This slide deck highlights the elements of the Changing Lives Through Literature Program. The program puts people on probation, a probation officer, often a judge and a facilitator together in a room for once a week to discuss pre-assigned literature. This presentation was given at North Shore Community College's Forum on Tolerance on October 22, 2015. Good tidings, Lance Lance Eaton he/him/his http://www.ByAnyOtherNerd.com https://twitter.com/leaton01 https://www.linkedin.com/in/leaton01/ ____________________ I wish I had all the answers; better yet, I wish I knew all the questions to ask.

1. CHANGING LIVES THROUGH LITERATURE
LANCE EATON
COORDINATOR OF INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN
PART-TIME FACULTY
CHANGING LIVES THROUGH LITERATURE FACILITATOR
LEATON@NORTHSHORE.EDU; @LEATON01

2. WHAT IS CHANGING LIVES THROUGH LITERATURE
 People on probation
 Probation officer
 Judge (when possible)
 Facilitator
 8-12 week program
 Each week, reading and/or writing
 1.5-2.5 hour discussion
 Incentives:
 Certificate of Completion
 3 months off probation
 Court fees waived for the duration

3. SOME BASIC FACTS ABOUT CLTL
 1991 - Robert Waxler & Wayne St. Pierre, New Bedford,
MA
 3,500 offenders
 8 States/United Kingdom
 Reduced recidivism: 45% to 18.75%
 Cost per offender: $500 (vs $21,600 per inmate)

4. WHY THIS APPROACH
 Reading is transformative.
 Small building blocks to bigger accomplishments/Builds self-esteem.
 Space for reflection.
 Opportunity to write without consequences.
 Foster communication skills around meaningful (and sometimes,
controversial) content.
 Learning to listen and read between the lines.
 Learning to learn.
 Positive interactions with court representatives.

5. EXAMPLE READINGS
9/14 Zora Neale Hurston – “Sweat”
9/21 Charlotte Perkins Gilman – “The Yellow
Wallpaper”
9/28 Charles Waddell Chestnutt – “Wife of His
Youth”
Alice Walker – “Everyday Use”
10/5 Ursula K Le Guin – “The Ones Who Walk
Away from Omelas”
John Steinbeck – “The Chrysanthemums”
10/19 Amy Tan – “Fish Cheeks”
Tracy Guzeman –“Note to Self”
Kate Chopin – “The Story of an Hour”
Sandra Cisneros –“Eleven”
Shirley Jackson – “What a Thought”
Alice Walker - “The Flowers”
10/26 Toni Morrison - Recitatif
11/2 Alice Munro – “Boys and
Girls “
Katherine Anne Porter –
“He”
11/9 Eudora Welty – “Why I Live
at the PO”
Joyce Carol Oates –
“Where Are You Going,
Where Have You Been”
11/16 Kate Chopin, The
Awakening 1/2
11/23 Kate Chopin, The

6. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
This course is very helpful to be a part of. It will help
being in a group and sharing your thoughts with others
as you discuss the readings assigned. It will be fun to
share in conversation about the readings and find others'
opinions and ideas. It will also help to open your mind
through different characters in the stories and see
through their struggles. It will help you be more mindful
about the days of your life as you move forward.

7. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
Before class I was too quick to judge by not thinking before I
acted. Things just kind of ran together in my mind without
though. Over the course of the program, I realized a lot if I just
thought things out. The structure of the program also helped
me think in a way where I can put things together a lot better in
my head and my life has improved for the better. If this was
offered to me earlier on in life, things would have been different
dramatically. It will definitely last a lifetime with decision
making.

8. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
As I write this it is too late for me but maybe not for you. Be
aware of the various opinions and observations of the others in
the class are not how you experienced the stories. They all saw
and felt something different. They had and saw different things.
I was frustrated and wondered are they all blind or just different
people who see and feel differently. Does everyone experience
everything so differently?

9. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
Please be as open-minded as you possibly can and consider
where you yourself have been before placing judgment on
things or people. You can change and you can better yourself.
Even if it's small steps you take to progress towards chance, you
are being pro-active in what you need to do. Also and finally,
advocate for yourself and ask for the help and resources if you
need it. Stay positive!

10. WHAT DO PARTICIPANTS SAY ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE?
Dear Me
Hey man, how's life? I just want to write to you to give you some
advice about this course that I've taken. It's called Changing Lives
Through Literature. It's a great class. I have learned so many
different skills in reading with the different stories and how to
compare it to you and how it compares in life. I will say, this class will
give you a brand new view on life, like people have to go through
difference obstacles just to get through or not get through the
situation. I will say, this class will change your life.

11. FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Website: http://cltl.umassd.edu/home-
html.cfm
Blog: https://cltlblog.wordpress.com/
Resources: https://goo.gl/vT61d6
Program email: cltl@umass.edu
Lance Eaton
Lance.eaton@gmail.com, @leaton01
http://www.LanceEaton.com