Featured Story
Jesse, 37
“I’ve seen people lose themselves in here. Prison can change people for the worst. I never wanted that to be me.”
Terry, 30
Meet Terry... Now, I can say with pride who I am. Who would’ve known that at 14 years old, I would be viewed as an adult in the adult courts? Who would've known that I would be misled into taking a 40-to-life plea deal? Who would’ve known that at...
Anthony “Ant”, 37
Meet Anthony "Ant"... Going to the board of prison terms is a paradox of feeling and emotions. My mentors tell me to be truthful and you will be fine, but when you do tell the truth it gets questioned. Five of us put our lives on the line to clean...
Willie, 67
Meet Willie... At ten, I was placed in a foster home where I met kids who were just like me, scared and detached. For the first time I felt there was nothing wrong with me, I took to them like glue to paper. Shortly after giving birth to me, my...
Michael, 60
Meet Michael... I could feel my abuse and helplessness as a child, silenced by the control and power I felt while robbing a bank. At 14 I was caught getting high at school. Watching the dean hand me my expelled letter, left me terrified. All I...
Kevin, 57
Meet Kevin... When you lose someone in prison who made life more cool in this messed-up-way to live, it’s a big loss. Freaky Pete was like a pawn shop, you could buy or sell anything through Freaky. If you were bored he could tell you a million...
Michael 59
Meet Michael... Empathy was a hard concept for me to receive initially, since I had become a selfish shallow type of man. I recognize that validations and affirmation of my value and worth have to be recognized from within. All alone I am enough....
Tien, 31
Meet Tien... Silence fills the air as my mother struggles to respond. Yet, in this moment she didn’t need to say a word, her warm embrace was enough. This is the first time I said these words to my mother, and it’s the first time I felt a genuine...
Joe, 36
Meet Joe... I am a high functioning autistic, and here they treat me as an equal and I’ve been able to learn and flourish. I work the front counter at the library. When I first started, my supervisors noticed how well I saw the shelves. I have...
Raheem, 45
Meet Raheem... I want people to look at me, as a human being, I have made mistakes, but I am not defined by those mistakes. When I think of you taking a picture of me in prison blues, the first thing that comes to my mind is a number, but I’m more...
Louis, 48
Meet Louis... I realize that I’m proud of myself, because I’m not running from my pain. I have a peace within myself now that I didn't have before the grey hairs. When I look in the mirror now I do a double take. I feel like my grey hair is a...