Voices of Transformation: ISU Choirs Build Community Inside and Out

Published November 15, 2025 at 11:17 AM MST

This episode of ISU Impact, hosted by Dean Kandi Turley-Ames, highlights the inspiring outreach work of ISU’s choral program, featuring Dr. Jeff Francom and music education student Amaya Heath. The conversation explores the impact of ISU choirs both on campus and in the broader community, with a special focus on their innovative choir initiative at the Pocatello Women’s Correctional Facility.

Dr. Francom discusses the program’s rapid growth, the creation of beginner and advanced choirs at the prison, and the transformative benefits for incarcerated women who participate. Amaya shares her perspective as a student intern, reflecting on how leading the prison choir has shaped her as an educator and deepened her sense of empathy. The episode also covers ISU choir trips, upcoming performances, and how music fosters connection, healing, and new beginnings for all involved. Listeners will hear real stories of personal growth, hope, and the care ethic guiding ISU’s community engagement through the arts.