Overview
The Tallahassee Chan Center’s Prison Letter Writing Project began in July 2024. A small team of volunteers corresponds with incarcerated practitioners across Florida. The goal is simple: provide consistent, grounded Dharma friendship to individuals living in highly stressful, isolating environments.
A picture one of our inmates sent us out of gratitude for the correspondence.
What Volunteers Do
– Exchange emails on meditation practice, daily-life application, and resolving challenges
– Offer steady communication to people with limited support
– Participate in peer check-ins for clarity, boundaries, and guidance
– Optional participation in a small “Silent Illumination” book discussion group with interested inmates
Why This Matters
Prisons are chaotic, noisy, and unpredictable. Regular contact—grounded in practice, not therapy—gives incarcerated practitioners a stable reference point. The project focuses on attention, presence, and mutual learning.
Training & Support
Volunteers receive:
– Orientation on correspondence guidelines
– Access to the volunteer team for problem-solving
– Guidance from Guo Gu and senior practitioners when needed
Join the Project
To volunteer, email tallahassee.chan@gmail.com with subject line: Prison Correspondence Volunteer.