Shante' Richardson: The Author of 'Surviving the Sentence'
Stepping into the spotlight at She Buzzin is Shante’ Richardson, author and creator of The prison Wives Society. Essential to women empowerment, Shante’ is making waves by sharing her important insights and practical advice to navigate the unique journey of being a prison wife. Shante showcases her inspiring approach as a beacon of hope, while building resilience and personal growth within this frequently misunderstood group.
Shante’ Richardson founded the Prison Wives Society after developing a deep understanding of the prison wife experience. This thriving forum provides support, understanding, and a sense of belonging to women in similar situations. Women can find solace in society, connect with others who share their experience, and have access to vital tools for self-care, self-empowerment, and personal growth.
Additionally, her educational experience in Biological Science and Mathematics influenced her distinct perspective, in addition to her occupation as an advocate and author. Her strong work ethic, paired with her expertise in the dental industry, has resulted in her approach to assisting prison spouses with understanding, compassion, and a drive to speak for their needs. Shante's steadfast passion goes beyond empowering individuals; she also campaigns for criminal justice reform.
In fact, Shante’ Richardson's latest e-book, Surviving the Sentence: A Guide for Prison Wives, draws on her personal experiences to provide pearls of wisdom. Serving as a road map for those facing the trials of loving someone behind bars. This thorough guide gives support, inspiration, and practical guidance for prison spouses, allowing them to negotiate their path with strength and grace.
Nonetheless, Shante’ understands the intricate details and stigmas associated with these relationships because of her persistent dedication to the prison wife community. Her e-book confirms her commitment to providing a secure space for women who may find it difficult to publicly discuss their position as prison wives. In doing so, she encourages and empowers others to do so. She encourages women to embrace their resilience and embark on a journey of personal growth by sharing her personal stories, insights, and efficient methods.
Overall, if you’re interested in learning more, Surviving the Sentence: A Guide for Prison Wives is available for purchase through The Prison Wives Society's website. Along with additional resources and information about Shante Richardson's remarkable journey. Discover the power of resilience and personal growth as a prison wife by checking it out. Furthermore, get familiar with Shante’ Richardson below as we had the amazing opportunity to sit down and discuss her motivational movement.
Interview with Shante Richardson
“Hey Shante’! Thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today on behalf of She Buzzin Magazine! As ladies are leading in all industries, let’s jump right in and talk all about your careers, your business endeavors, community giveback and more! First, for those tuning in for the first time, who is Shante’ Richardson and where did it all begin?”
Yes, I am the owner of the prison wife society. Okay, I created this company because I am a prison wife myself. I see the disadvantages and the things that we go through as women, with isolation, with judgment, with insecurities, and things of that nature of us having our partners incarcerated. So I just decided to create a company because I knew for me, honestly, enough was enough. Enough of hiding, enough of feeling insecure, misunderstood, judged and so many other things. I decided to say, you know what, I know there's many women out there that feels the same way that I feel. I know that they need solace. I know that we need support so that's what I wanted to bring to them.
”Motivating the masses through your platform, The Prison Wives Society, could you tell us all about its inspiration and how other women could get involved if interested?”
There are many different components to the Prison Wife Society, we can start off with the support group. We have a support group for women, you can go over to our Facebook platform. Also we do different things and we have different products as well. So if you go to Prisonwifesociety.com, we have acclamation and gratitude journals. This journal is to cultivate a positive mindset to build on, you know, just affirming your gratitude, changing and shifting your mindset while you are on this journey. Because it's not an easy journey, we have partnered up with the National Paralegal Center, which is giving low-cost legal services to the customers and partners as well.
I don't only focus on women, we're here to reduce recidivism. That is the goal. We don't want our partners to go back to prison. And there are things that we can cultivate, so that they can be better is the ripple effect, right? So partnering with the National Paralegal Center, it was able to give us the opportunity to do case diagnostics for a low cost of about $650. These court services, just to look at your cases, to see if you have anything going on if you can appeal, if you get a shorter sentence is $3,500 to $4,000, just to look at the case and not even do any legal work towards the case. So we're helping women and families, we have the advocate part for that. Because as the Prison Wife Society, we're going to advocate for the family members, any questions, any concerns that they have, we are here for them.
Also we're going to venture off into financial management as well to help women with understanding their finances. Because this is a very taxing community, we have to take care of home, we have to take care of our children, we have to take care of our husbands. As well as sending packages, traveling, phone, all of those things that we may not necessarily know how to manage our money and our finances.
“Further embarking on your encouraging and empowering movements, you’re also a published author. Please tell us more about your e-book — Surviving the Sentence: A Guide for Prison Wives.”
I also have a book, it's called Surviving the Sentence. Surviving the Sentence is a guide for prison wives, this is going to help the wives on their journey. This is like a tool, you know, just so that they can navigate step by step on their journey just with different aspects of how to communicate. In addition to how to deal with advocacy and activism, as well as how to deal with different aspects of life. So, you know, that's what I'm doing with the platform.
“What would you say is the hardest part as a role of a prison wife and what advice do you have to share with other women in similar situations?”
When people think of being with someone incarcerated, they automatically go physical, right? But it is emotional and mental. And yes, you know, sometimes people say you choose to be in this, you know, in this lifestyle, but you can't choose to be with who you love. That's in or out of prison. But what I will tell women, young women, like myself, is to focus on you, you can do both. Focus on you, focus on building your dreams, focus on the confidence within, focus on building in all of the aspects that you need, so that you can face the insecurities because it happens. You know, a person has that person that they could only talk to you for 30 minutes, maybe an hour, some 15 minutes only. But you have to start to communicate. Me and my husband, we communicate daily, we talk to each other. How did that trigger you? How did this make you feel? Okay, when I do this, what are you feeling, you know, we talk to each other. It's always us versus the problem. It's never going to be us against each other.
Our goal is to elevate, even while he's in prison, he's strong, his mental and emotional strength is strong, he has to be that way, me as the wife, I need to be that way too. And it's not easy. There's nights when I'm lonely. There's nights when I feel insecure, there's days when I don't even want to get up. Because I'm emotionally overwhelmed, but that's when I created the journal for women so that we can start cultivating gratitude, affirming ourselves. When you do that, it creates a ripple effect, a positive ripple effect, so that now that you're incarcerated, a loved one can say, You know what, she's building herself, she's doing the work at this point, you know what, I can do it too, because it's all about the company that you keep, right? And I'm the closest thing to you, as a wife, You are the closest thing to your partner. So you have to focus on yourself. Throughout this journey focus on how you communicate, how you act, how you talk, how you do all these things, so that they can see a positive guide, so that you guys can elevate together.
So that's what I would tell women to focus on yourself. That is what happens: focus on yourself, so that you can ignite that change and reduce recidivism. Because there's so many things that reduce a man's chance of going back to prison. But I will say that to women, and I'll just keep it short like this, if you're incarcerated partner for instance, went to prison for selling drugs this is just the example right? You come home to nothing, right? You're behind on bills, you come home to nothing, you know? What is the man that loves you gonna say, You know what, wait, I know what to do. Build yourself, follow your dreams, put effort in everything that you're doing, because when he comes home, it is going to ignite a flame within him.
“As a wife, author, and businesswoman, how do you balance work and love so beautifully? “
It's not easy. It is not easy and I'm not going to pretend that it's easy. However, I have a system. I have a system in place that I put upon myself, and I put upon my relationship. Okay, so I work a full time job, I do Prison Wife Society, I'm a mother and a wife as well. It takes you know me to structure my life, you know what I mean? so that I can be able to cover all my bases to do what I need to do. That's just what it is. It is all about a system. It's all about being strategic or being intentional about your life.
If you want something, you can do it. You just have to know what to do. Make a list and try to execute it. And you know what, listen, I can look like I haven't altogether, but I don't. But at the end of the day, if you check off something or do something even if 15 minutes a day towards your dreams, or with your relationship. If you want your relationship to be more healthier, do something 15 minutes a day to create a healthy, and better healthy relationship. As far as work, your children and yourself are the same. Do something to build yourself up every single day, even if it's 15 minutes a day, even if there's some type of self care routine. Whatever that is for you -- do it every single day, you will be a better person for it.
“Excited to hear more — what’s next for Shante’ Richardson in 2023?”
With the Prison Wife Society, our goal is to get in front of the masses, so people could understand the family dynamic of being with someone incarcerated. We are a part of the criminal justice system, we make sure things are happening behind the scenes. So I want to catapult us into new realms, more speaking to the masses, and in publications like yours so that people can be familiar with all of the avenues when it comes to social justice. Because we are on the frontlines advocating for our loved ones, we are there championing them and for their success, we are building them up, we are the reasons a lot of them are successful when they come home, and wanting to do better with themselves and their lives.
So you know, I want to just put that out on Front Street for them. I want to create an atmosphere where if they need help, when they need peace, where they need solace, they can come to the Prison Wife Society, to get legal services, financial management, coaching, and mentoring one on one to help them cultivate a healthy relationship and healthy balance between work, motherhood, relationships and all the dreams that they want in their life. So that's what I'm hoping to bring towards the Prison Wife Society.
“Lastly, is there a message that you’d like yo leave with fans?”
I know this life can be very difficult. I know it can be stressful. I know it can be overwhelming. But sis, you got this. You got this! You are strong, you are capable. You can do everything that anyone else can do. I know that it can be a lot on you, but take care of your mental health. Take care of your spiritual health, take care of the emotional well being - it is going to benefit you and your partner in the long run. You got this! Yes. it's Te'
