Uploaded September 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Did you know that women are the fastest-growing population in prison? Ever wonder why?
We explored this critical issue and more with our guests, Martha Ackerman and Stephanie Segel, the founders of Create: New Beginnings. This transformative program uses art expression to help women living in prison work through some of the challenges that landed them behind bars.
The impact of the program is profound, and participants can even have their sentences reduced as a result of their engagement in this life-changing initiative affiliated with Prison Fellowship. As told by Stephanie and Martha, the inspiring stories of adversity, vulnerability, and healing of the women living in prison remind us that everyone has the potential to create a new beginning.
Create: New Beginnings® takes incarcerated women through a series of restorative, art-based, in-prison workshops. Through painting and other creative arts, women behind bars explore topics such as shame, self-doubt, empathy, and forgiveness—all in a faith-based environment of introspection, healing, and community support. Through artistic expression, participants in this Prison Fellowship program explore core issues of identity and purpose, reimagining their futures with a new sense of hope.
If you like our content, please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction of Create: New Beginnings MCF Shakopee; Annie Goebel Director of Create: New Beginnings
01:30 Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim introduce Stephanie Segel and Martha Ackerman
03:40 Stephanie Segel goes to Rikers Island Jail
04:20 Prison Fellowship connection with Martha Ackerman with questions and art tools
06:00 Deputy warden invites them back to Rikers Jail due to low violence incidences
06:31 Stephanie Segel and Martha Ackerman make their program into a curriculum for women living in prison specifically in affliation with Prison Fellowship
07:18 Started going to women’s facility
07:26 Martha explains the difference between Jails and Prisons
07:47 Working in Shakopee in MInnesota, Chino and Chowchilla Prisons
Lynwood county Jail
8:30 Statistics that show why women are the fastest growing population in prison
Majority of women living in prison have been abused.
08:57 Addictions have direct correlation to them going to prison
09:15 All women who had been trafficked women in Prison
9:30 Gender responsive unit 100% in the unit in Lynwood had been sex trafficked
9:40 Katrina references Crazy Amazing Humans Podcast EP 34- Safety and Awareness with Jeff Wohler and Keenen Washington.
11:15 Create: New Beginnings course explained: 10 workshop course
11:40 Prison Fellowship motto of “Permanently flexible”
13:46 Not therapists, but they pilot their workshops with assistance of therapists
14:35 Vulnerability
15:13 Art-based program Federal Bureau of Prisons reviewed the program and now it’s being rolled out in Fed prisons across America.
15:56 Taking program reduces participant’s sentences
16:10 Art as impactful restoration tool
17:55 Stephanie Segel talks about the psychology of colors
18:05 Color Emotions Chart
19:50 Insights and practices applied in their own lives
20:50 Everybody can have a new beginning
21:15 Colors and emotions
22:10 Studies show that women in church have trouble going deeper with one another
22:43 Power in the words “I don’t know”
23:02 NAMI curriculum referenced
23:40 Martha Ackerman shares one of the most impactful stories she has seen when working with women in prison
26:55 Stephanie Segel shares one of the most impactful stories she has seen when working with women in prison
28:10 Confronting problems through Create: New Beginnings
28:55 Create: New Beginnings the Book Tyndale Press
29:46 MoDa Studios in Venice, California
30:36 Mother - Daughter MoDa Studios Tina Segel
31:00 where to get in touch with our guests
32:32 Subscribe to the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast
Since 2019, Create: New Beginnings has engaged over 140 volunteers and Prison Fellowship staff to serve more than 2,400 women. Currently active in 20 states from Alaska to Florida, the program has 50 active workshops reaching more than 800 women each week. We have also partnered with the Salvation Army and are active in 10 of their Adult Rehabilitation Centers. Don’t miss this powerful conversation! Subscribe to stay updated on our latest episodes and be inspired by extraordinary journeys of resilience and hope!
Be sure to follow the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, our website or wherever you listen. Go find us, hit subscribe, and then you’ll be notified about our latest Crazy Amazing Humans podcast episode.
Be Part of the Crazy Amazing Humans Community:
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: bit.ly/3hGk32N
Website: crazyamazinghumans.com
Our Linktree: bit.ly/CAHLinktree
Listen & subscribe:
Apple Podcast: bit.ly/CAHPodApple
Spotify: bit.ly/CAHSpotify
Google: bit.ly/CAHPodGoogle
Instagram: bit.ly/2Zkk06V
Facebook: bit.ly/2ZpA2wq
Did you know that women are the fastest-growing population in prison? Ever wonder why?
We explored this critical issue and more with our guests, Martha Ackerman and Stephanie Segel, the founders of Create: New Beginnings. This transformative program uses art expression to help women living in prison work through some of the challenges that landed them behind bars.
The impact of the program is profound, and participants can even have their sentences reduced as a result of their engagement in this life-changing initiative affiliated with Prison Fellowship. As told by Stephanie and Martha, the inspiring stories of adversity, vulnerability, and healing of the women living in prison remind us that everyone has the potential to create a new beginning.
Create: New Beginnings® takes incarcerated women through a series of restorative, art-based, in-prison workshops. Through painting and other creative arts, women behind bars explore topics such as shame, self-doubt, empathy, and forgiveness—all in a faith-based environment of introspection, healing, and community support. Through artistic expression, participants in this Prison Fellowship program explore core issues of identity and purpose, reimagining their futures with a new sense of hope.
If you like our content, please like and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction of Create: New Beginnings MCF Shakopee; Annie Goebel Director of Create: New Beginnings
01:30 Katrina Carlson and Jefferson Denim introduce Stephanie Segel and Martha Ackerman
03:40 Stephanie Segel goes to Rikers Island Jail
04:20 Prison Fellowship connection with Martha Ackerman with questions and art tools
06:00 Deputy warden invites them back to Rikers Jail due to low violence incidences
06:31 Stephanie Segel and Martha Ackerman make their program into a curriculum for women living in prison specifically in affliation with Prison Fellowship
07:18 Started going to women’s facility
07:26 Martha explains the difference between Jails and Prisons
07:47 Working in Shakopee in MInnesota, Chino and Chowchilla Prisons
Lynwood county Jail
8:30 Statistics that show why women are the fastest growing population in prison
Majority of women living in prison have been abused.
08:57 Addictions have direct correlation to them going to prison
09:15 All women who had been trafficked women in Prison
9:30 Gender responsive unit 100% in the unit in Lynwood had been sex trafficked
9:40 Katrina references Crazy Amazing Humans Podcast EP 34- Safety and Awareness with Jeff Wohler and Keenen Washington.
11:15 Create: New Beginnings course explained: 10 workshop course
11:40 Prison Fellowship motto of “Permanently flexible”
13:46 Not therapists, but they pilot their workshops with assistance of therapists
14:35 Vulnerability
15:13 Art-based program Federal Bureau of Prisons reviewed the program and now it’s being rolled out in Fed prisons across America.
15:56 Taking program reduces participant’s sentences
16:10 Art as impactful restoration tool
17:55 Stephanie Segel talks about the psychology of colors
18:05 Color Emotions Chart
19:50 Insights and practices applied in their own lives
20:50 Everybody can have a new beginning
21:15 Colors and emotions
22:10 Studies show that women in church have trouble going deeper with one another
22:43 Power in the words “I don’t know”
23:02 NAMI curriculum referenced
23:40 Martha Ackerman shares one of the most impactful stories she has seen when working with women in prison
26:55 Stephanie Segel shares one of the most impactful stories she has seen when working with women in prison
28:10 Confronting problems through Create: New Beginnings
28:55 Create: New Beginnings the Book Tyndale Press
29:46 MoDa Studios in Venice, California
30:36 Mother - Daughter MoDa Studios Tina Segel
31:00 where to get in touch with our guests
32:32 Subscribe to the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast
Since 2019, Create: New Beginnings has engaged over 140 volunteers and Prison Fellowship staff to serve more than 2,400 women. Currently active in 20 states from Alaska to Florida, the program has 50 active workshops reaching more than 800 women each week. We have also partnered with the Salvation Army and are active in 10 of their Adult Rehabilitation Centers. Don’t miss this powerful conversation! Subscribe to stay updated on our latest episodes and be inspired by extraordinary journeys of resilience and hope!
Be sure to follow the Crazy Amazing Humans podcast on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, our website or wherever you listen. Go find us, hit subscribe, and then you’ll be notified about our latest Crazy Amazing Humans podcast episode.
Be Part of the Crazy Amazing Humans Community:
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: bit.ly/3hGk32N
Website: crazyamazinghumans.com
Our Linktree: bit.ly/CAHLinktree
Listen & subscribe:
Apple Podcast: bit.ly/CAHPodApple
Spotify: bit.ly/CAHSpotify
Google: bit.ly/CAHPodGoogle
Instagram: bit.ly/2Zkk06V
Facebook: bit.ly/2ZpA2wq
