We hope you enjoy this issue of The Beat Within as we tackle topics of summer, choice and grandparents. Thank you everyone for your constant community, we are so humbled to share another issue of this communal magazine with you. As summer heats up and school is out for vacation, we want to publish a few reflections from the last group of student interns from Urban High School. These students help The Beat Within week in and week out by typing up workshop writing from many different locations and we really appreciate the extra help! As you can imagine, there is a lot of typing every week for The Beat Within to process edit and respond to.
When I started The Beat Within, I didn’t know much about the incarceration system. The Beat Within was a unique introduction to learning about this system, as it centered around personal experiences rather than statistics or generalizations. It provided valuable perspectives and humanized those I was transcribing for, humanizing those in the system.
One of my favorite parts of transcribing writing from The Beat Within was learning about the relationships that the writers had with their families, friends, and themselves. There was one transcription where an author described his relationship with a friend.
He talked about how he met his friend while they were both incarcerated, and how he and his friend were in and out of contact with each other as his friend left the incarceration system but later returned.
The author concluded his writing by talking about how this friend he made is someone he can truly trust. It was moving to see the experiences he went through with this friend, and how their shared experience in the incarceration system brought them closer.
-Blue
When I started working with The Beat Within a few weeks ago I honestly had no experience or knowledge of the work that they are doing, and I can’t say that I am extremely and fully educated on it now, but I did learn some from the letters I got the honor of transcribing. I have always been a person who observes and listens more which is the reason I had interest in joining for my service in the first place.
While reading the notes I got sent for transcribing, they often made me think about perspective and how incarcerated people are often portrayed. In the notes, especially ones where the writers got more vulnerable, it was a really powerful view into the emotions, thoughts and experiences that often get shut away and hidden.
I am lucky enough to go to a school that teaches me about perspective and the importance of learning from all sides of a story. I’ve spent a lot of my time in school learning many things about the world present and past but during my work for The Beat Within it was one of the few times I got a more up-front view of the things I learn.
I think readings like the ones you do in classes, while very educational and important, can make everyone in it feel so far away and unconnected to you that it almost dehumanizes them. So, getting the chance to learn about something new like The Beat Withins work in a more hands on way was something I greatly appreciated about this experience. I also was really grateful for the actual writing pieces I got to transcribe.
I think you can learn a lot from people who are given the ability to just write without judgement, because then you get to see raw reactions and emotions you may not understand someone is feeling and you get to hear it from them. For all of those reasons I believe no matter what is written in the notes from something extremely vulnerable to lighthearted and joking around they are very powerful in the platform that they give and receive.
I am very appreciative of being able to be a part of this program even if it was for a short amount of time, I hope to volunteer and provide my time again! Thank you for giving me this opportunity!
-Ione
Volunteering as a transcriber for The Beat Within has been a deeply meaningful experience that has changed the way I think about the power of words. As a high school student doing this for a service-learning class, I originally expected the work to be straightforward, just typing, but it turned out to be so much more than that.
Each week, I was given handwritten pieces by incarcerated youth to transcribe. These writings weren’t just assignments; they were raw, emotional, and incredibly personal reflections. Some talked about pain, regret, love, dreams, and struggles that were deeply personal. As I typed their words, I found myself slowing down to really absorb their meaning. I began to realize how important it is for these young people to have a space where their voices are heard and respected.
One thing that struck me most was the honesty in their writing. Even in short pieces, I could sense the complexity of their experiences. Transcribing them felt like holding a piece of someone’s truth. This taught me about empathy, dignity, and the impact of simply listening. Through this experience, I’ve learned that service doesn’t always mean direct interaction. Sometimes, it means being a quiet witness, helping behind the scenes to make sure someone’s story reaches the world.
I feel honored to have played a part in amplifying voices that often go unheard. It has changed the way I view both justice and humanity, and it’s an experience I’ll carry with me long after this class ends. Thank you for the great experience!
-Riley
Thank you for all Blue, Ione and Riley for all your help and support for the last few months. You all did a terrific job to help us with the typing and editing process and we appreciate hearing how much you enjoyed the experience. We are so glad to know the emotional impact was much deeper than just the sum of its parts. Thank you for sharing that experience and impact with us here. We hope you have a fantastic summer!