In Memory of Susan Denise Atkins-Whitehouse
One of Susan's Joys
During Susan's 1993 parole hearing,
Susan was asked by one of the Board of Prison Terms commissioners
about programs and education she was involved with and participated in.
Susan was especially proud of Breaking Barriers.
This is a portion of their conversation;
During Susan's 1993 parole hearing,
Susan was asked by one of the Board of Prison Terms commissioners
about programs and education she was involved with and participated in.
Susan was especially proud of Breaking Barriers.
This is a portion of their conversation;
Commissioner: "I wanted to get into some of the uh,
you're still participating in the vocational data processing,
or you did during this time?"
Susan: "I completed vocational data processing"
Commissioner: "Okay, you completed 40 hours, then it says here
you completed 40 hours of training for Trainers at the facility
for the Breaking Barriers Program"
Susan: "Yes"
Commissioner: "And you participate in the
Breaking Barriers program..."
Susan: "Yes"
Commissioner: "Now, are you a facilitator in that program?"
Susan: "Yes I am"
Commissioner: "Tell me what that has meant to you"
Susan: "Ohhh, that's one of my joys. I'm able to encourage people
to get in touch with what it is they really want in life,
and helping them to learn how to do that,
and it's unfortunate that most people they might want something,
but they don't know, they don't have the tools to acquire that.
And in this kind of an environment there are women who
repeatedly have patterns that cause them to do things they really don't
want to do in their hearts, but they don't know that they have any
alternatives, and as a Breaking Barriers facilitator I am able
to show them that they do have alternatives,
give them the tools to make goals,
to set goals, and then show them how to fulfill
those goals through education"
Commissioner: "And when you participated in this program,
did you set goals for yourself?"
Susan: "Yes I did, yes I did"
Commissioner: "And are you working through to attain those goals?"
Susan: "Yes I am"
home
you're still participating in the vocational data processing,
or you did during this time?"
Susan: "I completed vocational data processing"
Commissioner: "Okay, you completed 40 hours, then it says here
you completed 40 hours of training for Trainers at the facility
for the Breaking Barriers Program"
Susan: "Yes"
Commissioner: "And you participate in the
Breaking Barriers program..."
Susan: "Yes"
Commissioner: "Now, are you a facilitator in that program?"
Susan: "Yes I am"
Commissioner: "Tell me what that has meant to you"
Susan: "Ohhh, that's one of my joys. I'm able to encourage people
to get in touch with what it is they really want in life,
and helping them to learn how to do that,
and it's unfortunate that most people they might want something,
but they don't know, they don't have the tools to acquire that.
And in this kind of an environment there are women who
repeatedly have patterns that cause them to do things they really don't
want to do in their hearts, but they don't know that they have any
alternatives, and as a Breaking Barriers facilitator I am able
to show them that they do have alternatives,
give them the tools to make goals,
to set goals, and then show them how to fulfill
those goals through education"
Commissioner: "And when you participated in this program,
did you set goals for yourself?"
Susan: "Yes I did, yes I did"
Commissioner: "And are you working through to attain those goals?"
Susan: "Yes I am"
home
