Submitted by William Von Lopik
ESTHER Community Organizer

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A free performance to be presented the evening of Jan. 27 at the Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship will offer a window into the world of women in prison.

William Von Lopik

A group of women formerly incarcerated in Illinois will share their thoughts and feelings about being incarcerated when a play called “The Power of  Grace” is presented by ESTHER-Fox Valley and Fox Cities EXPO (Ex-Prisoners Organizing). The presentation is supported by a $2,500 Bright Idea Fund grant from the Community Foundation. (See the full list of Bright Idea Fund grants.)

The short theatrical piece was created from poetry written by the formerly incarcerated women as part of the Chicago-based Still Point Theater Collective’s “Persephone Project.” This piece communicates the story of incarcerated women to the general public in order to break down stereotypes and encourage awareness regarding the U.S. criminal justice system.

This raw, moving performance explores the life journeys of the individual performers and shares insights on what grace has meant to each of them. Confronting abuses past and present, the characters embark on a journey of healing and growth. Presented from the prisoner’s point of view, the play is a window into the personal experience of incarceration, and represents a ritual of self-liberation.

The show was created in partnership with Grace House, a transitional home for women exiting the Illinois prison system. The performance will begin at  6:30 p.m. The Fox Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship  is located at 2600 Philip Lane in Appleton.

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