Annual Retreat

Note: There will be no retreat in 2008

For Women with Loved Ones in Prison

Held at Wiawaka Holiday House, Lake George, NY

The Prison Families of New York, Inc. annual retreat for women who have loved ones in NYS prisons was first held in 2003, as a result of an Albany attorney offering me a grant from his family's small foundation for an event for prison families--to be designed by me and approved of by the family, based on their knowledge of this agency and the work we had been doing with prison families and children.

I was well aware that we women who had been beaten and battered by the NYS correctional and parole systems needed rest, relaxation, community-building, legal and prison eduation, guided strategizing based on our expertise-- and home-cooked meals. It took me 18 months to find Wiawaka Holiday House (www.wiawaka.org), an historic site on Lake George, created about 100 years ago so that the women in the Troy shirt factories could have vacations. After experiencing Wiawaka myself and with my mom and my daughter, and speaking at length with Wiawaka's director, board of directors and the family foundation, it was agreed that we would hold our 1st retreat for 3 days just prior to Wiawaka's opening for the season. We would occupy the entire space and enjoy confidentiality and anonymity.

That first retreat brought 45 women together from all over NYS as well as Chicago, New Orleans, Boston--women who had loved ones in NYS prisons, women who were advocates and policy experts and women who had never spent time with other prison family members...moms, sisters, daughter, wives and sweethearts, friends...all ages, many races, so many varieties of personal experience. We accomplished every goal and so much more...and vowed to return the next year.

So, we have had 4 retreats, each 3 days long, each at Wiawaka, with between 25 and 45 women attending for the same reasons--togetherness, development of expertise, creation of a collective voice that would/will become a participant on the playing field of NYS criminal justice policy. We have held annual workshops on parole, NYS prisons, criminal law, prison mental and medical health issues, the prison telephone contract, and a wide variety of other topics. Speakers and presenters have traveled from NYC, Buffalo, Albany and Canada to work with us, without charge, as we build expertise. Drumming workshops, massages, a dress-up party and a birthday celebration for all have become traditions.

Each year, I search for funding. The New York Bar Foundation, the Center for Constitutional Rights, private and agency/church donations and the fees paid by those family members who are able have made the retreats possible.

Last year, attendees pledged to return in 2007, for 4 days this time. I have invited Governor Spitzer to meet with us and to bring his criminal justice chiefs to converse about policy and practice and to hear from our very experienced group. We expect 30-45 women, some "old timers" and some new to our retreats, to particpate in this most special, unusual and historic event.

We hope for your support.

Sincerely,
Alison Coleman

Alison Coleman
Director
Prison Families of New York, Inc.
40 North Main Avenue
Albany, NY 12203

518-453-6659
alison.coleman@rcda.org