The I Am Beautiful project invites women in prison to share their writings and art to be considered for an annual publication entitled “I Am Beautiful.” Their contributions make this book a work of their own. It also allows them to help other women in prisons across the country who may be struggling with the trauma of abuse.

This project represents the personal contributions of women inmates across the country who sent us their writings and art regarding their experiences of abuse.

The project encourages them to express their past experiences, their road to survival over abuse, and their opportunity to make a difference in the lives of other women in prison who have experienced indignity and violence at the hands of others, often from those who were supposed to love them.

It is our hope that other women who read these books will be encouraged to find their own beauty and find what others have shared as a source of healing, and they learn to stand on their dignity as human beings worthy of respect.