Our 12th state, North Dakota

We just returned from our second trip to The Dakota Women’s Correctional and Rehabilitation Center in New England, ND. The contrast between facilities we visit is startling. So much of our success depends on the staff’s involvement. The staff’s involvement depends on the funding they get from the state; the more funded the state is the more resourced their staff are and able to provide programming for the women. The better funded they are, the more training the staff receives around trauma and criminal behavior.

Sadly, the women suffer as a result. North Dakota Women’s Prison is an under-resourced facility. As such, the morale and conditions of the women were very poor.

We worked with the same women we danced with in June. They at first walked into the room without smiling; their stress was palpable in the air. After they vented about how difficult their summer has been, tears were shed and their stress was given over to the dance.

Once again, dance heals.