February 4, 2013

Dear ELLA supporters, friends, and allies:

Today I write to you with a pain in my heart but with great hope uplifting my soul. Today was the 6-year anniversary of my daughter Ella’s murder by her big brother, my son.

My heart is heavy because six years is too long for any mother to have not held her child close, but Ella’s short life, and her brutal untimely death, have constantly inspired me to seek and create what I know are the four things needed by those who create violence and those who suffer violence to have meaningful, productive, and loving lives again after a tragedy such as Ella’s has occurred: Empathy, Love, Lessons, & Action.

My soul is filled with great hope because today I am happy to announce that The ELLA Foundation, in association with Greater Faith Institutional Church, has created a new creative writing workshop for children who have a parent and/or loved one in prison, aptly named “I Have A Voice”.

2.5 million children in America have a parent and/or caregiver incarcerated. That number grows even more drastic if you consider all the children in America who have a loved one of some sort in prison. Often these children feel isolated, ashamed, confused, and/or guilty, all through no fault or action of their own. These children are 75% more likely to end up in prison themselves because they have a parent or loved one incarcerated. Through no fault of their own, they are caught in America’s vicious cycle of mass incarceration, often before they even start elementary school.

“I Have A Voice” will bring these children together to help them find their voice in a loving and supportive environment, surrounded by other children who share their experience and pain. Creative writing is a form of therapeutic catharsis for children and adults alike. Coming together with other children in their situation gives the children a sense of belonging and extended family, which serves as a protective factor in their lives, reducing the effects of the trauma and negativity associated with having a parent, caregiver, or loved one in prison.

The children will meet once a month for six months, beginning on May 13, 2013 for two hours each meeting. We will gather for a potluck meal, then we will spend about 45 minutes to an hour discussing various questions, such as, “How did you feel the day your (mom, dad, brother, etc.) was arrested?” or “How do you feel when you visit your (mom, dad, brother, etc.) in prison?” Then we will spend another 45 minutes to an hour helping the children write their stories in their own words.

Published writers in the San Antonio community will visit from time to time to pass on to the children creative writing advice, skills, and insights about the transformative role writing has played in their lives.

The end result of the workshop, other than the children finding their voice, expressing their feelings, and making new friends, will be a published book, composed of the children’s stories they choose to share. Each child will be given copies of their published book to sign and share as they wish and the book will be distributed to social service agencies in the city of San Antonio who work with children who may have incarcerated loved ones so they may give them out to those kids.

So on this day of Ella’s death, I ask you to support her legacy of using Empathy, Love, Lessons, & Action to make the world a better place by making a 100% tax deductible contribution to The ELLA Foundation to help fund the “I Have a Voice” creative writing workshop.

Our expenses are minimal but the rewards the children reap are great. We need funds to cover the costs of notebooks and pencils for the children, publishing costs for the book, and whatever expenses may crop up as the program progresses (food for the potlucks, fees for guest speakers if they are unable to donate their time, etc.)

Any contribution you can make, big or small, is greatly appreciated and goes 100% towards program costs. I am the only “employee” of ELLA and I do not pay myself a salary. Volunteers do all other work and costs not covered by donations are paid out of my own pocket.

Donations can be made on ELLA’s website, by clicking here, or you can mail a check to The ELLA Foundation, 222 Furr Dr., San Antonio, TX, 78201.

Should you have any questions or would like to discuss the program, please feel free to call me at 210-601-9951.

My thanks, and love, to all who support The ELLA Foundation, the work we do, and me. Without your support and kindness, neither ELLA, nor myself, would have made it as far as we have.

Charity Lee

Founder & Executive Director, One Who Still Has a Voice