Story Chain started 3 years ago to help alleviate the loss and abandonment felt by children of parents who are incarcerated. Jonathan Platt was inspired by a Daddy and Me program in New York City. In 2015 he began volunteering at the Dayton Correctional Institute with PowerNet. That organization, led by Craig Powell, was dedicated to giving leadership skills to incarcerated individuals soon to be released. Platt was able to pilot the Story Chain program to a class of 7 women who had 11 children. Together they choose, read, memorize and record books for their children. The workshops walk the participants step-by step through the process of choosing books appropriate for the the child, discuss the validity and impact, practice diction, rehearse lines and record their work.Story Chain has tremendous potential to make a lasting impact. By sharing a book, hearing a voice and fostering a feeling of closeness despite the distance, can change the future for children of incarcerated parents. This project was chosen at the UpDayton Summit to move forward and has received a grant from the Dayton Rotary Foundation to help fund it.
Want to find out more about this project?
Join Jonathan Platt at Mudlick Tap House tonight from 6:30-8pm on the second floor get important information about Story Chain visits starting soon at the Greene County Jail.
If you cannot attend and are still interested in helping with jail visits, or helping outside of jail with getting the MP3s to the children and their caretakers, simply post contact info below and Jonathan will reach out to you.
