Contemplative Outreach Prison Outreach Survey

Introduction

Hello! My name is Chandra Hanson and I am the Prison Outreach Liaison with Contemplative Outreach (CO). I am sending this survey on behalf of the CO Governing Board and staff, who are interested in identifying the strengths and opportunities related to Principles 3 and 12 of our Vision statement: the presence of the divine in us is the permanent self-giving of God to every human person (3) and we are invited to make available the gift of Centering Prayer to everyone, particularly to the needy and the marginalized (12). Specifically, questions have been designed to gain insight into what would assist volunteers who are, have previously, or wish to share centering prayer and the spiritual journey inside prison walls in the U.S. and elsewhere. The survey will take about 10 minutes of your time, and the information will be used to assist CO leadership in understanding how best to move forward in supporting this important aspect of our work.

*PLEASE NOTE: since one of the aims of this survey is to build a database of those who are interested, responses that include names and emails will be most helpful. We will not share your contact info, nor will it be used for any unrelated purpose. Future emails will include an opt-out link, should you decide you want to be removed from the CO prison outreach mailing list.

Thanks in advance for your time and if you have questions about this survey and how the information will be used, please contact me directly at freethroughcp@gmail.com

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* 1. Name:

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* 2. Email address:

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* 3. Where do you live? (City and state, or if outside the U.S., City and country)

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* 4. Local Contemplative Outreach Chapter, if any

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* 5. Length of time practicing Centering Prayer:

Less than a year

1-5 years

6-10 years

More than 10 years

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* 6. Which of the following BEST describes your involvement in sharing Centering Prayer or other contemplative practices with incarcerated individuals?

I have had no involvement but am interested in becoming involved

I have been or am involved with incarcerated individuals but not in relation to contemplative practice

I have participated in contemplative practice with incarcerated individuals at least once

Prior to COVID-19 restrictions, I volunteered regularly with a contemplative group in a correctional facility in my area.

Other (please specify)

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* 7. To what extent are you aware of Prison Contemplative Fellowship (PCF) and the resources that Ray Leonardini offers in support of contemplative work in prisons?

Very aware

Somewhat aware

Not at all aware

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* 8. To what extent are you connected with your local Contemplative Outreach Chapter?

Very connected

Somewhat connected

Not at all connected

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* 9. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following: I would be interested in being part of a network with other volunteers in Contemplative Outreach who are sharing the prayer with incarcerated individuals.

Strongly agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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* 10. Transmission of the centering prayer method to newcomers is important and can be easier for those who have had training. Since much of what we do inside prison involves facilitating a centering prayer group, it is not essential that prison outreach volunteers be commissioned presenters — but because our incarcerated friends generally lack access to Introductory Workshops, retreats, online videos and the other ways most of us learn and grow in our practice, it can be helpful to have this added training. Which of the following best characterizes your situation:

I am a commissioned presenter of centering prayer

I volunteer in a setting where there is a commissioned presenter other than myself

I have not completed the commissioning process, but have attended the Phase 1 training for becoming a commissioned presenter

I would like to become a commissioned presenter; please send me info about options

I do not feel drawn to become a commissioned presenter but would like to exchange ideas with others who teach centering prayer within a prison setting

I/we have found a way that works to transmit the method and do not need any further support in this regard

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* 11. The COVID-19 pandemic has made visiting prisons impossible for most of us in recent months; we are all surely praying for a speedy and safe reinstatement of volunteer access. If you have stories that might spread hope and encouragement about ways you have managed to maintain contact with our incarcerated contemplative friends during the pandemic, please feel free to share them here. You may also submit them separately via email to freethroughcp@gmail.com.

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* 12. Please note: we would like to be able to share responses to Question 10 only in communications with other prison outreach volunteers and/or with the larger CO community.

You may share my answer with first and last name and email address

You may share my answer with first and last name

You may share my answer using my first and last initials only

Please only share my answer anonymously

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* 13. Is there anything else you would like to share about the needs of incarcerated contemplatives in your area, or of those who serve them?

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* 14. Thank you very much for completing this survey! From what we learn, we hope to identify next steps for increased support of this important outreach. If you’d like to learn more about current available resources and/or to be directly involved in moving forward, please visit https://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/prison-contacts-homepage/

If there others you are aware of who might be interested in completing this survey or being involved with this work, please either forward them the link to this survey or provide their names and email addresses here, so that we can get in touch directly (up to 4 contacts):

Contact 1

Contact 2

Contact 3

Contact 4