Ideas Worth Spreading: “Turning Keys” in a Washington prison

By Kelli Bush, SPP Program Manager

On March 15, 2014 Monroe Correctional Complex in Monroe, Washington will host a TEDx event. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design; it’s is a non-profit organization committed to sharing “ideas worth spreading” through lectures. TEDx talks are held at locations around the world. The event at Monroe will feature presentations from inmates, corrections staff, and community members. The theme of the event is “Turning Keys,” which will describe how many small and relatively quick changes can result in significant positive outcomes in the corrections system.

Turning Keys 2There will be two talks featuring SPP’s programs. Dr. Carri LeRoy, Co-Director of SPP and Evergreen faculty member, will present on the transformative qualities of SPP programs and Mr. Nick Hacheney will highlight his experience as an inmate managing the vermicomposting program at Monroe Corrections Complex. Mr. Dan Pacholke, Co-Director of SPP and Assistant Secretary of WA Dept. of Corrections, will present on how small changes can alter the future of prisons.

Over the past several weeks SPP staff have assisted with preparation for all three talks. The talks are presented without notes and require lots of practice and polishing along the way.  Mr. Hacheney and another inmate have been preparing a beautiful CD Rom that will include a wealth of information about the vermicomposting program and SPP. The CD will be available to audience members at the presentation. Space to attend the live presentation is extremely limited, but the event will be recorded and available for viewing online—we will be sure to share that video as soon as it is available!

SPP’s TEDx presenters

Dr. Carri LeRoy

Dr. Carri LeRoy (right), faculty at The Evergreen State College and Co-Director of SPP, prepares for a talk at SPP's ten year celebration. Photo by Dani Winder.

Dr. Carri LeRoy (right), faculty at The Evergreen State College and Co-Director of SPP, prepares for a talk at SPP’s ten year celebration. Photo by Dani Winder.

Mr. Dan Pacholke

Dan Pacholke, Assistant Secretary for Washington Dept. of Corrections and SPP Co-Director, talks with Lyle Morse, Director of Correctional Industries, at the SPP National Conference in 2012. Photo by SPP staff.

Dan Pacholke (right), Assistant Secretary for Washington Dept. of Corrections and SPP Co-Director, talks with Lyle Morse, Director of Correctional Industries, at the SPP National Conference in 2012. Photo by SPP staff.

Mr. Nick Hacheney

Nick Hacheney, lead worm farmer at Monroe Correctional Complex, discusses methods with SPP Program Manager, Kelli Bush. The worm farm is amazingly clean and sweet-smelling; it only smells of food waste for a few hours a week, right after it has been put into the vermicomposting bins. Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Nick Hacheney, lead worm farmer at Monroe Correctional Complex, discusses methods with SPP Program Manager, Kelli Bush. The worm farm is amazingly clean and sweet-smelling; it only smells of food waste for a few hours a week, right after the food has been put into the vermicomposting bins. Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Worm breeder bins at Monroe Correctional Complex were constructed from re-used mattress parts; the worms live and breed in "Select Comfort"! Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

Worm breeder bins at Monroe Correctional Complex were constructed from re-used mattress parts; the worms live and breed in “Select Comfort”! Photo by Joslyn Rose Trivett.

4 Comments:

  1. 保育士求人や幼稚園教諭転職の募集情報

    You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the article you write.
    The sector hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to mention how they believe.
    At all times go after your heart.

    Reply to this comment ↓
  2. Ewell Bryan Phillips

    Ms. Trivett,

    I hope, by now you have done some research on the “man” you or the Prison has defined as Head Worm Farmer! There is a much more appropriate title for him: MURDERER! Nick Hacheney a Local Youth Minister at the time Murdered his Young 28 year-old Wife, while having a sexual affair with a member of the Church where he was employed! Mr. Hacheney gave his Young Bride enough Benedryl to make her go to sleep, then suffocated her with a plastic bag. Once he was convinced his wife was dead, he turned an electric space heater on after placing Christmas gift wrapping paper in front of the heater. Shortly thereafter, in order to try to insulate himself from his Evil Actions, Mr. Hacheney went Duck Hunting, hoping to get away with MURDER! He was initially sentenced to Life in Prison, but through an appeals court was resentenced to 26 years and 8 months, less time that Mr. Hacheney allowed his young wife to live! Please do a bit of investigative journalism and see if this “man”, who committed such Evil acts is someone you want your readers to admire for what I conclude you believe is rehabilitative! I find it quite ironic that he’s managing a WORM FARM after BURYING HIS WIFE IN THE GROUND, and was too Worthless to even purchase a headstone for her grave! Surely you can read between the lines at the connection I made from his Young Wife buried in the ground while This Worthless piece of Trash raises WORMS! A single search using his or his Young Wife’s name will validate every statement I’ve made! Please do so! Thank you for reading my remarks!

    Reply to this comment ↓
  3. Joslyn

    Thank you for sharing your views. It’s intense to read your account of Mr Hacheney’s actions. More generally, it is difficult and painful to know that there are awful mistakes in many peoples’ pasts, and all the more that there is no way to go back in time to change them. Our focus is on the shared work and learning of the present, with anyone who is willing and capable.

    Reply to this comment ↓
  4. Kristy

    Nick Hacheney didn’t make a mistake. He INTENTIONALLY and BRUTALLY murdered his wife, Dawn, in cold blood with no remorse. He ripped a sister, a daughter, and a friend away from everyone in her life without care. He didn’t and doesn’t care about the people he hurt. Daw will never get a chance at life SOLELY because of Nick Hacheney. Friends and family will never get to spend another moment with her because of his cold, soul less, heartless, INTENTIONAL actions that were NOT made by mistake. You should be DISGUSTED with yourself for giving him any light and any attention. He deserves to rot and die. He doesn’t deserve a second chance. Dawn doesn’t get one. Her family and friends don’t get one. How DARE YOU!!!! STOP EMPATHIZING WITH MURDERERS.

    Reply to this comment ↓

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