The Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest

By Lia Mandelbaum

Whether we are a forensic social worker, or a social worker who provides services outside the walls of America’s correctional facilities, many of us have witnessed or heard about how the prison culture within these institutions can be like a vortex of dysfunction. Most inmates have a great deal of trauma that is so embedded within their life narratives, and the prison culture for the most part can exacerbate the trauma and limit their capacity towards transformation and healing. Although this can all feel disheartening at times, I have recently come across an event that took place at the California Institution for Women that brings me great hope.

From September 11 to 21, 2013, with the support of the administration at the California Institution for Women (CIW) in Corona, the Compassion Games were able to take place behind the walls of their prison. I was very fortunate to get the chance to interview the person who spearheaded bringing the global project and movement to CIW, Reverend Shayna Lester, who is an interfaith minister and a Marriage and Family Therapist. Although the games were spearheaded by Reverend Lester, and carried out with the support from CIW’s staff members, Lester proudly states that it was ultimately the women that made the profound event a reality.

I recently wrote an article on the Compassion Games: Survival of the Kindest. The games are a part of an annual global project that usually takes place outside the walls of a prison. The “Co-Opetition” (rather than competition) between cities calls for the players to perform acts of service and kindness to create a collective impact. This is done by creating a shared agenda, shared measurement system, mutually reinforcing activities, and continuous communication that builds lasting community.

Instead of the games being between different cities, they were implemented at CIW and held as a “Co-Opetition” between all eight of their housing units. Throughout the games, the women from each unit performed acts of loving kindness and recorded them, along with their name and unit, and placed the piece of paper they had recorded into a box that was centrally located. At the end of the games, the tallies were counted and the women from the unit with the most acts of compassion were honored with certificates, got to have their own delicious chocolate cake, and their unit be the first to go to dinner for a week. Although these rewards may not sound like a big deal, they are huge luxuries for the inmates and are greatly appreciated. The most measurable result of the Compassion Games is that there was absolutely no violence at CIW during the 10-day period.

A Calling to Work with Inmates
After many years of being an MFT, Reverend Shayna Lester had been seeking a meaningful volunteer experience that would be “the right fit.” About eight years ago, Reverend Lester realized that she wanted to become a Jewish spiritual director on top of being a psychotherapist. She began volunteering at CIW seven years ago, and is now the lead volunteer chaplain and provides counseling for the Jewish community at CIW.

Reverend Shayna Lester brought the movement to CIW with the conviction that the games would have an immensely positive impact. As her vision became a reality, the prison staff, volunteers and visitors bore witness to an incredibly transformative experience for the women.

Stories from the Inmates
Reverend Lester shared with me some really great feedback from the women. “The 10 days of the Compassion Games have come to an end but the positive feelings will linger for months to come. The women of CIW recorded nearly 4,600 acts of kindness during the games. There were many compassionate acts of sharing food, listening without judgment, complimenting one another, hugs, and being available to help the elderly and disabled. A disabled woman reported she had multiple offers each day to take out her trash. Another ‘Compassionista’ was observed standing at the front door of her housing unit applying sunscreen to women before they ventured out into the scorching sun. Mostly, there has been a shift in awareness of how compassion and acts of kindness can change attitudes and our living environment.” 

Another inmate said, “The Compassion Games allowed gang members or those who need to maintain an image to step outside of their ‘roles’ and be kind to others without ridicule. One woman went to every window on the unit and cleaned the cobwebs from the outside of the windows (60 windows). This is big for someone in prison. Inmates are conditioned to pay for everything including acts of kindness. The games helped to break that cycle. This was an excellent learning experience for many.” 

She also mentioned how one of the slips submitted into the box said, “I didn’t give (name) the beat-down she deserved.” This woman had gotten into an argument with another inmate, but the Compassion Games helped to diffuse her impulse to use violence.

A Great Impact on America’s Criminal Justice Syste
Having the women engage in the Compassion Games is what I believe to be one of the most powerful forms of restorative justice and healing. Many of the women at CIW see themselves as incapable of being a compassionate person, or unworthy of being treated with compassion. The Compassion Games opened the eyes of a lot of women to the truth that it is absolutely possible.

And another major plus is that the Compassion Games aren’t funded through spending massive amounts of our tax dollars. Aside from purchasing a limited amount of supplies and chocolate cake mix, I imagine that the games cost close to nothing. For the betterment of America’s criminal justice system, I hope that the games at CIW will continue, and that other correctional facilities will follow suit.

Lia Mandelbaum is an MSW student at California State University, Los Angeles, and a member of the Social Action Social Justice Council.