examining art as a tool for reimagining alternatives to incarceration and as a means of rehabilitation for systems-impacted individuals.
Michael has been incarcerated since he was 17, and today he’s in his 23rd year of a 69-years-to-life prison sentence. Growing up, he was abandoned by his biological father, who refused to accept his son, though Michael longed for a relationship. Forced to raise Michael alone, his mother showed him love in only the most basic ways: providing food and housing—nothing else.
He vividly remembers the first thing he made—a blue Sonic the Hedgehog for his son, Ace. Michael mailed it to him, and by the time he got a chance to call, Ace had already opened it. Over the phone, the boy kept exclaiming, “Oh my god, I can’t believe you made this yourself. It’s so cool!” Hearing his son’s excitement made Michael happy as a father, and he felt proud of what he had done for his child. He never wanted his son to not have that feeling.
I’ll admit, sometimes I joke with the guys about crocheting, referring to it as knitting and telling them it’s something for old ladies, not tattooed former gang members. They usually respond by saying: “It’s not crocheting, it’sFor all of these men, crocheting is an outlet for their frustrations, their fears; it’s a place to channel their joy and even their love into something constructive.
One of these men was Frank Garcia, a 40-year-old sentenced to 40 years to life in 2005 for the attempted murder of a peace officer. Frank says he still feels shame for committing this crime against a person who was there to protect others—it’s something he deeply regrets and has worked hard to come to terms with. He can’t take it back, but he says he can choose to live his life in an attempt to do better.
Entertainment Entertainment Latest News, Entertainment Entertainment Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: TheAVClub - 🏆 340. / 59 Read more »
Source: LIFE - 🏆 148. / 63 Read more »