Resilience Multimedia has announced the winners of its second writing contest for people who are or were in prison, and their loved ones. The winning stories will be included in Resilience’s “Think Outside the Cell” book series. The series is being funded by the Ford Foundation, which for more than 70 years has been working to improve lives and create opportunity for people around the world.

“Our mailbox overflowed with powerful stories,” said Sheila Rule, president of Resilience Multimedia, “and we felt honored to read them. We have no doubt that readers of the “Think Outside the Cell” book series will feel just as honored.”

Contestants were asked to submit stories about actual events on one or more of these topics: reentering society after incarceration, waiting for loved ones to return home from prison, and prison marriages and relationships. Winners receive $300 for first place, $150 for second place, and $75 for third place. There was a third-place tie for the topics reentering society and prison marriages and relationships, with each writer receiving $75. Some stories that did not win cash prizes will still be considered for inclusion in the series. All writers whose stories are published will receive a free copy of the book in which their work appears.

Reentering society after incarceration:
1st Place: Tamara Anderson, New York, NY—“Entering the Lotus Seed”
2nd Place: Jonathan M. Petty, Somerset, PA—“Revolving Doors: The Story of My Life”
3rd Place: Mattie Evans, Queens, NY—“This is It”
David Stephenson, MD, Marcy, NY—“A Father’s Return”

Waiting for loved ones to return home from prison:
1st Place: Lowanna M. Owens, Diamond Bar, CA—“Our Favorite Son”
2nd Place: Franklin Ray Brown, Coalinga, CA—“Three Strikes and You’re…Still In”
3rd Place: Jennifer Collins, Hicksville, NY—“The Long Road Home”

Prison marriages and relationships:
1st Place: Corey John Richardson, West Liberty, KY—“How Some Men Find Love”
2nd Place: Safiya E. Bandele, Brooklyn, NY—“The Illness”
3rd Place: Jason Dansby, Rutland, VT—“Spitting Image”
Darrin Goldberg, Warwick, NY—“A Dog Named Regret”