Category: Voices

Procrastination makes watching t.v. easy. I should be writing, improving my skill, but When the idiot-box shoves Rick and Morty into my face I can’t look away. I’m held captive by the possible ways vulgarity is expressed—artfully of course. All of the bunks here are uncomfortable. I sleep in an uncomfortable bunk. There’s no right…

Subject Transformational rhythms Journey step 2 The second class titled Taking the Lead (TTL) helped strengthen my ability to be influential, its focus is 5 practices and 10 influential skills. When you learn something that is having a positive impact the desire to share that information is strong. But it’s important to learn how to…

Foundation for Life (FFL) Part one. What makes FFL very effective is the set up. The course runs for sixteen weeks and the participants meet once a week for 2½ hours a day. On the first day of class the participants are offered an assessment test, it’s optional but I recommend everyone take it. The…

I began my journey through the Transformational Rhythms program in early 2017. I learned about it from a couple of guys I’ve been tight with while traveling through the Illinois prison system for many years. I started noticing subtle positive changes in their attitudes and the kinda of things they were interested in talking about.…

I heard a knock at my cell door as I sat at the counter top sketching from a step-by-step art book.  I refused to acknowledge it.  Interruptions are rarely important.  I continued my activity – a poor attempt at making a grapefruit look like a grapefruit.  It was awful.  The shape was odd and horrible…

For the longest, the prison population of Illinois Department of Corrections has been forced out of participating in its Programming and Activities Committee.  These programs and activities were and are a vital part of every prisoners rehabilitation errant.  Prisoners can find a sense of values, principles and morals through watching other prisoners display acting abilities,…

We at the Prison Exchange understand how important it is to give our insight to the outside communities from which we come.  So it is an honor to introduce you to one of the most respected voices in the inside community, Yusuf.  Yusuf has served more than 50 years and has touched many lives. He…

P.E. brings you real insight from the inside with noted prisoner/activist Stanley “S-Man” Howard who is currently incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections in Dixon, Illinois. He talks with P.E. about his book “Tortured By Blue’” his life on death row and the fight to expose the Chicago Police torture scandal. TORTURED BY BLUE: …