Page 10 - 2016 April Voices
P. 10
Inmates Learn the Art of
Public Speaking through
Toastmasters
by Samantha Swindler
Columnist at The Oregonian / OregonLive.com
Evan Watson stood behind the lectern, Correctional Institution
cleared his throat and introduced himself to chapter of Toastmasters International.
about 20other inmates. Toastmasters is a nonprofit dedicated to
“Good evening, fellow Toastmasters.” elevating the art of public speaking. If you’ve
This was Evan’s first speech – his icebreaker heard of the organization, you might be
– meant as an introduction to the group. picturing businessmen networking at a private
He spoke quietly, but confidently, about club. But there are many different types of
growing up with dyslexia and a stutter. Toastmasters clubs, and one arm of the group
Teachers didn’t know how to help him, does outreach in Oregon prisons.
students laughed at him and his frustration The Columbia River Correctional Institution
led him to act out. club – Rose City Toasters – meets weekly to give
“One of the things I really fear is standing speeches and critiques. Inmates in this Northeast
before people and being made fun of, because Portland prison have four years or less left on
when I was little that really hurt their sentences, so
me a lot,” he said, no trace of the facility’s focus
that childhood stutter in his is on rehabilitation.
voice. “I look back on a lot of I’ve been to public
the problems that I’ve created, schoolrooms
and it has to do with my lack of that looked more
prison‑like than
the Toastmasters
meeting space.
The meetings
are conducted with
the help of civilian
Jason Kent, ACS, ALB and Allen Edinger, volunteers, and one
DTM during club meeting on March 1, 2016 of the regulars is club
coach Jason Kent.
Jason, a civil engineer, joined Toastmasters in
2004 “because I gave a speech at a conference and
I bombed it very badly,” he said. To earn various
designations within Toastmasters International,
Jason needed to help mentor at another club.
communication.” The only nearby club that fit with his work
He doesn’t talk about those problems, but schedule was Rose City Toasters.
the implication is they are part of what landed “I’ll be honest, my first reaction was ‘No, hell
him here, in prison. no, why do I want to be around those folks?’” he
But something else – a desire to be said. “But it took me not long to realize, this is a
a confident speaker – has brought him horizon broadening opportunity for me, and it
specifically to this classroom, on a Tuesday could be a good opportunity for the guys as well.”
evening, to join the Columbia River Jason fulfilled his Toastmaster obligation after
10 Volume 2 Issue 10 - APRIL 2016
