Stacey:
Could you tell me a bit about project: herself?
Tahlia:
Project: herself is an organisation I set up to advocate and support women to have self-determined lives. We do that through a couple of things – including storytelling advocacy and frontline service delivery.
Stacey:
Could you tell me a bit about the book being launched, and how it came to be?
Tahlia:
We’re publishing a collection of memoirs written by women who have lived prison experience. The book is titled, ‘She is me’ and it shines a light on stories and voices that often don’t get to be heard.
We have over 20 women who are formerly incarcerated contributing to this book. So, it may be the largest collection of stories that have ever been published by us, for us.
Stacey:
I have had the privilege of reading the book and I really resonate with it. In the introduction you say, “we are women who need opportunity, compassion and understanding”. How do you think people in the community can help the reintegration of women after prison?
Tahlia:
I’m so glad that you liked it. People in the community need to see us as women –we need opportunity and compassion. We just need people to see us for who we are, and not what we’ve done. And it just starts by listening to each other’s stories and understanding that we’re all connected through shared experience, whatever those experiences may be.
Stacey:
This resonates with me as I’ve often told people myself that it’s not just up to us. To reintegrate, society must let us reintegrate.
Tahlia:
That’s right. We hope to do this through the book – and include people in prison in the storytelling. We want to reach people on the outside and the inside. For every copy sold in the community, we will provide a copy to a woman in prison. We are providing books not
only to the community so that they can hear our stories, but women who really need to hear what’s possible for their own lives.
Stacey:
That sounds like a great thing to do. And what message do you want those reading the book to walk away with?
Tahlia:
I want everyone to walk away with an understanding that we are all connected through our experiences. Our experiences shape us and how we show up in this world. However different our experiences may be, what connects us is our humanity and being able to see each other. Stories can show us that we are all connected.
Stacey:
I’d hate to forget those who are most important here – is there anything you’d like to say to the women who are currently incarcerated?
Tahlia:
Just hold on. Hold on, it won’t last forever. There will be a day when you come back out into a community. And just know that there is a whole lot of us who have survived prison, who’ve gone on to never go back to prison. Reach out to us and we’ll help you up.
Stacey:
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Tahlia:
I want to thank Nina, Stacey and Rocket for being vulnerable and sharing so much of their lives with us for the book. I also want to thank all the women who trusted me to share their stories and trusted us to present them in a way that is respectful, and I hope I’ve done everybody proud.
Stacey:
I know I’m proud of you!
She Is Me is available from 4 March. Head to projectherself.org.au for a copy, or ask a family member or case worker to email admin@projectherself.org.au to get one sent to you.
Stacey:
I have had the privilege of reading the book and I really resonate with it. In the introduction you say, “we are women who need opportunity, compassion and understanding”. How do you think people in the community can help the reintegration of women after prison?
Tahlia:
I’m so glad that you liked it. People in the community need to see us as women –we need opportunity and compassion. We just need people to see us for who we are, and not what we’ve done. And it just starts by listening to each other’s stories and understanding that we’re all connected through shared experience, whatever those experiences may be.
Stacey:
This resonates with me as I’ve often told people myself that it’s not just up to us. To reintegrate, society must let us reintegrate.
Tahlia:
That’s right. We hope to do this through the book – and include people in prison in the storytelling. We want to reach people on the outside and the inside. For every copy sold in the community, we will provide a copy to a woman in prison. We are providing books not
only to the community so that they can hear our stories, but women who really need to hear what’s possible for their own lives.
Stacey:
That sounds like a great thing to do. And what message do you want those reading the book to walk away with?
Tahlia:
I want everyone to walk away with an understanding that we are all connected through our experiences. Our experiences shape us and how we show up in this world. However different our experiences may be, what connects us is our humanity and being able to see each other. Stories can show us that we are all connected.
Stacey:
I’d hate to forget those who are most important here – is there anything you’d like to say to the women who are currently incarcerated?
Tahlia:
Just hold on. Hold on, it won’t last forever. There will be a day when you come back out into a community. And just know that there is a whole lot of us who have survived prison, who’ve gone on to never go back to prison. Reach out to us and we’ll help you up.
Stacey:
Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Tahlia:
I want to thank Nina, Stacey and Rocket for being vulnerable and sharing so much of their lives with us for the book. I also want to thank all the women who trusted me to share their stories and trusted us to present them in a way that is respectful, and I hope I’ve done everybody proud.
Stacey:
I know I’m proud of you!
She Is Me is available from 4 March. Head to projectherself.org.au for a copy, or ask a family member or case worker to email admin@projectherself.org.au to get one sent to you.
