Toastmasters in Prison

 From left to right: Charnaie Gordon, Jeff Sobel, Sharon Roth, Jennifer Cimilluca,  Lani Brown, Jon Toner and Cathie McCoy

February 17, 2011 – Seven Toastmsters were taken into The Western Massachusetts Women’s Correctional Center in Chicopee, Massachusetts.  Their crime was conspiracy to celebrate the accomplishment of an inmate who was awarded her Competent Gavelier Award from Toastmasters International. Our cameras were not allowed “inside the walls” and the inmate’s name is confidential.  Thirty-four people attended the event.  Dozens of homemade pumpkin cheesecake cups and chocolate cupcakes disappeared within minutes. The New Confidence Gavel Club held a regular meeting with table topics, prepared speeches and evaluations.  There was much laughter in the room. The thirteen guests enjoyed the meeting.  Three of them gave excellent table topics speeches.  When guests were asked if they would return next week, they said, “Yes!” 

There was a bittersweet moment when one woman, who is being released tomorrow, gave her tenth speech.  Knowing this was her final speech before release, she chose an inspirational topic, the bonds of friendship she formed in prison.  In a moving speech, she encouraged others to move beyond the, "I'm-not-here-to-make-friends" mindset and reach out to others to discover the treasure of friendship. Her heartfelt tribute to her best friend ended with, “You are a gift in my life.”  

Her fellow gavel club members and mentors will miss her but hope to see her at a Toastmasters Club meeting on the outside.  

Adrienne Osborn, WCC Programs  Director remarked, “Toastmasters are changing people’s lives.”