UNLOCKING VOICES. TRANSFORMING FUTURES.
BUILDING MEDIA LABS IN WASHINGTON TO CREATE HOPE, SKILLS, AND PATHWAYS HOME
Unincarcerated’s Inside/Out Media Labs began at Washington State Penitentiary, where incarcerated creators are learning film, audio, storytelling, and leadership — and reshaping the narrative of incarceration.
We are fiscally sponsored by Northwest Film Forum, a 501(c)(3).
“IT’S LIKE A FORMAL EDUCATION ALL OVER AGAIN.”
Hear what our Inside/Out Media Lab students have to say about the life-changing impact of working on Lockdown.
1 in 3 U.S. adults has a criminal record.
More than 100,000 people in Washington State are incarcerated or on supervision.
This impacts the families, our community, local businesses, and housing.
Chances are, you already know someone who is system-impacted.
But talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.
Prisons are full of untold stories, unrealized potential, and skilled human beings.
Without education, networks, or purpose, reentry becomes a revolving door.
We build Inside/Out Media Labs teaching:
Podcasting & Audio
Film & Video Production
Digital Literacy & Story Development
Leadership & Employability Skills
We equip currently incarcerated people — and those returning home — with real media industry pathways, social-emotional learning, and belonging.
This model is piloted at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla and is expanding statewide.
Season One of our pilot podcast ranked #2 in Documentary, and #14 in Top Series on Apple Podcasts.
We create digital educational curricula including:
“By and for” peer-led personal development and reentry programming delivered on prison tablets by formerly incarcerated people who have transformed themselves and are reaching back to teach others.
We FORGE WORKFORCE PATHWAYS THAT LEAD TO:
Paid fellowships, mentorships, and community bridge opportunities upon release.
COMMUNITY CELEBRATION RECAP
Our first ever Concrete Mama Community Celebration was a huge success — all thanks to our donors, sponsors, family, friends, and YOU! Here’s a recap in case you missed it, and thank you to everyone who came out and supported. Keep an eye out for Season 2!
We support incarcerated people to have agency in their own stories and teach marketable skills that directly connect to employment when people get released from prison. We’re also building a pipeline of workforce opportunities in media to be an employer for individuals when they release.
Individual Impact:
Institutional Impact:
We improve relations between incarcerated people and staff by engaging both sides in shared ownership of the prison media created and compelling stories told. This increases retention of DOC staff and helps minimize the amount of safety incidents in the population.
We shift perspectives and build empathy between society and the justice-impacted community. This leads to better opportunities and outcomes for returning citizens, reduced recidivism, and a flourishing local economy where everyone benefits.
community Impact:
Unincarcerated Productions is a project of
…a federally registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
While Unincarcerated Productions operates as an LLC, all donations made to support our project are received, processed, and managed by the Northwest Film Forum. Your gift is 100% tax-deductible.
