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OKLAHOMA CITY -- The public can help Oklahoma Department of Corrections volunteer Ellen Stackable with nonprofit Poetic Justice be named "CNN Hero of the Year" for her work with women behind bars.
Stackable, an English teacher who is the executive director and co-founder of the organization, is one of 10 eligible to win, which includes a $100,000 cash prize for their nonprofit. Also, the winner will be featured on the show "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," hosted by Anderson Cooper, airing at 7 p.m. Central on Dec. 9.
The cable news network's project honoring "everyday people" gives each nominee $10,000 to support their work making a difference in the world.
About Poetic Justice
Poetic Justice and its volunteers offer restorative writing workshops for incarcerated women emphasizing voice, hope and power to change, its website states.
Most female inmates are trauma victims, which is usually part of how they ended up in prison. Learning communications skills like what Poetic Justice teaches can help them develop coping mechanisms, and also assists them with avoiding incarceration after they discharge from prison.
Poetic Justice volunteers lead classes each week at ODOC's Mabel Bassett, Eddie Warrior and Kate Barnard correctional centers.
A story featuring her work inside MBCC can be found here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/16/us/cnnheroes-ellen-stackable-poetic-justice/index.html
More information on CNN Heroes can be found at: https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/01/world/cnnheroes-top-ten-2018/index.html
