Theme: Does Gender Matter?

Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW) will spend the day addressing this thought provoking question, “If it is the first thing we notice about people - are they male or female - if gender isn't part of one’s core identity, what is it? So, how does all this work if you are in prison?

The women incarcerated at WCCW, along with community members, staff and volunteers will share their unique perspectives in response to this question, “Does gender matter?”

9601 Bujacich Rd NW
Gig Harbor, Washington, 98332
United States

Broken Wing Circle

The Broken Wing Circle are Native American drummers and offenders at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Jasmin and Tammy

Both of these women were raised in the Pacific Northwest. Separated by age, they share a deep love of music from all walks of life that has helped them to bond, forming a long-lasting friendship. This experience is a stepping stone to a better life outside of these walls. Music has inspired change in their lives and their hope is to inspire positive change in others, too.

Poetic Rhythms of Life

Poetic Rhythms of Life are poets and offenders at the Washington Corrections Center for Women in Gig Harbor, Washington.

Veracruz Dance

Maria was born in Veracruz, Mexico. She is an avid soccer fan and a new fan of the Seattle Seahawks. Her inspiration to dance comes from her older sister. Maria dances for herself and for her son.

Ashly Eli

Born in Butte, Montana, I was a “Cinderella” child, caring for my siblings and household chores. At age 14 and 18, it was fun to be Mommy, but difficult to be a teenager. We did well and purchased our first home, yet I ran from my problems. My life motto was optimism. I live spiritually and morally, working hard. My goal is to persevere in helping all.

C. Carroll

I am an idealist. I believe people are basically good and do the best they can with what they know. I have worked as a manager, a therapist, a consultant, a trainer and a coach. I found people had the same basic needs to love and be loved and have purpose in their lives, with similar experiences of sadness, loss and joy. I am also a philosopher. I believe that we see the world that we believe in, and our mind map of reality is created by our early life experiences and our society.

Cathryn Cummings

Cathryn’s favorite pastime is eating popcorn while sharing deeply with someone. She lives in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her life partner. She graduated from Whitworth University and Princeton Seminary. Her two grown kids are amazing and live in Washington, D.C. and California. She loves life.

Chris Hubert

In a little over 27 years of public service, I have seen many shifts in philosophy, training, and implementation. I’m excited to see the Washington State Department of Corrections continuing to innovate in the area of gender responsiveness by embracing the best research and practices so that our department remains a recognized leader in evidence-based corrections. I was born in Texas almost 57 years ago. I have traveled a lot, mostly in America. My experiences range from a fairly well-off upbringing to being homeless, more than once, to being rich now. I consider myself rich because I have a family I love and who loves me as well as a home and career I really like and take pride in. I love my pets and enjoy hobbies such as reading and woodworking with reclaimed lumber. Having had times in my life when I had almost nothing, I am all the more appreciative of what I have now.

Dan Satterberg

Dan Satterberg was elected King County Prosecuting Attorney in Washington state in November 2007. The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office employs more than 225 attorneys, 240 staff, and has a budget of nearly $68 million. Before 1990, Dan was a trial attorney in the Criminal Division, where he spent rotations in the Special Assault Unit, Drug Unit, and served as the office’s first gang prosecutor in 1988. Dan was born and raised in South King County and attended Highline High School. He graduated from the University of Washington Law School, where he met his wife Linda, a corporate lawyer.

Emily Salisbury

Emily J. Salisbury is an Associate Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Dr. Salisbury’s primary research interests include correctional assessment and treatment intervention strategies, with a particular focus on female offenders and gender-responsive policy. She was the project director of two research sites that developed and validated the Women’s Risk/Needs Assessment instruments, which is a series of correctional assessments specifically designed to treat the needs of justice-involved women.

Felice Davis

Felice Davis has worked for Washington State Department of Corrections in a wide range of roles and is currently the Associate Superintendent of Programs at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. Davis has worked in both sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy and has a well-established rapport with stakeholders in the Pierce County area. This includes nonprofit organizations, law enforcement, other government agencies and private businesses. Her drive to help at-risk populations extends to her volunteer activities as well. Davis is an active community volunteer who has dedicated time to serving people experiencing homelessness. Davis has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Studies from the University of Washington, which provided her with a thorough understanding of the social issues that may cause incarceration and the impact of recidivism on local communities.

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

Laura van Dernoot Lipsky is the founder and director of the Trauma Stewardship Institute and author of Trauma Stewardship: An Everyday Guide to Caring for Self While Caring for Others. She has worked directly with trauma survivors for 28 years, including survivors of child abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, acute trauma of all kinds, and natural disasters. Laura has been active in community organizing and movements for social and environmental justice and has taught on issues surrounding systematic oppression and liberation theory.

Laurel Rayburn

Laurel Rayburn received her doctorate in English from Brown University in 2012, where she completed a dissertation on 20th century American lyric poetry. She teaches academic writing for the Harvard Extension School and Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, a college program at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. She is also a dedicated yoga teacher and practitioner.

M. Gunderson

Michelle Gunderson is 34 years old. She was born in Seattle, Washington and grew up loving the outdoors. Camping is one of her favorite pastimes. Michelle is competitive and finds great joy while playing sports. She is a nationally certified Braille transcriber. She is a leader, a problem solver, and a motivator. Michelle is a warrior. She has the ability to persevere through any circumstance.

Marriam Oliver

Marriam had an active childhood playing basketball, volleyball, and taekwondo. One of Marriam’s greatest achievements is receiving two AmeriCorps scholarships, and she’s currently working on her associate degree through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound. Marriam also uses her incarceration to speak with teens about making positive choices. Marriam believes our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

Mary Yu

Mary I. Yu was appointed to the Washington State Supreme Court by Governor Jay Inslee on May 1, 2014, after serving 14 years as a trial court judge in King County Superior Court. Prior to her appointment to the bench, she was the Deputy Chief of Staff to King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng and the Director of the Peace and Social Justice Office for the Archdiocese of Chicago. Justice Yu earned a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, a master’s degree in Religious Studies from Mundelein of Loyola University in Chicago and her law degree from the University of Notre Dame. A frequent speaker for legal education seminars, Justice Yu is also active in a variety of community and professional activities.

S. Pessinguia

Sheila Pessinguia grew up in the Pacific Northwest, completed my bachelor’s degree in Sociology at the University of Arizona and my master’s degree in Criminal Justice at the University of Cincinnati. I am currently employed as a Juvenile Probation Supervisor.

Soledad O'Brien

Soledad O’Brien is an award-winning journalist who founded the Starfish Media Group in 2013. SMG is a multi-platform media production and distribution company, dedicated to human stories that sometimes tackle divisive social issues. O’Brien was previously an anchor for CNN, where she hosted two shows, numerous specials, covered breaking news around the globe, and created the documentary series In America. O’Brien and SMG continue to produce Black in America for CNN. She also reports and produces documentaries and segments for Al Jazeera America, HBO Real Sports, National Geographic and others.

Starr Lake

Starr is actively working toward her associate degree through the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound. She works in the Braille Program and is involved in many other activities. To Starr, life is about living the best life you can and being the best you can possibly be regardless of where you are and what the circumstances. Life is not just about you, but about the connections you make with others.

Tanya Erzen

Tanya Erzen is an Associate Professor of Religion at University of Puget Sound and the executive director of the Freedom Education Project Puget Sound, a college program inside the Washington Corrections Center for Women. In 2014, she received a Soros Justice Fellowship from the Open Society Foundation to finish a book about religious programs in American prisons. She is the author of the books Straight to Jesus, Fanpire, and co-editor of Zero Tolerance.

Tiffany Williams

At 17 Tiffany was incarcerated and that is where her life began. A lot of her previous life’s memories are vague and lost. She really wants to be known for the good things she has done in her life, instead of the bad. A few years ago, Tiffany was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, which has given her a deeper understanding of herself.

Tonya Wilson

Tonya’s life revolves around words. Love of books, learning, and family has shaped her connection to the world. Tonya believes that human understanding, connection and acceptance create change. Understanding that every life has intrinsic value adds passion to her pursuit of nonviolent academic excellence. Using her varied street, prison and educational experiences, Tonya intends to promote change in her community.