Education Gave Me a Voice
Stripped of her voice by a language barrier, NPEP student Blanca Solis woman took it upon herself to learn English while incarcerated—proving that education can be a powerful tool of self-empowerment and a lifeline for the many voiceless Latinas within the prison system.
By Blanca Solis
As a Latina and immigrant, I thought that being incarcerated was going to be my biggest battle, but I was wrong.
The language barrier was the real monster that I had to face at the beginning of my incarceration, and with that, the feeling of being powerless and voiceless.
So, I targeted education as my main goal and priority, knowing that it was going to be a hard journey. At Logan Correctional Center, we do not have bilingual literacy programs. As a result, I taught myself how to write and read English using ESL books provided by my daughter.
After years, I finally earned my GED, which led to me joining the Helping Paws Programs, where I took a two-year apprenticeship and became a certified service dog trainer. Then, after years of waiting for an opportunity to go to college to continue my education, I was accepted into the Northwestern Prison Education Program (NPEP), where I am currently an undergraduate student.
Learning English opened educational opportunities for me and gave me a voice. But in my head, there is the constant reminder that behind me, a huge population of voiceless non-English-speaking Latinas are screaming for support. The prison system offers no empathy or bilingual literacy programs. My determination to learn the language showed me the struggle that non-English speaking Latinas face to get an education and all the benefits it offers.
Prisons are home to Latinas who are eager to learn, and all we need is more support from those who have the power to provide bilingual education and GED classes. With education, Latinas will not only have a voice but they will also be able to take advantage of programs, jobs, and leadership opportunities that will improve their lives and their communities.
