Inside-Out Alliance of Kansas, Inc.

Please feel free to share our introductory message with your incarcerated loved ones:

Hello! I would like to introduce myself. My name is Dianna, and I am the director of a new inmate outreach group called the Inside-Out Alliance of Kansas. We got your name through a random selection of inmates through the KASPER website. I wanted to reach out and explain who we are and what we are all about, in order to get the word out to Kansas inmates.

Over the past year, I’ve been corresponding with inmates through the Kansas Mothers’ Justice Initiative (KMJI) organization, and I’ve had the opportunity to connect with some truly remarkable individuals. Many of their stories—often full of hardship, hope, and resilience—have touched me deeply. I’ve heard experiences that not only inspired me to be a better person but also reshaped my perspective on the criminal justice system. This has led me to create the Inside-Out Alliance of Kansas. I believe it’s vital for everyone to really see the people that are too often forgotten by the world, to hear the stories I've heard, and to see the people behind the statistics. Recognizing our shared humanity is a powerful first step towards changing the narrative around incarceration and rehabilitation.

Something else I have become aware of this past year is how limited public perception can be regarding inmates and their rights. Unfortunately, many people view them as unworthy of basic respect, and don’t even view them as fellow human beings. It is absolutely vital for society to recognize that these individuals are real people- our mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. They have feelings, aspirations, and dreams just like everyone else. It is my wish to provide a platform for our incarcerated loved ones to express themselves, and in doing so, show the world that every life has value.

One of our goals is to connect inmates with their communities. We recognize that many inmates face a lack of support on the outside, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness. By creating connections, we aim to bridge this gap. We believe that these initiatives will not only support our incarcerated citizens but also enrich Kansas communities, by giving Kansans an opportunity to benefit from the valuable experiences and insights that inmates have to offer. Together, we can build a society that prioritizes rehabilitation and nurtures a culture of compassion.

In order to give you the platform to share your unique stories and skills with fellow Kansans, we are building a website designed specifically to spotlight YOU. This is your opportunity to tell your story to the world. You can do so by whatever means of creativity that resonates with you. Would you like us to post a story of your journey, and the efforts you have gone to to rehabilitate yourself? Would you like to give advice to those who may be going down the wrong path? We’re excited to open a window into your world, but we need your assistance to bring this vision to life. You might believe you don’t have anything valuable to share, but trust me, you do! Your potential for creative expression is limitless.

Do you create artwork you would like others to see? Do you write short stories, or have an editorial you would like to share? Or perhaps you have a personal story, a journal entry, poems, or a letter to the community? Maybe you want to share your experiences with the justice system or discuss how your time spent incarcerated has affected your family. What changes or insights do you hope to see within the Department of Corrections? Have you participated in a program during your time that has been valuable, and you feel should be expanded? What has not been helpful? The sky's the limit when it comes to what you can submit—everything is welcome, as long as it is authentically created by you (and does not violate rules or regulations set by KDOC). By sharing your stories and talents, you open new avenues for personal growth and meaningful connections within the community. Writing can serve as a powerful tool for confronting challenges and healing from past struggles. We hope this journey will not only benefit you but also inspire others in our community to engage and connect with you.

Please feel free to send as many submissions for our website as you wish to the return address on this letter. It is our plan to publish the website as soon as we begin receiving submissions. Our site also plans to provide pertinent resources for inmates’ loved ones. Even if you choose not to participate in our outreach program, I would like to share some information with you about a helpful tool called freewriting. This technique is used in jails and prisons across the nation, and it has been effective in improving mental health, spreading hope, and lowering recidivism. Freewriting allows people to process their memories and emotions related to trauma; providing a safe way to express feelings that are hard to articulate. I will include that information in this letter.

With the recent surge of tragic deaths of inmates in Kansas, it’s crucial to prioritize mental health and remember that you are not alone in this journey. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need support. There are people who truly care about you and are embracing your successes, both current and future. Take care of yourself, and if there’s anything we can do to help, please let me know!

Sincerely,

Dianna Albee

Inside-Out Alliance of Kansas, Inc.

The NAMI Kansas Justice-Involved Project (JIP) is funded by a grant from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program (JAG), a federal program administered through the State of Kansas.

The JIP funding has allowed NAMI Kansas to bring two of their signature programs, NAMI Connection support groups and NAMI Peer-to-Peer education classes, into five county jails and two state correctional facilities in Kansas, with two more jails and one more correctional facility currently being considered for inclusion.

NAMI Connection support groups have been offered in the Butler, Douglas, Reno, Riley, and Thomas county jails, as well as the Topeka and Hutchinson Correctional Facilities, and is in the planning stages for services in Barton and Wyandotte county jails and the Norton Correctional Facility.

The signature programs currently being offered at each facility, and the staff who facilitate them, are listed below:

Butler County Jail

NAMI Connection - Fridays from 1:30pm - 3:00pm

David Larson

Eli Hess

Tim Gwyn

Reno County Jail

NAMI Connection - Men's Group - Wednesdays from 9:30am - 11:00am

NAMI Connection - Women's Group - 2nd & 4th Thursdays from 1:30pm - 3:00pm

Tayla Nayden

Matthew Caraway

Tim Gwyn

Riley County Jail

NAMI Connection - Thursdays from 8:30am - 10:00am

Dantia MacDonald

Susan Jurgelewicz

Wyandotte County Jail

NAMI Connection - Various days/times as scheduled

Kierstin Cruz

Johnson County Residential Center

NAMI Connection - Last Thursday of the month from 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Kierstin Cruz

Hutchinson Correctional Facility

NAMI Connection - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays from 12:00pm - 1:30pm

Tim Gwyn

Eli Hess

Norton Correctional Facility

NAMI Connection - Mondays

Eli Hess

Penny Kryfka

Topeka Correctional Facility

NAMI Connection - Wednesdays from 7:00pm - 8:30pm

NAMI Peer-to-Peer - Mondays from 6:30pm - 8:30pm

Dr. Terry Moser

Penny Kryfka