A new documentary amplifying the voices of incarcerated women and challenging the way the world sees women behind prison walls.

Going Inside: HER STORY is a documentary project by the Transformative Justice Center and Humans Being Media, centered on the lives, experiences, and extraordinary resilience of women incarcerated at the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF), one of the largest women's prisons in the world.

Through intimate conversations, personal storytelling, and moments of vulnerability and connection, the film will reveal the human beings behind the prison walls—women who are mothers, daughters, sisters, survivors, artists, and so much more than their convictions.

Because every woman has a story. And every story deserves to be heard.

Beyond the Prison Walls

Women who are incarcerated are among the most overlooked and misunderstood members of our society.

Many have experienced profound trauma, poverty, abuse, addiction, family separation, and systemic injustice. Yet their stories are rarely told in their own voices.

Too often, society sees only the crime, the sentence, or the prison uniform.

Going Inside: HER STORY seeks to change that narrative.

Rather than focusing solely on incarceration, this documentary explores the complexities of women's lives—their childhoods, their losses, their relationships, their hopes, and their journeys toward healing and transformation.

The film asks us to consider a powerful question:

What becomes possible when we stop defining people by their worst moments and begin seeing their full humanity?

From Empathy in Action to HER STORY

This documentary grows out of the Transformative Justice Center's groundbreaking Empathy in Action program, which brings incarcerated individuals and community volunteers together through dialogue, storytelling, reflection, and meaningful human connection.

Our work inside California prisons has shown us something extraordinary: when people are given the opportunity to be seen, heard, and understood, transformation becomes possible.

Building on our award-winning documentary Going Inside: Empathy in Action, we are turning the camera toward women whose voices have too often been silenced.

Through this film, we hope to create a bridge between incarcerated women and the outside world—one built on empathy, understanding, accountability, and hope.

More Than a Documentary. A Movement.

We believe storytelling has the power to change hearts, challenge assumptions, and transform public conversations about incarceration.

Our vision is for Going Inside: HER STORY to reach audiences in theaters, classrooms, universities, community organizations, film festivals, and beyond.

We hope the film will inspire meaningful dialogue about women's incarceration, trauma, healing, family separation, and the possibilities of restorative and transformative justice.

Most importantly, we want the women themselves to be heard.

Not as statistics. Not as stereotypes. But as human beings.

Help Us Make History: 3,000 Associate Producers

We are inviting 3,000 people to become Associate Producers of Going Inside: HER STORY.

Inspired by another groundbreaking documentary that brought together thousands of Associate Producers, we are working toward an ambitious goal: bringing 3,000 supporters together and pursuing a Guinness World Record.

For a contribution of just $100 or more, you can become an Associate Producer and have your name included in the film's credits.

Imagine 3,000 names scrolling across the screen. Three thousand people standing together to say:

We see you. We hear you. You matter. You are more than your past.

Every contribution helps support the film's production and its journey to audiences everywhere.

And through our matching campaign, eligible donations can have twice the impact while matching funds are available.

JOIN THE 3,000. BECOME AN ASSOCIATE PRODUCER.

https://www.every.org/the-transformative-justice-center/f/3000-voices-one-film

Bring HER STORY to Your Community

We envision this documentary as more than a film to watch. We want it to spark conversations, build understanding, and inspire action.

We welcome connections with filmmakers, educators, community organizations, advocates, foundations, and individuals interested in supporting the film, hosting future screenings, or helping bring these stories to wider audiences.

For partnership, sponsorship, and Executive Producer opportunities, please contact:

Megan McDrew
Founder & Executive Director
Transformative Justice Center
mmcdrew@transformativejusticecenter.org