Feeding the Roots of Self Expression

I was inspired to develop this curriculum because of my father, Jimmy Santiago Baca, whose journey into writing began while he was incarcerated. When I turned 18, I started working alongside him, filming his writing workshops in men’s and women’s prisons in the early 2000s. I saw firsthand how writing transformed the inmates—how it shifted their demeanor, provided an outlet for self-expression, and gave them a sense of purpose.

The core focus of this curriculum is storytelling. Unlike traditional writing programs, it emphasizes creativity over mechanics and grammar. The teachers who helped develop this curriculum had worked with Jimmy before, and what makes this program truly unique is that it was created by someone who understands the incarcerated experience firsthand.

Since 2021, I have led this project with the hope that it will help reduce recidivism by giving currently and formerly incarcerated individuals a tool for emotional resilience, critical thinking, and self-liberation. Writing gave my father a way out—without a structured program like this—and I can only imagine how many lives could be changed by offering that same opportunity with guidance and support.

This is my first experience developing an educational curriculum, but it’s a mission that is deeply personal to me. My long-term goal is to see this program implemented in all state and privately owned prisons, where its funding can support reentry nonprofits, making it accessible to those who need it most—free of charge.