Just Listening program has expanded to State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Skippack Township in an attempt to transform prison culture through radical listening, writes Samantha Melamed for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Just Listening brings the act of careful, attentive, and empathic listening to people who are experiencing various hardships, such as hunger or homelessness. In 2017, the program found its way to prisoners as well. The reactions so far have been overwhelmingly positive.

More than 160 men have been trained as listeners, and around a dozen have become trainers themselves. Together, they have been using radical listening to slowly and carefully transforming the culture inside one of the state’s largest maximum-security prisons.

“I became more patient, more compassionate, more curious,” said Fred, one of the inmates who is participating in the program.

In addition to the inside listeners, some outside volunteers also visit the prison every two weeks for listening sessions.

For some inmates, the starting lessons were humbling.

“I was just struck by how horrible I am at listening: my ego, my need to tell a similar story to someone else’s story,” said Felix, another participant in the program.

Read more about Just Listening at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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