Welcome to the Womxn’s Higher Education in Prison Consortium (WHEP), a national consortium of higher education in prison programs that operate in prisons designated for women. WHEP is a collaborative initiative designed to advance equity in higher education for incarcerated women, transgender, and gender-nonconforming individuals. This groundbreaking effort, made possible through the generous support of the Mellon Foundation, brings together programs operating in women-designated prisons to address shared challenges, foster innovation, and advocate for systemic change.
While membership in WHEP in the inaugural year is limited to 10 member programs, this community group is open to anyone working on issues concerning women's-designated prisons and woman-identified incarcerated populations.
Group Content
Research Participants Needed: Exploring the Educational Experiences of Women with Incarceration Histories
Hi RCHEP Community,
I'm Taylor Fallik, a doctoral student at the University of Colorado Boulder, and I'm researching the educational experiences of formerly incarcerated women. The purpose of this study is to listen to and learn from women's stories about education across their lives. I'm looking for participants who self-identify as women and are willing to share their stories.
Here's what's involved:
- Phase 1: 2-3 audio-recorded interviews (90-120 minutes each). Tell your story in your own words.
- Phase 2 (optional): ~5 collaborative sessions where we work together to write up findings. You can choose to be recognized as a co-author in publications.
Who can participate:
- Self-identify as a woman
- 18+
- History of incarceration (any length/any type of facility)
- Able to participate in English
- Willing to share stories about your educational experiences
What participants should know:
- Completely voluntary
- Confidential
- No payment for participation
- Total time: about 5-7 hours for interviews, or 12-16 hours if you join the optional collaborative phase, over approximately 6 months
- Participants choose how they're identified: pseudonym, real name, or assigned name
- Interviews take place in person at a location of your choosing or via Zoom
- Sharing your story may be a meaningful opportunity for reflection, and your insights may help improve educational programs and policies
Interested?
Email: taylor.marino@colorado.edu
Phone: 720-491-9150
Thanks for considering sharing your story.
Taylor Fallik
Doctoral Candidate, School of Education
University of Colorado Boulder
Approved by CU Boulder IRB (Protocol #: 26-0323)
Join the Womxn’s Higher Education in Prison (WHEP) Consortium online community
I’m excited to share that our Womxn’s Higher Education in Prison (WHEP) Consortium online community is now live on Circle!
This is a space where we can connect across programs, share resources, strategize, and dream big together about the future of higher education in women-designated prisons.
Inside the WHEP Community Hub, you’ll be able to:
- Meet other consortium members and build stronger connections
- Access and share resources in our dedicated Resource Hub
- Stay updated on news, events, and advocacy opportunities
- Collaborate on projects that advance our shared vision of equity, decarceration, and liberation through education
Click here to accept your invitation: https://whep.circle.so/join?invitation_token=c4c8c92d3a63f591979f29a8e8e0a1cef374e6cc-83dc2bb7-2401-448f-9442-97e9d25fadd5
I can’t wait to see you in the WHEP Community Hub and keep building this work together!
In community,
Christina Dawkins
