(Picture from Canada.com)

I came across this story here about InsideArt Cooperative, a Canadian social enterprise that is trying to attempt reform of current and former prison inmates by giving them the skills to create and market their artworks. It looks like a great enterprise, especially considering how difficult it is for former inmates to work once they are out of prison.

InsideArt is the first organization in the world to move beyond institutionally run work programs to assist offenders to establish and operate their own businesses while they are still in prison. While sanctioned by the Correctional Service of Canada, InsideArt is not a government program, but an incorporated cooperative established to market and sell the work of its member owners. Each member artist is a private business owner. While the majority of members are inmates, the cooperative also represents a growing number of successful community based artists.

We could certainly use a few of these programs south of the border with our prison population soaring every day, largely through the imprisonment of nonviolent offenders. The quality of art seems pretty high as well.

The production of art has long been known for its power to heal. Through their art, offenders gain new perspectives on their past and find new hope for their future as lawful, self-sufficient, and contributing members of society. Their journey continues as they learn how to establish and operate a legitimate business enterprise. The revenue they generate is used to pay room and board, and is subject to income tax, even while they are still in prison. They pay for their own business expenses from sales of their artwork.

These artists also begin to give back to the community by donating their art to non-profit organizations including Ronald McDonald House, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Big Brothers / Big Sisters and the Breast Cancer Foundation. The donated items include elaborate carved chests, furniture, and paintings, enabling these community charitable organizations to raise much needed funding.

In other social enterprise news ...

*Unemployed dropouts in Glasgow, Scotland learn community skills through traveling to Poland to work on community projects.

*Youth Creations in Yorkshire, England is a group of youngsters producing and selling handmade greeting cards with the aim of using the money to fund their youth group and achieve sustainability.

*The Prosperity Project ... an open source social enterprise.

*A recycling service in Minnesota hopes a new law will help boost growth.

*New coffee shop established in Edinburgh, Scotland aims to help the homeless.

*Have Fun, Do Good looks at the UN Development Fund for Women and support for women-owned businesses in Rwanda.

*Be sure to check in at YourGreenDream, a free source of information on how to create your own homemade projects on solar, hydro, wind, tidal, geothermal or other green power.

*New website in the UK helps refugees to set up businesses.

*Timbuktu Chronicles surveys Mad Imports, a socially responsible company selling handmade art and accessories from Madagascar and Kenya.

*Citizen Brand takes a look at an enterprise called Masks Exhibition, which auctions off masks made by celebrities as well as other art with proceeds going to charitable causes.