WORKSHOPS: STORYTELLING + HEALING THROUGH CAKE
Los Angeles County State Prison | 20 men serving life without the possibility of parole | 9/9/19
Rikers Correctional Facility | 26 female-identifying inmates | 10/18/19
"I was more than excited to welcome Rose McAdoo into our culinary workshop at Lancaster State Prison, where a group of 20 men use stories, recipes, and memories around food to promote self-love, healing, and transformation. Not only was Rose’s workshop impeccably planned, but it was also thoughtfully crafted to fit the prison setting and meet the unique needs of
a group of men serving life sentences.
This opportunity to use cake as a canvas for self-expression should be considered seriously as a means to promote restorative justice practices and we welcome her back whenever that may be."
- Lucy Copp, group sponsor + outside facilitator with California State Prisons
"I was more than excited to welcome Rose McAdoo into our culinary workshop at Lancaster State Prison, where a group of 20 men use stories, recipes, and memories around food to promote self-love, healing, and transformation. Not only was Rose’s workshop impeccably planned, but it was also thoughtfully crafted to fit the prison setting and meet the unique needs of
a group of men serving life sentences.
This opportunity to use cake as a canvas for self-expression should be considered seriously as a means to promote restorative justice practices and we welcome her back whenever that may be."
- Lucy Copp, group sponsor + outside facilitator with California State Prisons
"I will never forget what you taught me....for those few minutes I will forever be grateful. When you said 'you can make a social statement with your food', when you went on to explain how everyone loves cake, and how food can get you in the door even when they didn't initially want to let you in...it hit me like one of the dopest lyrics I've ever heard...
it made me say 'Dayyyummm! That's deep.' You are an inspiration. Thank you.
After I am released I know sweet desserts will be a part of my path. You influenced that decision. The way you held that slice up..."look at how that crust holds!" You made me feel like I was the winner on ABC's The Great American Bake Off. That was a great day for me."
-Dontay Hayes, inmate (and creator of these cakes) at Lancaster State Prison
*This excerpt is from a letter mailed to me after the workshop.
it made me say 'Dayyyummm! That's deep.' You are an inspiration. Thank you.
After I am released I know sweet desserts will be a part of my path. You influenced that decision. The way you held that slice up..."look at how that crust holds!" You made me feel like I was the winner on ABC's The Great American Bake Off. That was a great day for me."
-Dontay Hayes, inmate (and creator of these cakes) at Lancaster State Prison
*This excerpt is from a letter mailed to me after the workshop.
"From the dirty concrete of Lancaster State Prison, a Rose broke through...and she brought cakes."
- Lester Polk, inmate (and head baker) at Lancaster State Prison
"I never would of thought that a day in prison could be so sweet. Thank you Rose."
-Juan Carlos Tercero, inmate at Lancaster State Prison
"Being incarcerated actually opened up a few channels in my creativity.
I feel anyone - no matter the circumstances - deserves to be creative."
- Anonymous inmate at Rikers Correctional Facility
"Just because I'm incarcerated doesn't mean I'll never make it."
- Sonia Rodriguez, inmate at Rikers Correctional Facility
**All inmates named, photographed, and/or quoted have given their permission to be identified.