通过艺术打破障碍创造公平的机会
2023年4月5日
A prison sentence introduces a traumatic challenge to the lives of the incarcerated. But the difficulty of immersing back into society at the end of their prison term can present these individuals with an equally challenging scenario.
关于 每年有四分之一的明尼苏达州囚犯被释放 return to prison with a new felony conviction within three years of release. 有意义的就业是打击这种累犯的关键, but justice-impacted individuals face numerous structural barriers to securing employment. 爱博体育手机版下载有很多组织,比如 来自内心的艺术,致力于打破这些障碍.
“在我的职业生涯中, I would hear stories from individuals returning to incarceration because they could not find opportunities to earn a living. 的y had no choice but to come back because the barriers on the outside were too difficult to overcome,安东尼奥·埃斯皮诺萨说, 《爱博体育手机版下载》创始人. “I believe it is unjust as a society not to provide opportunities for these individuals who have done their time and want nothing more than to rise above their past.”
障碍
的 number of justice-impacted individuals who have left or are in the process of leaving the criminal justice system flies under the radar of mainstream awareness. 明尼苏达州惩教署报道 4,586 该片将于2022年上映 监狱政策倡议 reported that as of 2018, there were approximately 95,000 Minnesota residents on probation.
尽管他对从事生产性工作很感兴趣, these individuals have historically faced many obstacles to returning to the workforce. 障碍 arise from fear and a lack of education on a general societal basis, said Espinosa.
“Unless an individual or a family member is affected by incarceration personally, 大多数人并不关心这些问题,他说. “但我们都应该关心,因为它影响到我们所有人.”
的 监狱政策倡议 表明, ‘this perpetual labor market punishment creates a counterproductive system of release and poverty, 伤害到所有相关的人:雇主, the taxpayers and certainly formerly incarcerated people looking to break the cycle.’
来自内心的艺术
来自内心的艺术 试图通过教育和意识来打破这个循环. 由埃斯皮诺萨创立, a correctional officer at the Minnesota Correctional Facility-Stillwater for nearly 20 years, the organization offers a path for incarcerated artists to express themselves through art and community exhibitions. With a focus on empowering incarcerated artists to experience personal transformation and restoration, 个人和集体变革的力量是可以实现的. 一名被监禁的艺术家C.B., 所述, “通过给被监禁的艺术家一个平台, 我们鼓励救赎叙事,鼓励公众相信有第二次机会.”
艺术创作对于被监禁的人来说是一种治疗活动. Many did not have the opportunity to develop their artistic talents before prison. Now, they can establish a platform to open a door for their creativity and self-awareness.
“的 artistic process creates a dialogue to figure out their source of pain and how to move forward,埃斯皮诺萨说. “Seeing others appreciate their creations can build that essential sense of worth.”
无论是通过绘画, 画, 平面设计, 诗歌或写作, 巧妙的艺术说明了这些人的巨大才能, 更重要的是, 对公众现有的潜在利益.
“的 art is a vehicle for that uncomfortable conversation about who these individuals are,他说. “While the artists gain confidence from realizing they can create something others enjoy, 社区也可以开始看到他们不仅仅是他们的记录.”
的 COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique opportunity to address the situation. 当如此多的企业找不到足够的员工, hiring managers can turn to justice-impacted individuals as an untapped resource of persons willing and eager to work.
“We have to ask ourselves if we are about punishment or transformation,埃斯皮诺萨说. “重返社会很困难, 所以这个平台可以提供一个主动表现仁慈的机会, 不讨厌, 给那些需要它的人.”
即将举行的展览
“身份”系列的第二部分——来自内心的艺术 features original works created by artists at Minnesota correctional facilities. 的 exhibit will run from April 5 to April 30 at Creators Space at 218 7th St. E,在圣保罗市中心. 检查它的 网站 for special events throughout the month, directions or open times to the public.
圣. 保罗地区商会,与 爱博体育手机版下载劳动力创新委员会该公司正在举办月度会议 室连接 during the exhibition at Creators Space on Thursday, April 20, from 4:00 p.m. 至下午6时.m. Network with appetizers and drinks while hearing from Espinosa about his journey creating 来自内心的艺术. 出席是免费的 捐款 鼓励“来自内心的艺术”继续其工作吗.
其他地区组织.
Some other area organizations working to connect justice-impacted individuals with resources include:
- 的 Minnesota Department of Corrections has several reentry services and resources, like the 明尼苏达过渡联盟.
- 重新提供动力, 以前的技术转储, is one of Minnesota’s largest collectors of e-waste but is also a social enterprise that provides jobs and training for persons facing barriers to employment.
- 双子城!se has a mission “to transform the lives of those impacted by racial or socio-economic barriers through Personal Empowerment, 职业培训和有意义的就业.”
- Ujamaa地方 prepares men who are unemployed or underemployed and have yet to hold a consistent job due to instability or incarceration to enter the workforce through numerous services and resources.
- 我们都是罪犯 is a Minnesota non-profit organization dedicated to challenging society’s perceptions of being “criminal.”
有关司法影响资源系列.
This piece is the second in a series of Fair Opportunities articles meant to raise awareness of the employment needs of justice-impacted individuals and the benefits to employers willing to give these returning citizens a chance at meaningful employment. Watch for upcoming content on detailed looks into area providers and resources working actively, as well as businesses and individuals who have directly benefited from their interactions. 受司法影响的个人和当地雇主可以联系 爱博体育手机版下载劳动力解决方案 寻求帮助.