Northwestern Insider Volume 2, Issue 1 cover featuring Patty Ouska’s colorful dreamcatcher and butterfly artwork titled Our Past, Present, Future. — Cover art by Patty Ouska.

Volume 2 · Issue 1 · 2025

Vol. 2, Issue 1

Stories and art about health, loss, healing, education, justice, and the lives that hold a community together.

Read the issue online ↓Original edition (PDF, 124 pages)

In this issue

Page numbers match the print edition

In Loving Memory: Katrina Giles

To Our NPEP Community
Jennifer Lackey
Page 2
Behind the Canvas: ‘In Loving Memory of Katrina Giles’
Juan Garnica
Page 3
A Radiant Light, Gone Too Soon
The Logan Community
Page 5
Memories That Endure
13 contributors
Page 6
In Memory of Katrina, From Her NPEP Brothers
21 contributors
Page 12
For Katrina
Erika Ray
Page 16

Front matter

To Our NPEP Community
Tony Triplett
Page 23

Health & wellness

Grief & Captivity
Elbonie Burnside
Page 27
Running Scared
D.C. Crite
Page 28
Uncertain Waters
Anthony Ehlers
Page 29
The Last Goodbye
Craig Harvey
Page 32
How Fasting Saved My Life
Michael Jorgensen
Page 34
Will the Suffering Ever End?
Jamal “Cincere” Jones
Page 36

Profiles & interviews

The Lady Behind the Lens: Monika Wnuk
Tony Triplett
Page 38
Illinois State Senator Rachel Ventura
Lynn Green
Page 40
Northwestern Professor Marquis Bey
Joyce McGee
Page 43
Inside of Rigidly Cogent Binary Illusions
Erika Ray
Page 46

Columns

Restorative justice

Inside the classroom

Op-Eds Through Their Eyes
Michael Deas
Page 53
Mommy, Help!
Todd Mandoline
Page 54
Life, Death, and a DNR
Michael Jorgensen
Page 56
The Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement
“Karim” James Hale
Page 58
Black, Brown, and State Blues
Ian Valencia
Page 60
The Legal System's Role in Perpetuating Disparities
Yaphet Davis
Page 62
How Are We to Judge Policing in Urban Communities?
Paul Forbes
Page 64

Poetry

A Decade of Pain
Miguelangel Garcia
Page 67
What You Made Me
Anthony Ehlers
Page 68
Naked
D.C. Crite
Page 69
Pressure Valve
Bryan “Ben Isreal” Dean
Page 70
Shackles
Chelsea Raker
Page 71
Mirrors
Elbonie Burnside
Page 74

Art & illustrations

Small and Disposable
Bonnie Shelesny
Page 90
NPEP x VI 2024 Exhibit
Northwestern Prison Education Program Visibility Initiative
Page 92
My Truth
DeWayne Power Robinson
Page 93
Unfulfilled Dreams
Jamal “Cincere” Jones
Page 94
All Things in Color
Erika Ray
Page 95
Carceral Reflections
Ian Valencia
Page 96
On the Rise with Fly
Flynard “Fly” Miller
Page 97
Learning 2 Balance
Bonnie D. Shelesny
Page 98
Shine Bright
Chelsea Raker
Page 98
My Universe
Mrs. Cindy Shepheard-Robinette
Page 99
Domestic Violence Is Learned and Begins in the Home. Child Abuse.
Patricia (Patty) Ouska
Page 100
Unfinished
Edmond Duffin
Page 101
Student at the Bus Stop
Miguelangel Garcia
Page 102
Signed in Blood
Demetrice “DC” Crite
Page 103
Me
Rochelle Sephus
Page 104
Sunset
Margaret DeFrancisco
Page 104
Still Dreaming
Hugo Ocon
Page 105
Amor
Blanca Solis
Page 106
A Journey from Pain
E.L. Burnside
Page 107
My Reason to Live
Melinda Warfel
Page 107

Community

Life on the Outside: Brandon Perkins
Donnell Green
Page 109
Logan Students Perform in “Look at Me: Raise Your Hand”
Jeanine A. Elam
Page 111
Info, Letters, & Updates
Northwestern Insider
Page 113
Welcome, Cohort 5!
Northwestern Insider
Page 117
Contribute, Connect, Acknowledgments
Northwestern Insider
Page 118
Introducing UPEP
Northwestern Insider
Page 120

Behind the cover

Behind the Cover
Patricia Ouska
Page 122