CCWF’s polyprogrammers embrace growth mindset

What is a polyprogrammer? Poly derives from the Greek word polys, which means “many.” A programmer in Central California Women’s Facility (CCWF) translates to someone who is attending their prison assignments.

Putting poly and programmer together has created a concept used often at CCWF. A polyprogrammer is an individual who has to utilize their time productively and is consistent with their behavior; someone who has a focus and direction for his or her future.

The commonality among the polyprogrammers interviewed is that they find joy in giving back to the community through their work, although it is tiring and requires balancing many responsibilities.

One such polyprogrammer is Amy Preasmyer. A resident of CCWF for almost two decades, Preasmyer arrived at CCWF with a life without the possibility of parole (LWOP) sentence.

Preasmyer chose to become a polyprogrammer without the potential benefits of one day being physically free. She did it in honor of her victims, for her family, and for herself. And wonderfully, she was resentenced to 15-life in 2022.

At 5 a.m, the alarm buzzes; Preasmyer starts her day. She looks around the room for signs of life. Her roommates, all immersed in their activities, pay no attention to Preasmyer as she grabs her shower stuff to start her day.

Preasmyer was recently assigned to the Integrated Substance Use Disorder Treatment (ISUDT) program, which includes Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Life Skills classes, and she serves as the Inmate Advisory Council’s (IAC) executive chairperson.

The ISUDT program teaches curricula such as “Thinking for Change” and “Victim Impact.” Her IAC duties include creating agendas for different institutional departmentas well as advocating for implementation of policy and procedures. Preasmyer is also a full-time student in CSU Fresno.

According to Preasmyer, “It is an amazing feeling to be able to leave prison with a Bachelor’s degree, the same degree my child has. I feel like a normal person and can finally offer society my dependability, worth, trust, work ethic, and my integrity.”

What motivates Preasmyer is the desire to be free and home with her family and to become a neighbor that looks out for her neighborhood.

“Here, I know everyone down my hall,” Preasmyer said. “Out there, people do not know their neighbors. I want to be the neighbor that consoles you when you are grieving; I want to be the neighbor that brings unity and safety.”

Erica Hitchcock, another polyprogrammer, has been in prison for more than 20 years and did not adopt the polyprogrammer mindset right away. Today, she wakes up every day at 4:30 a.m. and gets ready to go to her Occupational Mentorship Certification Program (OMCP) training to become a Certified Alcohol and Other Drugs Counselor. She also attends Merced College three times per week.

“Being a polyprogrammer is my sanity,” Hitchcock said. “It holds me accountable and keeps the mindset of determination for success so I will not struggle with transitions when I am released and go to work.”

Hitchcock surrounds herself with positive, like-minded people that keep her motivated. Other things that motivate Hitchcock are her higher power, physical freedom, stability, health, family, and her vision of being successful.

Unique Bishop, another polyprogrammer, wakes up at 5:30 a.m. every morning and says her prayers. After her morning preparations, she goes to the dining hall to get her breakfast and then goes for her OMCP training.

Bishop is part of an Inmate Leisure Time Activity Group, attends multiple self-help classes, and soon will obtain an associate’s degree from Merced College. She plans to work inside prisons with Amity, a nonprofit group that provides OMCP training and work with people who struggle with substance use on army bases.

“Polyprogrammers are invested in themselves,” Bishop stated. “They are dedicated to change and promote healthy lifestyles.”

“I used to make fun of polyprogrammers,” Bishop said. “Now I am one of them and embrace the ridicule because I used to do it.” She used to mock them because it made her feel better about herself. She did it out of insecurity and because she had a confused perception about who the “cool kids” were.

Bishop shared she can hardly wait to be physically free and live a prosocial life out there. “I will be a helpful neighbor,” she said. “I will be one of those neighborhood-watch old ladies that keeps people safe. When we care about our community, our community starts caring.”

Tien Mo is another example of a polyprogrammer who works tirelessly and does not get in trouble.

“When I first transferred from Valley State Prison to CCWF in early 2012, I did not have the polyprogrammer mentality,” Mo said. “I was hopeless. Becoming a polyprogrammer helped me with not feeling hopeless.”

She didn’t believe in herself that she can do anything different with her life and her circumstances defined her as a person.

Mo has an LWOP sentence; however, that does not stop her from being a polyprogrammer. She maintains a full-time job in Prison Industry Authority (PIA) Dental, recently graduated from CSU Fresno with a bachelor’s degree and is a member of a few outside organizations.

Mo does not know when her day is going to come to be physically free, but she does not want to miss the boat.

Today, Mo has built an incredible work ethic and holds a leadership position at PIA Dental. When she paroles, it will not be a culture shock.

“I am excited for tomorrow,” Mo said. “Yesterday’s no is today’s maybe and yesterday’s maybe is today’s yes. To have hope requires discipline. You must put work into it. Without work, hope is just a dream.”

After a long day filled with service and programs geared toward self-growth, Mo goes back to her room too tired to eat or shower but does it anyway and crawls under the covers already making plans about what tomorrow will look like. She falls asleep with a smile on her face.