024, there are 39 federally recognized tribes represented here at Eddie Warrior Correctional Center. EWCC offers three classes that are geared to learning about our culture.
One class is Native Spirituality facilitated by Ms. Wambli, teaching us about our spiritual practices such as the sweat lodge ceremony. While in this class we are learning songs of prayer to the Creator, we will sing these songs in the ceremony.
Here we are learning about different tribes, where they come from and were relocated to, and how their relocation came to be. We will be scheduling visitors from various tribes to come and inform us of services available during and after incarceration.
Learn more
We would like to invite staff and inmates to visit these classes to learn more about our culture.
The Sweat Lodge construction will begin soon. At this time we are in the process of making ribbon skirts that are a must for women in this ceremony. It won't be long before we will be ready to go into ceremony to purify ourselves and give thanks to the Creator. We would like to thank Ms. Wambli for her help and determination in making this possible; it has been a long journey for this Ceremony to come to EWCC.
Another class facilitated by Dr. Hook is the Native American History class.
The Native Beading class is also facilitated by Dr. Hook and his wife, Rosa. This class is well under way in beading medicine bags for the participants, which has garnered a great interest from the yard. Along with beading the medicine bag, we are learning the importance of the medicine bag in our culture.
Both Dr. Hook and Ms. Wambli both offer “smudging,” a cleansing ceremony, at the end of their classes. Come join us!
We would like to thank Stacie Click for taking time out of her schedule to come visit our class, teaching us about the history of the Cherokee Headdress.
MVTO! (Thank you, Seminole) for your interest in our culture
Editor’s note: If you’re interested in submitting an article on culture on the yard, we welcome guest submissions. All will be considered; however, submission does not guarantee publication.
INSPIRATION | “People who want the best for you always want you to be your best.” - Oprah
Winfrey
Photo by Ginny Rose Stewart on Unsplash
Paper Butterfly Mobile
SUPPLIES: Craft paper, pencil, glue, scissors, and a long piece of string.
Step 1: Cut out stencils, fold paper in half and trace them on your paper at the fold. You will need three copies of each.
Step 2: Place a strip of glue down the center of the butterfly, place string on glue leaving excess string at the top. Stack the second butterfly on top of the string and place another strip of glue down the center. Place the third butterfly on top.
Step 3: Repeat step 2, leaving space between butterflies. When dry, separate outer wings by folding them outwards. This will make the movement.
I would like to credit this mobile to a friend of mine, Mary Fox. This was the first thing I learned how to make when I became incarcerated. Because of this simple craft, I have learned to do even greater things — thank you!
Kelsey Dodson | Staff Writer
KELSEY’S CRAFT CORNER
ly competition between the correction officers and inmates gathered a huge crowd. (Inmates won, of course!) Everyone received participation suckers at each station and made collecting them part of the fun.
God’s Shining Light Church hosted a big tent revival May 7-10. The plans got dampened by rain and it was moved indoors for the first three days, but the light did shine through on the fourth day, and the praise and worship was moved out onto the yard.
Friends, Fun, and Firsts: EWCC Summer recap
Angie Gilbert | Staff Writer
Food and fun, a walk and a run, worship and praise all filled the hot summer days. Let’s look back at the events that brought Eddie Warrior Correctional Center together this summer.
The Warrior Standard kicked off the summer with national recognition from the Society of Professional Journalists. The award for Best New Prison Publication is a great achievement and an impressive way to end our first year of publication. Way to go team!
(Photo courtesy of Crossings Community Church)
Crossings Church brought the block party to us all day long on May 5. Women sang and danced to a variety of popular music while receiving great snacks. The yard was transformed by a multitude of game stations. Tug-O-War quickly became a favorite, and a friend-
Ball pit: Shonna Perry volunteers in the ball pit as participant Kelsey Campbell waits for the toss at Crossings Block Party on May 5. (Photo courtesy of Crossings Community Church)
The Jericho Walk (Joshua Chapter 6) brought many women out early on May 17. “We walked seven laps in silent prayer, then on the final lap we were shouting praises and glory to God for answering our prayers and breaking strongholds,” said Rocky Blackwell, a participant.
The 5k Memorial Run was held on May 19. This was the first 5k at EWCC and was dedicated to the memory of Tristan Taylor, the son of Erin Taylor, who passed away earlier this year. Friends of Taylor, Runner’s Club president, Angel Olejniczak , and vice president, Nancy Rueb wanted to show their love and support for her loss by orchestrating the run.
“It created unity across the entire yard,” Olejniczak said.
Bethany Church came out May 31. The afternoon started with hamburgers, hot dogs and lots of toppings, chips and soda. The day featured fun and games set to the soundtrack of live praise and worship.
Play Day returned on June 12 giving mothers and children quality time
one on one. It was a day of playing together, eating pizza and face painting. While the paint may have washed off, the smiles lasted for days for many of these mothers.
“It was different, better, than a regular visit with our kids, more relaxed and more fun,” said Rose Clintsman, who attended the event.
Support Group Taylor leads a grief support group in the chapel on Wednesday afternoons. It is open to anyone who is grieving. Sharing is not required.
June 28 took us out on the track to cheer on our favorite runners. Relay races and multiple distance races allowed all levels of runners the opportunity to compete. Directed by Gym supervisor Mr. Cleavinger and assisted by Nicole Maggard and Kelsey Campbell, these were the first races to award prizes. The candy and Gatorade couldn’t have been any sweeter than the bragging rights the winners earned. We would like to give a shout out to Administration for approving each and every event, along with sponsors, the ladies of CWA, peer volunteers, outside volunteers, and staff who all worked to make each occasion a success. It wouldn't have been possible without them.
Unforgettable moments and fun memories can be found in places you never imagined with friends you’ll never forget. We hope you made plenty of both this summer.
Bethany yard event: Zelder Williams enjoys burgers and hotdogs provided for lunch by Bethany Church on May 30. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Church)
Volunteers: Bethany volunteers and resident volunteers from the Christian Women’s Association (CWA) gather for a group photo on May 30. (Photo courtesy of Bethany Church)
Block Party: Abby Driskill shows off dum dum hair decorations after collecting suckers from game stations at Crossings Block Party on May 5. (Photo courtesy of Crossings Community Church)
Games: Rec Officer Cleavinger, Case Managers Roberson and Baker and Chief of Security Ledbetter participate in tug-of-war at Crossings Block Party on May 5.
