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Once a week, Celina Baskett drives out to the to teach art to small groups of male inmates. From drawing lines and shapes to understanding light and shade, every lesson is tailored to the learning appetite of the students of the day.

Baskett, a criminology graduate and emerging artist, is no stranger to using art as a way of conveying her own perspective, a self-discovery tool that can transport her mind to a place of infinite possibilities. She has been drawing and creating digital art for quite some years now, and although she considers herself an amateur artist, art is part of her identity.

“Art is about making mistakes, and a lot of people are like—no, I can’t do this because I messed up a line—It’s not like that. You can erase it and you can try again,” she says. “Art is a good tool to promote a growth mindset. It is a way of showing you ‘no, you can come back from this because there's a way to change the line, there's a way to draw over it and make something beautiful’.”

It was during CRIM 343: Correctional Practice with professor Danielle Murdoch that Baskett heard about volunteer opportunities at the SPSC, when staff from the correctional centre came to speak as guest lecturers. They shared some of the programs they have in place to help the inmate population develop practical skills and mentioned they always welcome volunteers who are willing to share any skills, such as stretching, resume writing, money management, art lessons, and more. Inspired, Baskett took the leap and submitted her portfolio to volunteer with the centre.

Reflecting on her first day at the SPSC nearly a year ago, Baskett recalls a mix of nervousness and uncertainty, which gradually faded away as she connected with her students through the common language of art.

According to Anita Varan, assistant deputy warden of programs at the SPSC, the incarcerated population always respond differently to civilians who come into the facility to share their knowledge and skills, however, the relationship between SFU and Surrey Pretrial has proven beneficial to provide practical programming in hopes of reducing recidivism.

“Celina is an excellent addition to our volunteer team. She is humble yet talented and has such a positive outlook,” says Varan. “She does not hesitate to offer her knowledge and talent. Truly gifted.”

Baskett’s contributions not only included art lessons, but she also designed and painted two murals inside the correctional facility. Initially envisioned as collaborative projects with the inmates, logistical challenges transformed them into solo endeavours.

Through her volunteer work, Baskett has reinforced a core personal belief: the kindness you put out into the world always comes back.

“In my art classes, I’ve seen participants transform from doubting their abilities to encouraging one another,” Baskett says. “The best way to get people to be kind and to uplift each other is to be kind first. And I think that's honestly one of the most important things in life, especially if you are working with people who are tired and angry and probably a little scared.”

As a criminology student, Baskett was invested in learning and understanding the myriad of theories behind law and how they have historically shaped the definition of justice. For her, the most engaging classes were those that emphasized diverse perspectives. She feels her education at SFU Criminology has equipped her with the framework to empathize with both inmates and staff, allowing her access to the current understanding of what strategies are most effective in deterring crime and encouraging rehabilitation.

Looking to the future, Baskett aspires to become a correctional counsellor, after gaining some work experience in the field. She also plans to return to SFU to pursue a master’s degree.

“I am happy even if I only impact one person’s life, as long as I impact it positively. In the field of criminology, that can range from systematic changes to listening as someone tells their story,” she says. “Kindness builds up and ripples out.”

As Celina Baskett prepares for a meaningful career dedicated to fostering empathy, her aspirations for systemic change embody the spirit of a new generation of criminologists motivated to make a difference in the justice system.