03
THE LOVE.
A must-read for those concerned with social justice… changes minds on preconceived opinions about the incarcerated
— Pamela Belafonte
Photographer
Overflowing with passion and power... reminds us of the humanity so long denied to those buried behind prison walls, resurrecting and returning home to transform lives beyond the bars
— Bryonn Bain
Artist, Activist & Emmy winner, LYRICS FROM LOCKDOWN
Professor and Founding Director, UCLA Prison Education Program
Illuminates the complexity of what brought [these men] to prison, and the many ways in which they are assets to our community
— Dr. Geraldine Downey
Director, Center for Justice, Columbia University
Required reading for every young adult. If it reaches and informs even one, it would be a step forward for the greater good
— Anthony Barboza
Photographer
A pitch perfect rendering of the stories of those who have been in the shadows for too long
— Dan Slepian
Supervising Producer, Dateline NBC
Gritty storytelling and dynamic images... I learned more about the men on the pages of this book than I did living with them inside
— Sean Pica
Executive Director, Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison
Humanize[s] the experiences… a vital part of broader efforts to end the era of mass incarceration
— Mary R. Gould
Director, Alliance for Higher Education in Prison
Associate Professor of Communication, Saint Louis University
THE CATALYSTS.
With deepest gratitude to the organizations who supported bringing this book – and these men's stories – into the world.
With a firm belief in human resilience, Exodus Transitional Community delivers innovative programming tailored to adults and youth affected by the justice system, and advocates for a society in which all can achieve social, economic, and spiritual well-being.
Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison provides college education, life skills, and reentry support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated men and women to help them make a positive impact on their own lives, their families and communities, resulting in lower rates of recidivism, incarceration, and poverty. Hudson Link’s astonishingly low recidivism rate of less than 2% – compared to over 67% nationwide – is proof that the transformative power of education is far more cost-effective than prison.
The Tow Foundation, established in 1988 by Leonard and Claire Tow, funds projects that offer transformative experiences to individuals and create collaborative ventures in fields where they see opportunities for breakthroughs, reform, and benefits for underserved populations. Investments focus on the support of innovative programs and system reform in the fields of juvenile and criminal justice, medicine, higher education, and culture.