The Freedom to Choose Service Project began in 2004 with a letter from an inmate at the Valley State Prison for Women in Chowchilla, California, reaching out to the University of Santa Monica’s President, Ron Hulnick. USM heard the call to service and answered, “Yes!” What resulted is an inspired, ongoing service project created by Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick and directed by USM Faculty members Drs. David and Bonnie Paul. Twice a year, approximately 50 USM graduate volunteers travel to Chowchilla at their own expense to spend three days with inmates sharing the principles and skills they have learned at USM, thereby passing along the gifts they have received from their USM education.

Freedom to Choose Documentary

This USM documentary shares the story of the Freedom to Choose Workshop that was provided to over 160 inmates at Valley State Prison for Women in March 2007. It highlights the sometimes heartbreaking, yet ultimately uplifting experience of the prisoners who so clearly benefit from this Soul-Centered educational process delivered within the prison environment. Forty-six volunteer graduates from USM’s M.A. Program in Spiritual Psychology traveled to this maximum-security women’s prison (one of the largest in the world) to bring the principles and experiential practices of Spiritual Psychology to the inmates. The film illustrates how the tools and skills taught in the Graduate Program at USM can have a positive impact on anyone regardless of situation, circumstance, or environment.

The Freedom to Choose Workshop was nominated for the 2006 "Exemplary Offender Program Award" sponsored by the American Correctional Association (ACA).

Awards and Acknowledgements for the Freedom to Choose Film

• Winner - Documentary category, 2009 Very Short Movie Festival, December, 31 2009
  The Very Short Movie Festival is held online only and the top films are decided based upon the number of votes that each film receives from the public. View winners here.
• Winner - Documentary category, 2009 Emerging Filmmaker Showcase at the Cannes Film Festival, May 16, 2009
• 2009 West Chester Film Festival, West Chester, Pennsylvania, April 24-26, 2009
• 2009 White Sands Film Festival, Las Cruces, New Mexico, April 23-26, 2009
• 2009 Ventura Film Festival, Ventura, California, March 26-29, 2009
• 2009 Honolulu International Film Festival, Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking, March 13-15, 2009

The FTC short documentary is available for viewing here.