“Your Council considers one of its core functions is to encourage and support initiatives in the world by the Membership.\u00a0One of our members, Tim Nadelle, has taken the initiative to design and launch an Anthroposophical Prison Outreach program in Canada. We are excited to work with Tim to help in the areas of holding a consciousness of the initiative, spreading awareness and networking, creative funding arrangements and tax receipting. As the steward on this project, we are grateful for his inspiration, and initiative in presenting such a comprehensive plan for this important work in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anthroposophical Society in Canada supports initiative: Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Canada<\/u><\/p>\n
Over the last few years, several society and council members have thought about the idea of an Anthroposophical Prison Outreach initiative, in the direction of what our colleagues in the U.S. have achieved.\u00a0 So we\u2019re pleased to announce that the work is underway.\u00a0 Tim Nadelle is the steward for the initiative, supported by Susan Richard and Christine Tansley.\u00a0 The Society stands behind their efforts.\u00a0 And the Council has made a commitment to support and sustain the work going forward; for example, by finding a replacement in future if Tim Nadelle needed to withdraw.<\/p>\n
Anthroposphical Prison Outreach Canada and how you can help,\u00a0by Tim Nadelle<\/u><\/p>\n
At the 2016 conference, \u201cEncountering our Humanity\u201d in Ottawa, I attended a talk by Fred Janney, who was the central founder of the Anthroposophical Prison Outreach (APO) initiative in the U.S.\u00a0 I was inspired and amazed by the practical success which APO has had in helping prisoners develop meditative practices and start to change their lives.\u00a0Here, for example, is a quote from a prisoner in the summer 2018 APO newsletter:<\/p>\n
Yes, the meditative exercises have proven to be a very valuable part of my life. I meditate daily for at least 10min up to 25min. I am constantly looking at myself, working on myself. Introspection and retrospection. I tried the Plant Meditation and cannot even begin to express all that I have accomplished in meditation. Roderick, Century, FL<\/em><\/p>\n APO has been active in the U.S. for 18 years. In this time they have touched the lives of almost 4,000 prisoners in over 600 prisons across the United States. Through the years, roughly 20,000 books have reached prisoners\u2019 hands directly, and readers often share their books with others, studying together, and discussing concepts they\u2019ve learned, reaching many more people than APO is able to count. In 2016, 800 participants received the bookHow to know Higher Worlds<\/em>and an accompanying study guide to keep. APO also placed 600 copies of the book in prison libraries.<\/p>\n The programs offered by APO are extensive.\u00a0 Engagement typically begins when a prisoner writes APO for an information packet.\u00a0 The packet includes a lecture by Steiner, an article by Dennis Klocek, articles by others and a couple of meditations.\u00a0 APO\u2019s lending library of over 200 anthroposophical different books is a cornerstone of their work.\u00a0 They have led seminars and started study groups in prisons; they have a letter-writing mentor program; they offer a correspondence program.<\/p>\n Visit the APO website at https:\/\/www.anthroposophyforprisoners.org<\/a>to research their impressive and heartening work.<\/p>\n Back in August 2016, I was deeply engaged with our production of the Portal of Initiation in Toronto.\u00a0 However, I promised Fred Janney that I would take up this work in some way in 2018, when the Portal work would be complete.\u00a0 In January of 2018, I commenced a series of conference calls with Fred and Kathy Serafin of APO, to build an idea of how we could get started in Canada.<\/p>\n A few months later, Susan Richard and Christine Tansley kindly agreed to work with me and so our fledgling volunteer group was formed.<\/p>\n So what are we doing in Canada?<\/u><\/p>\n Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Canada (APOC) is just getting started.\u00a0Over spring and summer 2018, we sent a letter with a poster and a copy of Knowledge of Higher Worlds to 31 federal prisons in Canada.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 The poster invites the prisoners to write to APOC for an information packet (which is virtually identical to the one provided by APO in the U.S.).\u00a0 The book includes labels in its front and back covers with the same invitation.\u00a0 To date we have sent out packets to 3 prisoners, each of whom asked us to address it c\/o the prison chaplain.\u00a0 We expect any book exchanges would also need to occur via a third party in the prison bureaucracy e.g. the prison librarian or chaplain.\u00a0 We have 3 copies of 7 different books so far for our lending library and plan to purchase or gather more in the coming months and years.\u00a0(See below if you can help with books.)<\/p>\n As of the publication of this article, we will have sent a second letter, a copy of Theosophy and a new poster (designed by Vibeke Ball) to each of 31 federal prisons.\u00a0 To complete our third mailing (while also retaining sufficient cash for sending packets and books in the mail), we will need to raise funds.\u00a0 (See below!)<\/p>\n Fred and Kathy tell me that APO in the U.S. started slowly, with only a few books lent out in their second year.\u00a0 We are continuing to learn from experience.\u00a0 Our program will evolve over time based on what works and what does not work.<\/p>\n I should mention that initial funding for APOC comes from 2 sources:<\/p>\n The initial plan for APOC is to purchase and mail the 4 or 5 introductory books by Steiner available to all federal prison libraries, send out packets to prisoners who request them and commence a book exchange program.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 I think of this as \u201cgoing wide\u201d with our initiative.<\/p>\n Starting in 2019, we hope to commence a fledgling program at a federal and possibly a provincial prison in Ontario.\u00a0 In all likelihood, this will involve a seminar with prisoners over 7 weeks on Steiner\u2019s 6 introductory exercises.\u00a0 Wherever possible (taking into account regulatory differences in Canada vs the U.S), we are attempting to emulate the excellent work done by APO in the U.S.\u00a0 Fred and Kathy have successfully led seminars on the 6 introductory exercises, so this seems like a great way to begin.\u00a0 Eventually, based on our experiences, we hope to expand this work with a network of volunteers visiting prisons across the country. I think of the seminar work as \u201cgoing deep\u201d with our initiative.<\/p>\n 3 ways you can help Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Canada now!<\/u><\/p>\n If by mail\u2026<\/em>Make your cheque out to The Anthroposophical Society in Canada. Mail it to Lynn Lagroix, The Anthroposophical Society in Canada, #130A – 1 Hesperus Road, Thornhill, ON, L4J 0G9.\u00a0 Please include a little note explaining the donation is for Anthroposophical Prison Outreach Canada,(APOC).<\/p>\n If by Interac\u2026<\/em>Send your Interac email money transfer to mailto:info@anthroposophy.ca<\/a>. Please also send a separate email to mailto:info@anthroposophy.ca<\/a>\u00a0 explaining the donation is for APOC; and in this separate email please include the security word for the Interac transfer.<\/p>\n If through Canada Helps\u2026 <\/em>Go to www.canadahelps.org<\/a>and make your donation.\u00a0 Please also send a separate email to mailto:info@anthroposophy.ca<\/a>\u00a0 explaining the donation is for APOC.<\/p>\n\n
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