Open Hearts Open Minds

CRCI Fiction Writing

I've discovered that I will be happy writing in life. Something that I hadn't previously imagined. -Participant

I see myself as more ready to share my more personal & deeper thoughts. Also, I am not as fearful of criticism about what I write. -Participant

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Words have a way of opening doors that walls never can.

Inside our writing classes, people put pen to paper and discover something powerful: their own voice. Poems become conversations. Stories become connection. Blank pages become places to imagine, reflect, heal, and create.

At Open Hearts Open Minds, writing isn't just about learning to write. It's about being heard.

Music has a way of building confidence, connection, and community, and that's exactly what our ukulele classes are doing at South Fork Forest Camp and Coffee Creek Correctional Facility.

Each week, participants gather to learn new chords, write songs, and discover the joy of making music together. Whether someone is picking up an instrument for the very first time or returning to a longtime passion, these classes create space for creativity, self expression, and growth.

From first strums to group performances, every lesson is a reminder that the arts can foster resilience, spark hope, and bring people together in meaningful ways. We're honored to support these communities through the power of music, one chord at a time.