TABLETS
Tablet availability in prisons has been increasing over the last decade, with even greater urgency and impact since the COVID-19 pandemic drastically limited in-person programming. In late 2021 we partnered with Edovo, an industry-leading tech organization that offers selective educational, vocational, and behavioral therapy content to incarcerated learners nationwide - at no cost to the learner. Since then, our innovative research-backed resources have been freely accessible to thousands of individuals every day.
IMPACT STATS
23 original character and creative arts resources available
Over 34,000 course completions to date
Accessible in 307 facilities across 40 states
An estimated 75,000 learners have access each month
WHY TABLETS?
Combat idleness with constructive engagement, especially in prolonged periods of isolation
Provide individuals with safe, free access to resources that support their own pursuit of skills related to rehabilitation and reentry into society
Help those serving long sentences keep up with modern technology
"I was browsing through my tablet and Shining Light caught my eye. I started to read The Loop and tears came down my eyes knowing that there are people out there thinking about us… It changed my life for that moment, and I told over 100 men to go on their tablet to read it!"
-Lamar A. / Tablet Learner from SC-
"This is amazing! So impressed with the work and the quality of work you're doing… I'm excited to help Shining Light scale to more expansively improve the lives of those who are incarcerated."
-Brian Hill / CEO of Edovo-
CONTENT AVAILABLE ON TABLETS
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Currently 11,600 Learners
Every issue of our print-based interactive magazine The Loop is also available in digital format, giving learners a chance to respond directly through their tablet to selected prompts. This course also includes an audio option for various articles, where learners can listen to the original authors read their insights.
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Every issue of The Loop contains several creative writing prompts, and while some are featured in future issues, other noteworthy entries are published in this tablet series. Learn more here!
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Currently 5,032 Course Completions
Released in Sept 2022, Learn Your Strengths is a four-part video series that explores character strengths. Our instructor, Nina, helps learners discover what their strengths are, how to use them, and how they can intentionally develop them. Our discussion group draws on their experience on the inside to discuss the power of using our existing positive qualities to have an improved vision of ourselves and the impact we can make, wherever we are.
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Currently 3,727 Course Completions
This video series expands on the Learn Your Strengths Course by focusing on two specific character strengths (gratitude & self-regulation) and some additional tools and skills that can be used to draw out the best in ourselves and others.
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This is a collection of creative writing pieces that resulted from an experimental mentorship program that paired incarcerated writers with professional writers on the outside who specialize in their particular area of interest.
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The Playwriting Lab walks you through the basics of writing a play in a way that invites imagination, improved writing skills, and deeper relational insight. Through clear instruction from a college professor (PhD) of theatre, along with animation and examples of scenes written and performed by former SL participants on the inside, you will not only see your interests and abilities in writing grow, but your perspective of yourself and others as well.
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The Spoken Word Lab unpacks the basics of the art of spoken word in a format that invites deep self-reflection, diligent practice, and the power of sharing your own story. Viewers join a “poets circle” as an SL teaching artist and professional poet leads 3 other spoken word artists through a journey of instruction, prompts and examples of poetry written by former SL participants, leaving viewers to feel inspired and equipped to continue writing and sharing their story with others.
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Creations of a Caged Bird (CCB) comes in two volumes and is a collection of peer encouragement videos written by incarcerated participants of SL and produced by professional artists on the outside, ranging from Broadway actors to recording artists. Original music, poetry, film, and dance bring hope and inspiration to prison direct from the minds of those inside.
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When Light Appears is the product of a collaboration with incarcerated women at SCI Muncy State Prison in Pennsylvania. They wanted help turning their original creative pieces into a special Christmas production, so with the help of professional performing artists on the outside, it became a reality & premiered in 2020.
What People Are Saying…
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“Shining Light’s Character Strengths Video Series is probably the greatest (most well-done) character strengths 'creation' for the correctional facility setting/population that I have seen.”
Dr. Ryan Niemiec / Education Director and Psychologist, VIA Institute on Character / Fellow and Council of Advisors, International Positive Psychology Association
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"Thank you for making these virtual issues available to us. I recommend them every chance I get to my neighbors whenever we are allowed to use the tablets. Many around me are 'short timing' and don't want to begin a subscription, since they will be getting released relatively soon. So, these virtual issues are perfect for them. As for me, I'm beginning a long journey in prison as a lifer, but I am so excited to see how Shining Light and The Loop will come to grow in the years to come."
Kayonie M. / Tablet Reader, CA
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"This is SUCH a great unit. I'm in awe of it. Provides the perfect template for all sorts of digital courses that would be beloved and utilized at Rikers and beyond… Thanks for continuing to be a wonderful model for other performing arts providers.”
Cindy Parrish / APDS Education Manager, Rikers Island, NY (in reference to the Creations of a Caged Bird: Vol. 1 Video Series)