Dear Friend:

Our 3 part series of workshops are in full swing now with several coming up in August.  We are also adding workshops for the coming year that are now included on our website.

Obtaining new sponsors to help organize workshops is an important priority so that more people can benefit from our program.  We are fortunate to have added several new sponsors in the past year.  Please contact us if you can introduce us to a possible sponsor.

We are reaching out to professionals in a variety of disciplines.  As one example, our program was featured this week at the International Conference of the Correctional Education Association.

For those of you who have experienced the method, please consider writing us an endorsement to use in promoting the program.

These are some of the many ways that the Intensive Journal program continues to grow and help people lead more rewarding lives.  I hope that you are having a rewarding summer.  Thanks for your involvement.

Jonathan Progoff

Summer Retreats of August Coming Up Quick!

We also hold workshops throughout the year.  Scroll down to see the workshops and module locations or click below on a specific region.  Click on the region title to be connected to the details of the workshop on the Intensive Journal website.  For international workshops (not including Canada), please refer to the website schedules and locations.  We have overseas workshops in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Morocco.
 

Northeast United States

State	City	Module	Begin	End	Leader
Maryland	Baltimore	LC	9/30/06	10/01/06	John McMurry
Maryland	Baltimore	DC	10/28/06	10/29/06	John McMurry
Maryland	Baltimore	LC	4/21/07	4/22/07	John McMurry
Maryland	Baltimore	DC	5/19/07	5/20/07	John McMurry
Maryland	Baltimore	LI	6/09/07	6/10/07	John McMurry
Massachusetts	Springfield	LI	11/17/06	11/19/06	Elizabeth Oleksak
Massachusetts	Springfield	DC	2/02/07	2/04/07	Ruth McGoldrick
New Jersey	Morristown	LC	8/06/06	8/07/06	Avis Smalley
New Jersey	Morristown	DC	8/08/06	8/09/06	Avis Smalley
New Jersey	Morristown	LI	8/10/06	8/11/06	Avis Smalley
New York	Esopus	LC	9/23/06	9/24/06	Thomas Travers
Pennsylvania	Chester County	LC	12/02/06	12/03/06	James Miller
Virginia	Alexandria	LC	10/28/06	10/29/06	Vic Kryston
West Virginia	Morgantown	LC	11/04/06	11/05/06	Jane Martin

Southeast/South-central United States

State	City	Module	Begin	End	Leader
Louisiana	Ponchatoula	LC	9/29/06	10/01/06	Joyce Kemp
Louisiana	Ponchatoula	DC	10/01/06	10/02/06	Joyce Kemp
Louisiana	New Orleans	LC	1/12/07	1/14/07	Ellen Faith
Louisiana	Grand Coteau	LC	2/01/07	2/02/07	Joyce Kemp
Louisiana	Grand Coteau	DC	2/03/07	2/04/07	Joyce Kemp
Texas	Dallas	LC	9/08/06	9/09/06	Wally Chappell
Texas	Dallas	DC	10/27/06	10/28/06	Wally Chappell
Texas	Dallas	LC	2/02/07	2/03/07	Wally Chappell
Texas	Dallas	DC	4/20/07	4/21/07	Wally Chappell

Midwest United States

State	City	Module	Begin	End	Leader
Illinois	Naperville	LC	8/04/06	8/06/06	Mike Gajda
Michigan	Grand Rapids	LC	10/07/06	10/08/06	Kelley Williams
Minnesota	Crookston	LC	3/16/07	3/18/07	Virginia Evard
Ohio	Cleveland	LC	8/18/06	8/20/06	Faye Schwelitz
Ohio	Cleveland	DC	8/20/06	8/21/06	Faye Schwelitz
Ohio	Cleveland	LI	8/22/06	8/23/06	Faye Schwelitz
Ohio	Dayton	LC	2/09/07	2/11/07	Faye Schwelitz
Ohio	Columbus	LC	4/28/07	4/29/07	Faye Schwelitz
Wisconsin	Milwaukee	LC	10/06/06	10/07/06	Tom D'Alessio
Wisconsin	Milwaukee	DC	12/01/06	12/02/06	Tom D'Alessio

Western United States

State	City	Module	Begin	End	Leader
California	Grass Valley	DC	10/27/06	10/29/06	Marcella Hardt
California	San Rafael	LC	7/31/06	8/01/06	Joanne Hackett Ching
California	San Rafael	DC	8/02/06	8/03/06	Nancy Markham
California	San Rafael	LI	8/03/06	8/04/06	Nancy Markham
California	Los Angeles	LC	8/10/06	8/11/06	Joanne Hackett Ching
California	Los Angeles	DC	8/12/06	8/13/06	Joanne Hackett Ching
Colorado	Denver	LC	8/18/06	8/19/06	Donna Frysinger
Colorado	Denver	DC	8/20/06	8/21/06	Donna Frysinger
Colorado	Denver	LI	8/22/06	8/23/06	Donna Frysinger
Washington	Seattle	LC	8/13/06	8/14/06	Evelyn Wemhoff
Washington	Seattle	DC	8/15/06	8/16/06	Evelyn Wemhoff
Washington	Seattle	LI	8/17/06	8/18/06	Carol Ladas Gaskin
Washington	Issaquah	LC	9/16/06	9/17/06	Evelyn Wemhoff
Washington	Issaquah	DC	9/23/06	9/24/06	Evelyn Wemhoff
Washington	Issaquah	LC	1/13/07	1/14/07	Evelyn Wemhoff
Washington	Issaquah	DC	1/14/07	1/15/07	Evelyn Wemhoff

Canada

Province	City	Module	Begin	End	Language	Leader
Manitoba	Winnipeg	LC	29 Sep 06	1 Oct 06	English	Virginia Evard
Manitoba	Winnipeg	LC	19 Jan 07	21 Jan 07	English	Virginia Evard
Manitoba	Winnipeg	DC	16 Feb 07	18 Feb 07	English	Virginia Evard
Alberta	Edmonton	LC	23 Feb 07	25 Feb 07	English	Virginia Evard
Manitoba	Winnipeg	LI	27 April 07	29 April 07	English	Virginia Evard

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New Sponsors Help Expand the Intensive Journal

Dialogue House is constantly searching for new sponsors to host our workshops.  A sponsor is the organizer of a workshop which includes getting a group together and finding a site for the workshop.  Dialogue House works with the sponsors to provide a certified journal consultant to lead the workshop, advertising flyers, and advice and support.

We are glad to welcome several new sponsors during 2006-2007.  New sponsors not only bring the Intensive Journal Program to a new area, but they also tend to bring new people to experience the method in an already visited area.  Dialogue House thanks the following individuals and organizations for sponsoring our program for the first time:

Mount Saint Benedict, Crookston, Minnesota
Inner Arts Center, Alexandria, Virginia
Mel Cooper, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Ellen Faith, Memphis, Tennessee
Trinity Episcopal Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
Holistic Care Approach, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jane Martin, Morgantown, West Virginia
First United Methodist Church, Rockwall, Texas
Providence Renewal Centre, Edmonton, Alberta
Livingstone Community Centre, Ivanhoe, New South Wales
Diamond Valley Learning Center, Greensborough, New South Wales

There are many requests each year to bring the workshops to a new area.  If you are interested in sponsoring a workshop or are affiliated with an organization which may have an interest, please call 800-221-5844 to discuss your ideas with Jon Progoff.  Although it is nice to have a site and group in mind, it is not necessary.  We can also guide you in finding appropriate sponsors if you are interested in simply lending a hand.

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Help Us Publicize the Intensive Journal Program

Dialogue House is seeking to collect endorsements from our participants who have attended the Intensive Journal Program to help newcomers understand the potential benefits of using the method.  Statements can be as short or as long as you like.  Postings can even be anonymous if necessary.  Please take a few moments to reflect on your involvement and how the Intensive Journal Method changed your life.  We ask that your submission be as specific as possible. 

We intend to use these statements in various forms of publicity including on our website.  Endorsements can be submitted on the website (click here), by email, or by mail.

We are also looking for longer statements of approximately two pages in length of how one has benefited in a specific area of their life by using the Intensive Journal Method.  We call these statements Life Histories and they should be written by a participant who has used the method extensively over time.  We have broadened the topic areas from dealing with emotional and physical conditions to include other life situations such as marriage, careers, etc. 

Life history topics must be approved by Dialogue House.  To discuss your potential topic, please call Jon Progoff at 800-221-5844.  To gather some thoughts, you can review some examples of life histories and an explanatory letter on the website (click here).  A tuition scholarship will be awarded to the workshop of your choice for those endorsements and life histories that are accepted.

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The Intensive Journal Method's Impact on Offender Rehabilitation

The Intensive Journal Program was recently featured at the international convention for the Correctional Education Association (CEA), a leading professional group of correctional educators and administrators.  During the week of July 31, the association held its conference in Anaheim, California for over 800 attendees.  Dr. Harvey Shrum, a pre-release coordinator at Folsom State Prison, presented his overall programmatic philosophy for the rehabilitation of inmates which includes the use of the Intensive Journal Program as a key component. 

Dr. Shrum has been a long time advocate for the use of the Intensive Journal Method with offender populations.  In September 2004, his article was published in the CEA’s official publication, The Journal of Correctional Education, titled, “No Longer Theory: Correctional Practices That Work”.  The article discusses the various methods of reaching out to inmates at his prison and the results.  The Intensive Journal was used to reduce recidivism—the relapse into criminal behavior or return to a correctional facility after release—and behavioral issues from inmates prior to release. 

In an interview, after administering the program to groups of inmates at Folsom State, Dr. Shrum noted that “the men are less aggressive, resulting in fewer disciplinary write-ups”.  He also says that “the men are more interested in mentoring other inmates.  They tell their peers that the Intensive Journal method works and that it has changed their lives.”  In a ten-year follow up of the participants who attended at least one Intensive Journal course, Dr. Shrum found a 0% recidivism rate!

As a part of Dr. Progoff’s mission and work with correctional populations, Dialogue House is always seeking to expand the number of programs for offender rehabilitation, which may include doing research studies,” says Director Jon Progoff.  For example, this month Dialogue House will be conducting Intensive Journal programs for gang members at a northern California maximum security prison facility. 

For more information on the use of the Intensive Journal Program in correctional settings, please call Jon Progoff at 800-221-5844 or refer to the website by clicking here.  To read Dr. Shrum’s article or interview, click here.

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