Utah Department of Corrections (UDC)
Project Overview:
Our Kindness Matters classes at the Utah Department of Corrections provide incarcerated individuals with tools to strengthen empathy, resilience, and positive connection. The program is structured into a series of interactive sessions that explore themes such as kindness to self, inclusion, dignity, leadership, and the impact of small acts of compassion. Through discussions, reflective activities, and creative expression, participants gain practical strategies for building healthier relationships and preparing for reintegration into their communities. By fostering a culture of respect and understanding, the Kindness Matters program supports personal growth, reduces conflict within facilities, and helps lay the foundation for long-term transformation.
Program:
- Participants engaged in sessions including Kindness is Its Own Reward, Circles of Inclusion, Dignity and Art, Leadership and Survival of the Kindest, Kindness and Other People, Kindness Gives Us Superpowers, and Kind to Yourself.
- Inmates recognize peers performing kind acts by giving Caught Being Kind cards. Once an inmate accumulates 10 cards, a letter and a commemorative coin are sent home to a family member or friend, reinforcing positive behavior and extending kindness beyond the facility.
- (Link to Resource Page)
Kindness Matters Course
This award-winning course was researched and developed by OKAAD. It seeks to demonstrate the power of kindness and provide tools for the inmates to improve their communities. Because OKAAD is fully funded we don’t sell our classes but offer the materials for free. It involves weekly discussions, journaling, homework assignments, and more. With our limited human resources we have taught over 147 classes and roughly 350 inmates have graduated.
Caught Being Kind Cards
As an actionable item for inmates to encourage kindness in their communities we provide “Caught Being Kind” cards. When inmates see something kind they stop, recognize, and celebrate that moment by giving a card. When an inmate earns 10 cards OKAAD sends a letter and Kindness Coin to a person of the inmate’s choice (family, friend, etc.) This has had an amazing impact connecting inmates to their loved ones. We have printed tens of thousands of cards which have been shared with inmates, volunteers, officers, staff, and some inmates have even mailed cards to their families to use at home. This has been an impactful program for inmates to encourage and call out positive behaviors in their living areas.
SOLID Core Curriculum
The inmates in SOLID adapted our curriculum to be taught as one of their core curriculum classes. SOLID Inmate instructors teach these classes in the living spaces to the inmates where volunteers typically can’t go. 230 inmates have graduated from the SOLID Kindness Core Curriculum class.
Weekly Prompt
Every week One Kind Act sends a kindness prompt to the inmate tablet system. It includes a quote and a situational specific prompt. Over 400 inmates have signed up for this and receive these prompts.
SOLID Media Team
In a partnership with SOLID, OKAAD donated an extensive list of film equipment so that they could film and create a documentary. The teaser for this documentary won three silver Telly Awards. This initiative is helping to kickstart a vocational training program that trains inmates on media job skills. In addition to the teaser they may a feature length documentary that won Audience Choice Award at the Utah International Film Festival. It was also screened for the State Legislature on January 27th.
9/11 Day of Service
As part of the National 9/11 Day of Service the UDC is doing the first 9/11 service project ever to happen in a correctional facility. Inmates were given the opportunity to donate funds to purchase hygiene items which will be donated outside of the prison to victims of recent floods in Texas. Despite the financial limitations and small salaries, inmates donated over $6,000. Outside partners, Summit Global Investments and OKAAD, were able to donate additional funds. With all that together 750 toiletry kits were packaged by inmates on September 10th. These went out to help the very communities many of the inmates came from.
Our Partnership in Action
UDC Gallery
Testimonials:
“We are all born with kindness. Kindness is a common denominator that we all have” – Khosrow B. Semnani (Founder of OKAAD)
“Inmates that you would think are a rough crowd of people are looking for efforts of kindness.” – Officer Golder
“Looking for positive acts of kindness and gratitude, teaches you appreciate what you don’t typically see.” – Pate (Kindness Matters Participant)
“We never know what someone is thinking or going through, so if I do one kind act, I can change someone’s life.” – Da-Vee (Kindness Matters Participant)