Interview with Raun Griffiths, Steward and Director of APOC<\/u><\/p>\n
In November of 2020, Raun Griffiths agreed to take over the stewardship of APOC. Since then, Raun has been very active, corresponding with prisoners as well as prison librarians and chaplains, sending newsletters and books.\u00a0 Here\u2019s my recent interview with Raun on her work with APOC.<\/p>\n
Tim Nadelle: When I asked you to consider taking over the stewardship of APOC, you took a few days to consider.\u00a0 Why did you agree in the end?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun Griffiths: I took a few days because I had to know in myself that I could do the task.\u00a0 I am cautious to take on anything that may be too much for me or that I cannot do adequately.\u00a0 I want at least some reasonable hope of meeting the challenge.<\/p>\n
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I was really inspired by the talk which Fred Janney gave in Ottawa back in 2016.\u00a0 Both you (Tim) and I were present. Fred was the founder of Anthroposophical Prison Outreach in the U.S.\u00a0 \u00a0Fred\u2019s talk was so inspiring, he was really an amazing person.\u00a0 And he had the right skill set to work\u00a0 with inmates.\u00a0 But I\u2019m not as much an initiator as you.\u00a0 So when you became too busy in your life, it was the right time for me to step in.<\/p>\n
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There was also a personal connection for me.\u00a0 When I was a teenager I had a friend.\u00a0 He had a lot of tickets \u2013 parking tickets, speeding tickets.\u00a0 He had no way of paying the tickets so he opted to go to jail for 30 or 60 days.\u00a0 A girlfriend and I went to the jail to visit him.\u00a0 When we were leaving, he said, \u201cDon\u2019t come back. I don\u2019t want you to see me here.\u201d\u00a0 He was full of shame at his circumstances.\u00a0 And it really struck me that my friend was so ashamed.\u00a0 So when I hear people talking about prison, I believe we underestimate the profound impact that prison has on people.\u00a0 People can be very sensitive to this.\u00a0 Prisoners are people who are in prison.\u00a0 They are people first. So my heart goes out to them.<\/p>\n
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Tim: How does your process work?\u00a0 What do you do?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun: Our American counterparts publish a densely packed twelve page newsletter about twice a year.\u00a0 I print and send copies to each selected prison, now about 28 in total.\u00a0 To keep postage costs down, I send each prison about 15 copies.\u00a0 When you think there could be hundreds of inmates in one institution, that’s not too many copies.\u00a0 The newsletter invites prisoners to request a free packet of introductory anthroposophical materials, mostly on directed meditation.\u00a0 The packet contains a lengthy booklist of Steiner titles that a prisoner can order for free.<\/p>\n
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Christine Tansley at Hesperus opens the APOC mail, then scans and emails me any requests.\u00a0 Usually I read the request several times and sleep on it for a couple of days before replying.\u00a0 I may add an extra Steiner lecture to the packet or even donate a book that could speak to that individual.\u00a0 The basic packet is generic of course, but the requests are almost always hand written and give a detail or two about the prisoner’s soul needs.\u00a0 This\u00a0insight\u00a0allows me to select something more personal.\u00a0 Certainly I tailor every letter to the\u00a0individual.<\/p>\n
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Tim: <\/u>How are prisoners benefiting\u00a0from APOC?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun: If they read the newsletters or order materials, they benefit in many ways, as does anyone with an open mind.\u00a0 Stimulation is certainly at the top of the list.\u00a0 Prison is very boring with limited opportunities for self development and fewer opportunities for spiritual development.\u00a0 Prisoners have expressed gratitude for something they can do that feels meaningful, such as directed meditation or study.\u00a0 The spiritual artwork in the American newsletters stimulates some to try their own hand at drawing.\u00a0 Like many of us, some prisoners have questions about the deepening meaning of existence.\u00a0 APOC provides anthroposophical materials that help to orient them on this path of spiritual discovery.\u00a0 When prisoners request packets or order books, they often volunteer a comment to explain their interest.<\/p>\n
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For example, M.H. from Alberta makes this request: \u00a0“I just read your newsletter and am very interested in meditation and finding my inner being.”<\/p>\n
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C.C. from Ontario: \u00a0“Your newsletter 33 After Death Experience … I was first drawn in by the cover art then kept reading cause the content kept me intrigued.\u00a0 My father died 21 years ago and your writing finally brought me some peace.”<\/p>\n
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J.M. from Alberta: \u00a0“I could use some help and guidance”<\/p>\n
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D.C. from Ontario: \u00a0“I really would like to get in touch with my inner being”<\/p>\n
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Tim: Who are your main contacts at prisons and how do you interact with them?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun: The only contact with a prisoner is via mail and they know the sender (me) only as the APOC group.<\/p>\n
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I consider myself lucky if I can speak with a prison librarian or chaplain on the phone and I try to do so whenever opportunity permits.\u00a0 I call each prison after a mass mailing, with spotty results.<\/p>\n
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If a prisoner requests a book, I will contact the person receiving the book to ensure its delivery.\u00a0 Email is my next best way of communicating with prison personnel.\u00a0 Apart from purely logistical matters, I often have to explain what Anthroposophy is.\u00a0 Only one or two of them knew anything about it.<\/p>\n
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Tim: Have you received any positive feedback about APOC from prisoners or librarians or chaplains after sending materials?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun: Because of our process, we generally receive comments from prisoners along with their requests.\u00a0 Only the smallest percentage of prisoners provide any feedback after receiving materials. The few who do, express gratitude for the materials provided, sometimes hinting at how they are putting some idea from Steiner into practice.\u00a0 Here is a quote from prisoner to whose institution I sent several books.<\/p>\n
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I.R. from B.C.: \u00a0“Thank you for the beautiful books” \u00a0“Knowledge of the Higher Worlds – i’m on page 106 but have gone back to page one. \u00a0i’m learning to listen twice as much as i talk. ….\u00a0 Thank you for the in-sight to the real world.”<\/p>\n
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Speaking with chaplains and librarians can pose challenges.\u00a0 Some are not open to anthroposophy, something of which they have not heard before and don’t want to know about now.\u00a0 But mostly there are an eclectic, interesting set of people who want to serve their population.<\/p>\n
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One nice librarian suggested I send only graphic books as her population has such a poor literacy level.<\/p>\n
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Several librarians are eager for donations, especially newer books that don’t look as tired and out-dated as the current collection.\u00a0 Prison libraries are poorly funded, if at all.\u00a0 The general public may donate but usually give only worn undesirable books.\u00a0 The underlying attitude is that something is better than nothing.\u00a0 Perhaps.\u00a0 But there is an unspoken disrespect in that too.\u00a0 When I can provide a new copy of “Knowledge of the Higher Worlds” for example, I know the librarian will display its attractive colourful cover with pride.\u00a0 This may sound besides the point, after all it’s the content we seek to share.\u00a0 Agreed.\u00a0 But when your library only houses someone’s cast offs, the message is passed along that the readers aren’t worth much.\u00a0 One thing anthroposophy teaches is the knowledge of the true worth of the human being, regardless of circumstance.\u00a0 The message comes in Steiner’s words (always), the newer edition tells the reader he\/she is worth reaching.<\/p>\n
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Tim: What have you learned about the prison system in Canada through your work as the steward of APOC?<\/u><\/p>\n
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Raun: I’m astonished by the number of people housed in Canada’s prisons and\u00a0I’ve learned that I have a lot to learn about the prison system in Canada.\u00a0 One thing surprised me, is how often the librarian changes in some institutions.\u00a0 Having established a relationship with one librarian does not necessarily transfer to the replacement in a few months. Mostly I am more grateful for my own\u00a0somewhat unfettered\u00a0circumstances.<\/p>\n
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Tim: If someone wanted to support your work for APOC, what do you need right now?<\/p>\n
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We are going to be out of money in a few months.\u00a0 So I\u2019m now trying to raise funds for 2022.\u00a0 I will need to fund the two general mailings in 2022 as well as the packet and book orders from prisoners. Each round to all prisons costs about $600.\u00a0 This includes paper, newsletter printing, postage costs and books. So I need $1,200 in total.<\/p>\n
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And let me take this opportunity to thank the people who have already supported us.\u00a0 You are what makes it possible for me to do this work.<\/p>\n
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Tim: I\u2019d like to wind up by thanking you Raun!\u00a0 The increasing demands of my work life had made it impossible for me to give APOC the attention it deserved.\u00a0 You were the perfect candidate to take this on.\u00a0 Your energy and enthusiasm and results have proven out the wisdom of this transition. Interesting that we both were inspired by Fred Janney\u2019s talk in 2016.\u00a0 Interesting also that we transitioned APOC to you just as both of us had heard of Fred\u2019s passing.\u00a0 Fred continues to be a guardian spirit for this initiative, just as he was the founder and ongoing force for APO in the U.S.<\/p>\n
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Thanks also to Christine Tansley, who continues to volunteer her time to support us.\u00a0 Christine has been involved right from APOC\u2019s start.<\/p>\n
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How to make a donation to APOC:<\/u><\/p>\n
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Easy!\u00a0 There are 3 ways:<\/p>\n
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By mail\u2026 Make your cheque out to The Anthroposophical Society in Canada. Mail it to Lynn Lagroix, The Anthroposophical Society in Canada, #131 – 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
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By Interac\u2026 Send your Interac email money transfer to mailto:info@anthroposophy.ca . Please also send a separate email to mailto:info@anthroposophy.ca<\/a> , explaining the donation is for APOC; and in this separate email please include the security word for the Interac transfer.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Through Canada Helps\u2026 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 <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Interview with Raun Griffiths, Steward and Director of APOC In November of 2020, Raun Griffiths agreed to take over the stewardship of APOC. Since then, Raun has been very active, corresponding with prisoners as well as prison librarians and chaplains, sending newsletters and books.\u00a0 Here\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-public-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9542"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9542\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9546,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9542\/revisions\/9546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/anthroposophy.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}