How the Gift of Self-Expression Has Impacted My Life

Dear Reader:

November 13, 2016, was a great experience for me. I had the opportunity to participate in the creative writing workshop with the University of Michigan PCAP Students. This workshop was very meaningful. This was ran by two U of M students named Kaitlin and Hanna. I would also like to acknowledge the coordinator, Ashley. The energy and perspectives that were shared within this class generated a very positive form of therapy because the reality is that in prison, having an outlet to express the things that are on our minds can change our day.

The most exciting part of this workshop for me is being seen as a human being for an hour and a half. In addition, I find it intellectually stimulating to be given things that have some substance to write about as prompts. The creative thoughts that manifest within the students through this workshop are very profound. This encouragement that's being given through this form of expression is something that those who don't understand its significance can't place proper value on.

As an inmate often times we sit and can't deal with our thoughts. Having PCAP staff and students giving this opportunity for us to share our work, gives me and the other guys something positive to look forward to every week. Sometimes in life we don't see any value in the small things like this writing workshop. This program is something that I look forward to.  I hope to some day have the opportunity to be able to give back by giving some of my time to PCAP so that I can help someone feel how I'm feeling right now....motivated!

Sincerely,
Robert

"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." -Scott Adams

Donated Hygiene Items Bring Hope to Sex Traffic Victims in Metro Detroit

I'm a proud Detroit native. I learned a lot of tough life lessons growing up on the streets of Detroit....one of them being how to read people. I pride myself on my sense of perception. It often amazes me how someone can be blindsided by the same trouble that I can see coming from a mile away. However, recently, my sense of perception has been challenged and I want to pass that challenge on. You see, sometimes what we believe we see is really what we want to see and not necessarily what is truly there. Foe example, in Detroit, when you see a certain type of girl on Michigan Avenue at 2 a.m., you make assumptions about why she's there and what she's doing. Short skirt, exposed breast, semi-grungy, stiletto heels.... it's clear she's working the block right? Maybe....but according to the National Human Trafficking Resource Center, in the city of Detroit, it's more likely that the block is working her.

Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery where men, women and children are forced into prostitution, domestic servitude and other labor for little or no pay.  It is the second-largest and fastest-growing criminal industry in the world and Michigan is the No. 2 in the country for human trafficking. Victims of human trafficking are controlled by force, fraud or coercion, for the purpose of sex or labor exploitation.  Statistics show that children are especially at risk being that 40% of human trafficking cases involve the sexual exploitation of a child. In the short span of a moment, an individual's life can be changed forever as they are exploited and trafficked from state to state like cattle.

It's distressing to think that such darkness exists in the city that I came from. However, recently, I learned about an organization in Detroit that is a beacon of light for victims of human trafficking called All Worthy of Love, which is a justice focused non-profit that reaches out to men and women enslaved by street-prostitution.  They work to prevent sex-trafficking through awareness, promote awareness through various speaking engagements at local churches, schools, and small groups to educate the community of modern day slavery, and rescuing victims of trafficking through weekly outreach. All Worthy of Love develops partnerships with local organizations that offer safe housing and restorative care to help victims. The individuals that work on their outreach teams are fearless. A team of 4 go out to the same neighborhood every week. They reach out to men and women working on the street and visit several crack houses to pray with prostitutes, pimps, drug dealers, and gang members.

I was inspired to come up with a way that I could help this cause. I was informed that hygiene items are an outreach tool that's used to help victims so I spearheaded a prison fundraiser to collect hygiene items to donate to All Worthy of Love. I am pleased to say that I was able to achieve my set goal of collecting a couple hundred items to create care packages for 35-40 victims that includes shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, and lip chap. It's my sincere desire that these items would symbolize hope to the victims...a light at the end of a dark tunnel.....a way of letting them know that somebody sees them and somebody cares. I know what it feels like to be in prison and to feel forgotten. I also know what it feels like to receive the gift of hope. It changes everything.

If you know of someone who is being trafficked please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline Number (888-373-7888).

Until Next Time....Live Your Life on Purpose,
Robert

Gus Harrison Correctional Facilty Inmates give over $3000 to Homeless Kids and Domestic Violence Surviors

A wise person once said, “If you don’t like the direction your life is going…change it.” It’s impossible to grow as an individual without embracing change. Complacency is an intellectual prison where too many people are happily serving life sentences. Over the last 15 years of my life, I have had to embrace both changes that I initiated and changes that were impressed upon me. Each change presented me with an opportunity. I could resist change and stunt my growth or I could utilize the change to help transition me further along in my journey for freedom. One of the things that I became mindful of over the years, was always looking for an opportunity to give back whenever possible. Recently, as a warden forum representative at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility, I was given an opportunity to participate in a community initiative that provided $3,000.00 to a local community in need. Giving back to the Lenawee County community has become an annual effort by inmates at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility.

On August 29, 2016, the Warden’s Forum and Prisoner Benefit Fund at Gus Harrison made two donations to two great causes. The money that was given was raised by inmates like myself.  It actually comes from the fund that collects money through inmate food purchases that are made outside of everyday meal times.

The first donation that we made was $3,000 to the Catherine Cobb Domestic Violence Shelter in Adrian. This shelter operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide a place where survivors of domestic violence can go by themselves or with their children and find physical safety in a home-like setting.

The second donation that we made was to the Lenawee Intermediate School District in the form of $3,000 worth of school supplies. The supplies is specifically designated to help homeless students. Surprisingly enough, there are at least 700 of in the county. One of the challenges that keeps these kids from attending school is having the proper supplies.

Both of the organizations that we gave to assist individuals who are at a pivotal point in their lives. We’ve all been at a crossroad in our life.  A place where change was insistent and scary. Some of us had a friend, relative, or kind stranger to make the transition a bit easier. And others of us earned our degree of survival at the school of hard knocks. My utmost desire is that the earnest effort that myself and the other inmates at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility have made to be a blessing to someone facing changes in their life will have a positive impact on the intended individuals and a ripple effect on both this local community and the audience reading this post.

To read the entire story visit

http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20160830/gus-harrison-prisoners-donate-3000-to-two-groups

                      (Copyright: Photo taken by Lonnie Huhman of lenconnect.com)

Until next time….later….

Robert

Is it Possible for Former Felons to Return to their Community and Really Make a Difference?

On 8/27/16, here at Adrain Correctional facility the NLA sponsored an event which invited two guest speakers: Willis X harris and Shirley Bryant of the Michigan Lifer's Reporter. This event was amazing. The turnout of prisoners was surprising to me. I would have never epected some of the people that were present to have an interest in isues dealing with corrections, changing laws, legislations, legislators, and them (legislators) being uninformed when it comes to corrections. Should we view them being uninformed as a lack of interest, is a question that we must ask ourselves.

This event was very informative. One thing that was highlighted was the need for people in prison and in society to be a voice when it comes to something that you are passionate about. Being a voice by, writing letters by mail or on social media, and even peaceful assembly. Most of us will get offended if someone tells us; "sit down and shut up". However this is what we do through our actions and lack of action, most of us just: "sit down and shut up." This is the case even with someone that needs a job, they don't try to find one, they don't ask a friend, do you know someone that's hiring? They just sit down, sit around, and shut up. How many people do you know that have accoplished anything doing that?

I'm hoping that many of them men that were present in the event left feeling inspired to make some sort of change in their personal life, the system, or a change that could have a positive impact on somone else's life. I'm hoping that the men who's hearts were already filled with the desire to make a positve change left feeling recharged. Sometme we need that. There's a question that I really need answered. How can someone returning to your community have a positve impact. How can they contribute? This is a question that needs to be answered, so I'm one to hearing what anyone have to say. Give your honest opinion. Maybe I can be the voice that shares these needs with the guys that will be coming to your community.

Prisoners Host Hygiene-Product Fundraiser for Anti-Human Trafficking Organization in Michigan

Too often people feel that because they can only do a little that they should do nothing. Ironically enough, the truth is that if everyone in the world just committed to doing a little, the world would actually be a LOT better place. Why? Because a little becomes a lot when it is a united effort.

I recently sat down and thought about how I could pay it forward and make a positive impact in someone else's life. Despite the fact that I am currently incarcerated and that I have limited resources, I figured that with enough creativity and support, I could come up with a way of engaging in a productive and impactful effort of some kind. After discussing the idea with some other inmates, a group of us decided to do a fundraiser to collect hygiene products and donate them to a charitable organization call All Worthy of Love, which is a justice focused non-profit that reaches out to men and women enslaved by street-prostitution.

 

I know that our fundraiser may seem like a menial effort to some, but it is really a selfless, earnest, and admirable act from men who are in various precarious positions who just want to spark something good in the world. This our way of helping an organization that works diligently to fight against human trafficking. A deodorant or a bar of soap can mean the world to someone on the street who doesn't have one and we understand that. I commend all of the men at the Gus Harrison Correctional Facility in Adrian, MI who have embraced the opportunity to make a difference in a stranger's life. The mere fact that each man participating is willing to put aside his own personal agenda and consider someone else's needs....to offer a helping hand instead of just reaching out a hand for help....means that the ability to be a positive force still exist within each of them. It means that the innate goodwill in their heart hasn't been stamped out by life's disappointments. Instead, it has preserved...it has survived.

If you're reading this blog post then you are probably already familiar with my story. I am an 32-year-old inmate convicted to life without parole at the age of 17 for a crime that I didn't commit. For the last 15 years, I have been painstakingly working to help prove my innocence. Many people would say that I have the right to be angry....the right to be jaded....the right to be cynical and uncaring because of my circumstances and the way the justice system has failed me. But I beg to differ. Bitterness is a choice that I have decided to reject. I actually have more empathy for other people's pain, more compassion for other's hardships, and more hope because of the love that my supporters continue to show me. As a result, I feel it is my obligation to make an earnest effort to do something good in the world because my efforts have the potential to create a ripple effect of goodwill that can positively impact someone else's life forever.

I am not writing this to boast about how good I am. I'm not perfect by any means. I am just a man striving each day to be a better person. So I am writing this piece to inspire everyone reading it to take a look at your world around you. Maybe you don't have a lot to give, but everybody has a little something to share. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "be the change that you want to see in the world." You have the power to make the world a better place and there's no better time to start then the present. So get up today and do something good!

 

 

Do Black Lives Really Matter to Black People?

Without question, the current plight of the African-Americans being subjected to unjustifiable violence by those in authority is both frightening and infuriating. My voice joins in harmony with those who cry out for much-needed and much-deserved justice within the African-American community.  However, the truth is that it saddens me to see us shinning the judicial light on the killings of unarmed blacks around the country without simultaneously exercising the discipline to hold ourselves accountable for the violence that we inflict on one another. I greatly admire the unity of all the movements that are standing united to fight against injustice, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that we must clean our own houses first.

As a people, we would more powerful if we were able to stop killing each other. Black-on-black crime is still destroying cities throughout America. The Black Lives Matter movement has become a powerful vehicle to give a voice and platform to the black community. In turn, we once again have the opportunity to show the same fortitude that our forefathers did in fighting racial injustice and the ability to stand united as a wall. However, the senseless killing of one another destroys this vehicle and weakens the wall that so much time has went into building.

How many people in their right mind would build a nice house just to destroy it? Not too many. The Black Lives Movement is a beautiful house. I deeply admire and respect the cause--but as we kill each other over pennies or a small word, it's like throwing a bomb into you own house. We protest together one minute, but seconds later we take each other’s life.

On July 4, 2016 62 blacks were killed in Chicago, IL and we didn’t march, we didn’t protest, we didn’t flood the streets begging for social change. We are protest the killings of our brothers and sisters by police (which we should), but we should also be protesting the killings of our brothers and sisters by our brothers and sisters.

We protest the killing of brothers by police, but when will we address the needless killings within our own neighborhoods and by our own children that are eating away the very foundation of the structure that has been established to combat the brutality and injustice treatment of blacks? Every black life that is senselessly lost is a voice that has been silenced. A voice that will never have the chance to chant the powerful words of the movement that has gained so much attention. A movement, that with any hope and strategic execution, will help make the world a better place.

I've seen a lot of bloodshed in my lifetime and as I watch the news reports day after day, I wonder when will we begin to value our fellow man. The same man that lives on our block, that same man that once stood united with us, the brother that prayed with you, the brother that ate with you, the brother got turnt with you, and the same brother that if he's killed unjustly then we will unite is his name...

Why does it take death to see the worth in our brother? Too many of us are desensitized to blacks killing blacks and yet are outraged when they die at the hands of white police officers. A question that I would like to pose is how do we address and resolve this problem that is undermining our spirit of unity within the black community? The bottom line is that we can’t afford to ignore black suicide—blacks killing blacks; but rant about blacks being murdered. It defeats the cause. There’s no need for black genocide, when as a people we do the work for them by killing ourselves every day.

Please share your comments on the subject if interested in continuing an intelligent dialogue.

Why Prisoners in Michigan are Live in Unhealthy Situations

Happy new years. The rate of prisoner's in Michigan incarcerated that are suffering from depolorable conditions of confinement and inhumane treatment, that need outside help in received proper medical care is off the chart. Any help would be greatly appreciated, help in general, could not be put into clearer perspective.
As a result, I will attempt to paint the most vivid picture possible, that express my most sincere concern for the health and safety of people behind bars. I would first like to point out that I am in no way attempting to lessen the punishment for the terrible crimes that may have been committed. Because some have taken the responsiblity and have made serious steps towards cleaning up their life, and giving as much positive advise to those returning back to society as possible, with the hopes of influencing as many people as they can. To allow someone to benefit from the mistake they have made.
I'm observing something right now that's sading to me. This older man I see often is struggling everyday, so I' asked him what was going on with him. What he told me was distrubing to me. It is my hopes that I can spark some sense of human compassion in this post to implore and inform the public of what's going on behine prison walls. This man I'm writing about is 58 years old Larry Harrison, who's very sick.
Who has been living with an extremely rear medical condition called Hirschsprung's disease. The disease is a birth defect where a child is born without a rectum (it's nothing to laugh about). In this case he was born without a rectum, nor lower intestines. The medical condition is so rare, that most doctors have never seen an adult that has survived this disease.
To this day doctors honestly do not know how to "properly" treat the disease. The number one recommend treatment is a high fiber diet which he is being denied for cost saving reasons and motivations. The Michigan department of corrections Doctors have diagnosed him as having the disease, however are only interested in providing only minimal treatment, that still does not amount to adequated treatment. He's still suffering from from continued pain, and it creates conditions of confinment which resticts him to his cell most of the day to where he barely gets any exercise and he's is so much abdominal pain and discomfort--- some days he can't even walk normal.
I've never seen him participate in any out out of cell ativities, jobs, edcuation programs offered to other prisoners and because of this he told me that he's very depressed. The man also told me that the only thing the Michigan Department of Correction ( MDOC hereinafter) will do for him is put him in a single cell and keep him alive. Besides other minor accommodations, he basically is suffering. Because the MDOC will not give him a colostomy bag because they say its cosmetic surgery. I find this strange being that I know a few other inmates that actually have a colostomy bag. This guy I'm speaking of is forced to spend most of his time in his cell where he has direct access to a toilet and sink due to unexpected needs for deficate (which he can't control) and cleaning purposes.
As of now it seem to me that the single cell is the only consideration that he is being shown in regards to the disease. I ask about the man because I don't see him much and I'm concerned about him. He says his family really isn't there for him so I am, that could someday be me in need of care and support.
Witnessing this old man reminds me of this June 2015 Michigan Report I read a few months ago about Gov. Rick Snyder's plan for Crimnal Prison Reform. By Kyle Felfscher / Kylefeldscher @ mlive. com in that report she spoke about there being 43,704 prisoners in Michigan's prisons, and How $ 2 billion a year goes to the Michigan Department of Corrections. The question that comes to mind for me is; why are prisoners in Michingan suffering and having to fight the health care administration on an ongoing bases if health care is paid for, it should be provided. But it isn't... Why? It seems to me in my that because of the mind set of those that work for prisons have an incarcerated mind set and unwillingness to treat incarcerated individuals with human compassion.