About
Who We Serve
WRITE TO HOPE’s trained mindful writing teachers have served over:
• 5000 thousand men and women detained in Minnesota county jails, workhouses and prisons.
• Facilitated over 15,000 stories of personal reflections.
• Each research-based writing workshop consists of writing prompts, group sharing and feedback to promote personal reflection and growth.
Program Impact
- Stress and anxiety relief
- Informed observation of thinking patterns and behavior
- Clarity of thought and comprehension
- Freedom to move forward unencumbered by past experiences
- 25%+ reduction in recidivism compared to nonparticipants
Our Executive Director
Melissa Martinez brings a deep commitment to justice and rehabilitation to the WRITE TO HOPE organization. As a former public defender, she has witnessed firsthand the struggles of underserved individuals in the county jail system. Her experience fuels her passion for providing meaningful opportunities to those often forgotten by society. Through WRITE TO HOPE, she finds great joy and purpose in helping others reclaim their voices and futures.
Our Teachers
Our dedicated volunteer teachers are the backbone of WRITE TO HOPE. Their diverse backgrounds and skillsets contribute to a beautiful tapestry, rich in diversity and seamless in our desire to advance WRITE TO HOPE’s mission.
WRITE TO HOPE’s
Board Members* and Teachers:
• Dennis Kelly*: Conscious Marketer, Author, Meditation Teacher
• Melissa Martinez*: MPP, JD, Former Public Defender
• Norma Bourland*: Non-profit Leadership and Social Worker
• Tina Appleby*: Semi-retired, Criminal Defense Attorney
• Doran Schoeppach*: Music and Special Education Teacher
• Brandon Sutton: Writer and Artist
• Jenn Kudelka: Hennepin County Social Worker, MSW, LICSW, MFA
• Teresa Alto: MA, Retired Community College Teacher, Editor, Writer
• Max Philbrook: Community College English Teacher and Postcarder
• Frank Jossi: Semi-retired Journalist, Clean Energy Aficionado, Reader
• Bernadine Joselyn: MA, Ret. Diplomat, Comm Development Professional.
• David McNally: Leadership and Transformation Speaker, Author
