Pain of the Prison System (POPS) creates, oversees and supports clubs that meet weekly throughout the academic year in high schools. POPS was created to support students who have been impacted by the carceral system. Most club members have parents and/or other loved ones who are or have been incarcerated; some students have been incarcerated themselves; and a number of students have family members who have been detained and/or deported. Needless to say, these students face a significant amount of stigma and loss. But in POPS clubs, students begin to recognize their own resilience while building supportive relationships with their peers. The POPS curriculum encourages students to find and use their voices in conversation, writing, artwork, and other types of creative expression.
POPS is looking for volunteers for El Camino Real Charter High School's meetings, theses meetings are held weekly. This opportunity will begin in Fall 2023 and continue through the academic year.
Watch our video to learn more: POPS poetry