Today we’d like to introduce you to Jimmy Wu.
Jimmy, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a direct recipient of the extraordinary services offered by InsideOUT Writers (IOW). In 1996, at the age of 16, I was arrested during the act of committing a crime. I was immediately detained and sent to Central Juvenile Hall near Downtown, Los Angeles.
While awaiting the outcome of my case, I was invited to be a participant of an innovative creative writing class that was created to arm me and other kids with a creative outlet for self-expression, self-exploration, and self-realization. These writing classes later became known as the IOW Writing Program.
I ultimately took a plea bargain for 15 years, 8 months, with 2 strikes and was convicted of carjacking, armed robbery, and false imprisonment. It was my first and only offense. I have often stated that the invaluable lessons I learned through my writing classes were what helped me survive incarceration for 13.5 years. I say it because it’s true. When I was released after growing up and older behind walls at the age of 29 in 2009, IOW coincidentally launched it’s Alumni Program that same year to offer a continuum of care and services to former Writing Program students released from custody.
I then had the honor of returning to IOW as one of the first alums in its Alumni Program. Three years later, in 2012, I was given the privilege of beginning a new journey with IOW as its Case Manager. I became IOW’s first ever former student/alum turned staff. In 2015, I was promoted as the Alumni Program Director then the Interim Executive Director in May 2017. This past January 2018, I was appointed IOW’s Executive Director.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
As with any journey, some of the most difficult experiences are blessings in disguise and the most invaluable lessons to learn from. I’ve encountered countless situations where they didn’t initially seem to serve any positive or productive purpose only to become the most meaningful and impactful occurrences in my life. A perfect example would be learning to embrace my past and no longer hiding it in shame. I once questioned the purpose of all those years I thought I lost inside the prison but in hindsight, it wasn’t a loss at all but an incredible learning opportunity.
Now, several years later, I’m able to use that lived experience of growing up and older behind prison walls as an asset by sharing my story with young people who were also once incarcerated. When they become aware of our shared experiences of incarceration and the often difficult transition to a new life post-incarceration, a level of mutual understanding and trust is nearly almost immediately formed because the youth who come to IOW’s Alumni Program know they will be met by not only just staff who have the necessary educational and professional backgrounds to provide our holistic case management services, but also by staff who have also been directly impacted by the justice system.
Learning to believe in myself and the potential I’ve always had was a struggle because of my lack of self-confidence and self-esteem. It’s something I see in nearly every single young person I come across both inside our juvenile halls and also during the first few months of their release. I’m proud to now be able to openly share with them how I completely understand how they feel because I was once feeling the exact same way myself. Then with patience and by gently giving them the guidance and support they need, they are able to learn they are so much more than the worst mistake(s) they’ve ever made.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the InsideOUT Writers story. Tell us more about the business.
InsideOUT Writers is a nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles. We offer creative writing classes through our Writing Program to the kids detained inside our Los Angeles County juvenile halls. What started as just 1 class in 1996 has grown to nearly 40 weekly creative writing classes in the juvenile halls. In recent years, an extension of our Writing Program called the Prison Insight Program was formed to begin providing our classes inside state prisons in California. We currently provide our classes inside 5 state prisons and will be adding 3 more in July.
Our Alumni Program was established in 2009. To offer a continuum of care and support to our released Writing Program students, we provide holistic and trauma-informed case management services and pro-social activities such as weekly Writing Circles that are held at our office every Thursday evening, monthly Life Skills Workshops, Community Engagements, and Cultural Field Trips.
We pride ourselves on our unique approach to meet each youth where they are in their own respective journeys. It doesn’t matter if they’re active gang members or addicts or dropouts from school. We want them to be exactly as they are and do our best to help them redirect their lives as long as they want our support. We believe all people are capable of positive change as long as they are given consistent guidance and mentorship. Our strongest asset is having the ability to work with our kids both while they’re incarcerated and also the moment they’re released.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I have also been fortunate to have more good luck than bad though sometimes, it balances out quite evenly. I never knew how privileged I was to have a supportive family and friends until I lost them due to my incarceration and was forced to survive over a decade on my own. I’ve met and gotten to know countless people who never had that support group their entire lives yet do the best they can with what they have.
I had family members and friends who visited me or sent me money while I was in prison when most of the men I was with didn’t have a single person to do the same for them.
When I was released, I once again had several people who took me under their care and gave me their love, compassion, and guidance. I am only where I am today because of them so I would say having great luck has played a significant role in my life.
As for InsideOUT Writers, I also believe we’ve had tremendous luck having such an incredible team of volunteer teachers since our inception, a phenomenal Board of Directors, incomparable staff both past and present and empathetic and generous funders.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1212 N. Vermont Ave. 2nd Floor Los Angeles, CA 90029
- Website: www.insideoutwriters.org
- Phone: (323) 660-1866
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insideoutwriters/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insideoutwriters/
Image Credit:
Nicole Barton Photography
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