February, 2012 update

• Pame was recently certified as an HIV/AIDS counselor through the New York State Department of Health. This training program involved instruction on disease transmission and prevention, medical treatment, risk reduction and much more. She is now certified to run groups to educate others and to counsel women with HIV or AIDS.
• Pame recently completed an extensive Pastoral training program. She is still working as a Church Leader. She is the Director and Choreographer of the Praise Dancers and also dances with the group at services.
• Pame is still instructing other inmates in adult basic education, pre-GED, GED and college classes. She was selected by the school principal as his Academic Assistant.

Group Participation

• Member of N.O.W., May 1994-present
• Member of Longtermer’s Committee, 1994-present
• Participated in ACE Walk-a-thon, 1993 through 2004
• Inmate Liaison Committee President, 1994
• Nominated by population for Inmate Grievance Representation, 1993-present
• Weightlifting Competition, 1996
• State Softball Team 1994-present
• Organized Intramural Softball League, 1995-present
• State Volleyball Team, 1996
• Member of Playwright Eve Ensler’s creative writing group, 2000-present
• Elected Longtermer’s Committee Delegate, 2005 – present
• Member of Church Praise Dancers, 2005 – present
• Gospel Reader, Church Services, 2005 – present
• Appointed Director of Praise Dance Ministry by Rev. Maria Lopez, 2006 – present
• World AIDS Day, December 2009 – Spiritual Dancer
• Rites of Passage – Seven Week Spiritual Courses – October 2009 – January 2010
• Leadership Sacred Table – under Pastor Doris Tongo, October 2009 – Present

Programs Attended

• Teacher’s Aide in Pre-GED 1, 1994-2003
• Academic Outreach Tutor, 1994-present
• Money Addiction, November 1994
• Academic I.P.A. Training, March 1995
• Six Week HIV/AIDS Workshop, February 1997
• Alternatives to Violence, March 2000
• Anger and You, April 2000
• Down on Violence, May 2000
• Alternatives to Violence II, November 2000
• Inmate Program Aide in Network/Step Up Program, 2003-October 2005
• Network One Year Certificate 2004
• Service Award for Exemplary Tutoring, 2006-present
• Rehabilitation Through the Arts, “Interpreting Great Writings” September 2008
• Completed Rehabilitation Through the Arts,  “Art & The Individual”; Interpreting Great Art through Character Development Course, September 2009-December  2009
• Completed Rehabilitation Through the Arts, “Creative Discovery Workshop, July 2009
• Completed Rehabilitation Through the Arts, “Interpreting Shakespeare through Writing and Performing Original Scenes, June 2010
• Completed Rehabilitation Through the Arts, “Women & Mythology” August 2010

Academic Achievements

• Graduated Highest in Class from Legal Research Course, January 1995
• Completed Civil Rights Movement Course (CUNY), December 1995
• Teaching Apprenticeship through N.Y. State Department of Labor, April 1997
• Awarded University of Alabama’s Sam Howard Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Criminal Justice Studies, 1996
• Graduated Summa Cum Laude from University of Alabama Criminal Justice Program, April 1997
• Graduate Level Research Course (Columbia University), April 2000
• Master of Science in Law Degree (GPA 4.0) Summa Cum Laude (Southern California University for Professional Studies), May 2001
• Master of Fine Arts in English Literature (GPA 4.0) Summa Cum Laude, Class Valedictorian (Mercy College), May 2003
• Completion of Unit 1 – Clinical Pastoral Education (St. John’s Episcopal Services, NY), April 2007

Volunteer Work

• Unit maintenance and paint crew, 2003-present
• Cleaned and painted for Accreditation, 1994, 2000
• Taught pre-college math workshops involving the creation and design of pre-tests (all but one student passed their college entrance exams), 2000
• Worked with Dr. Michelle Fine (Columbia University) on writing about Participatory Action Research for a book published by the American Psychological Association
• Volunteer tutor for Pre-GED 1 & 2, GED, Pre-college, college, and Master’s students, 1993-present
• Worked for two years on Research Project re: the impact of college on women in prison. Involved extensive research, conducting focus groups, designing the project, writing, editing, data analysis, and constructing several reports
• Organized and oversaw “Childhood Games” night in RMU3 – Mental Health Unit, 2000-2002.
• Volunteer Tutor in Long Term Care Hospital Unit, 2003-present
• Performer at Latin Explosion Educational Event, 2002
• Researcher and Emcee for Motown Extravaganza Event, 2003
• Researcher for Harlem Renaissance Event, 2001
• Editor/Writer of Weekly Church Bulletin, January 2010-present
• Red Cross Certificate in Recognition of Haiti Relief Fund
• Editor for “Sons and Daughters Ministry” 2004-present
• Certified in Church Leadership Presider Training August 2010

Published Works

• “Changing Minds”: The Impact of College in a Maximum Security Prison. Collaborative research by the Graduate Center of the City University of New York and Women in Prison at the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility. September 2001
• “A Space for Co-Constructing Counter Stories Under Surveillance”. Critical Psychology. The International Journal of Critical Psychology. Eds. Michelle Fine and Anita Harris. London: Lawrence and Wishart. 2001
• “What I Want My Words To Do To You”. Ed. Judith Katz. PBS “Point of View” Documentary, 2003. This documentary won the coveted “Freedom of Expression” award at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, and the “PASS Award” from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency