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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

Request Melissa as a Speaker

Our Executive Director

Melissa Martinez brings a deep commitment to justice and rehabilitation as WRITE TO HOPE’s Executive Director. Her work in the public defender’s office has provided a firsthand account of the struggles endured by 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*: MA Public Policy, Juris Doctorate
• Norma Bourland*: Non-profit Leadership and Social Worker
• 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
• John Kostouros: Former journalist and communication specialist
• Chuck Myers: Retired editor of nonfiction books on politics and law

Honorary Board Member

Dr. James Pennebacker*: Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Texas at Austin and a member of the Academy of Distinguished Teacher. Professor Pennebaker has been engaged in over thirty years of research focused on the relationship between expressive writing and social behavior, that includes recovery from trauma, depression and addiction. As an Honorary Board Member, he serves as a WRITE TO HOPE best practices consultant.