ABOUT THE WOMEN'S IMAGE PROJECT

After reading an article in the newspaper about the difficulties many former inmates have with re-entering society after incarceration, a light bulb went off for Dana Persia. After making some initial contacts within the Philadelphia Prison System, she approached the Riverside Correctional Facility’s Director of Volunteer Services with an idea to create a program working with incarcerated women that would enhance their self-esteem and improve the odds of their success when they reintegrated back into society. In about nine months, the Women’s Image Project: Building Self-Esteem from the Outside, In,” was underway in the fall of 2006. The program is a self-esteem workshop series presented to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women in Philadelphia, PA as well as in Camden, NJ. This program and ultimately the empowerment of women, is an integral part of Dana’s personal mission in life.

In the years 2007 and 2008, The Women’s Image Project was implemented with the Philadelphia Prison System’s Riverside Correctional Facility. In May 2008, Dana received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Philadelphia Prison System. In 2009, the program moved to the Alternative & Special Detention Center. In mid-2009, Dana approached Garrett House, a half-way house for formerly incarcerated women located in Camden and is now presenting her workshop to the women who are housed there. The program participation has grown from five to eight women per workshop to anywhere from 15-25 women per workshop. .

During the three-hour workshop, Dana covers topics such as dressing for success, interpersonal skills, cosmetics and body language. She discusses dressing for the workplace, demonstrates how to appropriately apply makeup, and offers techniques on interpersonal skills such as conflict resolution, interview skills and body language. Each woman receives a packet of materials to follow throughout the class. Dana also employs visuals and anecdotes from her own life , and to show these women that they do have a future and that their lives can be better, she begins each class with a few inspirational quotes and poems, all surrounding the idea of new beginnings and positive change. At the end of the session, participants receive a Certificate of Completion, personalized with each woman’s name and Dana’s signature, along with a gift bag of personal care items. 

2010 Holiday Spa Day at Garrett House, Camden, NJ