Plugging Along:

I have spent most of the week recharging my batteries, as it were. After such an experience, from spending several hours in the jail, over the course of a week, I am even more in awe of the people who work within these confines day after day. The emotional and physical drain is astounding.

I remember early on in this project, Bruce Helms, the program supervisor, told me about the “burnout rate” and how it is important that counselors take time off – time away, in order to keep their sanity and their health.

I had no doubts about his comments, but I can assure you that – what ever amount of time they are able take, and whatever they are paid to do their jobs, it is not enough. This experience has also shown me that they do this work because they believe in it – because they want to make a difference. In my eyes, each of these people, who work within these programs, are heroes.

In a little over an hour I will head back, into the Davidson County Jail, to continue with this project. Today I will continue filming the artist program for the men, as well as begin filming the artist program for the women. There is still much filming to be done, overall, although the story is coming together nicely. For the past two days I have been reviewing the photographs and video footage that has been shot so far. Unanimously the stories are profound – each having its own strength, yet with common threads in their content. This weekend I will begin the initial editing process.

Until next time…..