Bleed Through follows Malarie Lindhorst as she puts her master’s thesis into practice with the Kansas nonprofit Arts In Prison. Her research led her to understand that prison inmates can be taught both empathy and compassion by embracing roles from film, television and theater.

The nonprofit provides arts education and experiences for inmates in Kansas state prisons and detention centers so these often forgotten members of society can have a chance for self-reflection and an opportunity to create something beautiful. Whether it is a song, a stage performance, a photograph or a painting, they can create something that brings joy to others.

These positive experiences allow incarcerated people to begin to have hope, which is what allows them to believe that they will get out of prison and lead positive, productive lives on the outside.