“I can confidently say that Megan McDrew’s Empathy program changed my life for the better. When I signed up for the program, I was scared to be vulnerable in front of strangers, let alone incarcerated people. However, my interactions with the brothers in blue completely changed my perspective on prison, criminality, and in many ways, the world around me. The connections built inside CTF Soledad are some of the most honest and humbling connections that I have made. I’ve witnessed UCSC students, community members, and those incarcerated speak about topics that are almost never discussed in our everyday lives. We all share emotions, humility, bravery, and even humor in our sessions.”

“That people in the prison system are not the only ones with life problems and emotional health problems; empathy in action has enlightened me so much and restored my faith in humanity. I actually felt human again and believe that these special students are working under God’s orders. They are compassionate, respectful, helpful, kind, professional, and very much human loving beings. They have truly lightened my load. This is a big yes1! This program is beneficial to use in prison.”

“This program has been incredible in the connection and humanness I get with the brothers in blue. To be able to be in the physical space of a prison is so humbling and powerful"”

“This experience was the best experience I’ve had in the world with real people. Thank you for everything.”

"Multiple times throughout this session, the men inside showed intense vulnerability. The time it was most impactful was when they shared that during this program, they felt human. Knowing I was a part of a humanzing endeavor was powerful. The men inside are so rarely shown empathy, but that is what they need the most. If our world had a greater emphasis on healing as opposed to harming, there would be no need for the systems we have in place."

"This was one of the most helpful and healing programs that I have attended in my 26 years of incarceration. The willingness and openness of the outside participants was far above what was necessary to facilitate this program. The very fact that people from the outside were so very open and honest and accepting of our situation was uplifting. It gave me a chance to find out that I’m not alone in my struggles. When we talked about any and all subjects, it was real and painful at times. There is not just one session or moment or lesson that were more meaningful or special. It all was special and meaningful from the start. I just want to say thank you to each and everyone, from participants to facilitators (Brothers in blue), for a very special experience."

"The greatest impact this program had on me is just the fact that I truly felt seen. The compassion that the visitors brought, and the empathy felt, made an impact on me because I have felt invisible for so long by society in general. Over the past 40 years, I have been nothing but an 'inmate', a number. This program reminded me, however, what it felt like to be human. How humans should treat each other- with compassion and empathy- despite our past. This program led me to question the premise that I deserve to suffer for my violence, that I should be tortured everyday. I have begun to question that. I have started to believe that I deserve dignity and respect despite my past"

"This program has shown me the importance of being connected to others as we share on common oneness only discovered through the journey of empathy and compassion. It helped me manifest a different light pertinent to perspective. So many of us 'Brothers in blue' are forced (by our own self beliefs) to put on a mask in order to survive day-to-day living in this prison environment. I see some brothers in a new and highly respectful light. Men would leave the group laughing, happy, interacting with the officers. The public needs to know that this program will make society more safe and formerly incarcerated persons more human!"

"This program changes lives. As an outsider, my perspective on life is forever changed by the wisdom, pain, experiences, and unending respect and empathy from the brothers in blue. I think everyone should see the inside of a prison at least once, gaining access to the tortured population we've cast away and removed from society. We might say that every living being is deserving of love, compassion, and connection, but we don't realize how many people are deprived of that all around us. In a matter of weeks, you realize that you, as a free person, have the ability to change lives for the better. You can be the person that makes someone feel seen and heard for the first time in their life. You get out of this program what you put into it; all of the love I've poured into these sessions has come back to me tenfold"