Breaking barriers through art creates fair opportunities

监禁给被监禁者的生活带来了创伤性的挑战. 但是，在服刑期满后重新融入社会的困难可能会给这些人带来同样具有挑战性的情景.

About one-fourth of incarcerated Minnesota individuals released each year 出狱后三年内以重罪再次入狱. Meaningful employment is critical to combatting this recidivism, 但是，受到司法影响的个人在获得就业方面面临许多结构性障碍. Numerous organizations in Ramsey County, like Art from the Inside, dedicate their efforts to breaking down those barriers. 

“Over my career, 我听到一些人因为找不到谋生的机会而重返监狱的故事. 他们别无选择，只能回来，因为外面的障碍太难克服了,” said Antonio Espinosa, Art from the Inside founder. “我认为，作为一个社会，不为这些人提供机会是不公平的，他们已经完成了自己的时间，只想超越自己的过去.”

Barriers 

已经离开刑事司法系统或正在离开刑事司法系统的受司法影响的个人的数量没有引起主流的注意. The Minnesota Department of Correction reported 4,586 releases in 2022, while the Prison Policy Initiative 报告称，截至2018年，明尼苏达州约有9.5万名居民处于缓刑状态.

Despite a strong interest in getting into productive employment, 从历史上看，这些人在重返职场时面临着许多障碍. 埃斯皮诺萨说，障碍来自于普遍的社会基础上的恐惧和缺乏教育.

“除非个人或家庭成员受到监禁的影响, most people do not care about the issues,” he said. “But we should all care because it impacts all of us.”

The Prison Policy Initiative indicates, 这种永久性的劳动力市场惩罚创造了一种适得其反的释放和贫困体系, hurting everyone involved: employers, 纳税人，当然还有以前被监禁的人希望打破这个循环.’

Art from the Inside

Art from the Inside attempts to interrupt that cycle through education and awareness. Founded by Espinosa, 在明尼苏达州斯蒂尔沃特惩教所当了将近20年的狱警, 该组织为被监禁的艺术家提供了一条通过艺术和社区展览来表达自己的途径. 专注于让被监禁的艺术家体验个人的转变和恢复, personal and collective power to change is achievable. One incarcerated artist, C.B., stated, “By giving the incarcerated artists a platform, we encourage redemption narratives and a public belief in second chances.”

Creating art is a therapeutic activity for the incarcerated. 许多人在入狱前没有机会发展他们的艺术才能. 现在，他们可以建立一个平台，为他们的创造力和自我意识打开一扇门.

“艺术过程创造了一种对话，找出他们痛苦的根源，以及如何前进,” said Espinosa. “看到别人欣赏自己的作品可以建立一种基本的价值感.”

Whether through painting, drawing, graphic design, poetry or writing, the skillful art illustrates these individuals’ tremendous talent but, more importantly, an existing underlying benefit to the public.

他说:“艺术是一种载体，用来进行关于这些人是谁的令人不安的对话。. “当艺术家意识到他们可以创造出别人喜欢的东西时，他们会获得信心, the community can also begin to see them for more than their record.” 

2019冠状病毒病大流行为应对这一局势提供了独特的机会. When so many businesses cannot locate enough employees, 招聘经理可以把受公正影响的个人作为愿意和渴望工作的未开发资源. 

埃斯皮诺萨说:“我们必须问问自己，我们是要惩罚还是要改变。. “Reentry into society is difficult, so this platform can provide a proactive opportunity to show mercy, not hate, to those who need it.”

Upcoming exhibition

Part Two of the IDENTITY Series by Art from the Inside 展出了由明尼苏达州惩教机构的艺术家创作的原创作品. 该展览将于4月5日至4月30日在第七街218号的创作者空间举行. E, in downtown Saint Paul. Check its website 如有特别活动，请向公众查询路线或开放时间.

The St. Paul Area Chamber, in partnership with the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County, is hosting its monthly Chamber Connect 4月20日(周四)下午4点开始，在创作者空间举行展览.m. to 6:00 p.m. 一边品尝开胃菜和饮料，一边听埃斯皮诺萨讲述他从内心创造艺术的旅程. Attendance is free and donations are encouraged for Art from the Inside to continue its work.

Other area organizations.

其他一些致力于将受司法影响的个人与资源联系起来的地区组织包括:

• 明尼苏达州惩教署有几个再入服务和资源，比如 Minnesota Transition Coalitions. 
• Repowered, formerly Tech Dump, 是明尼苏达州最大的电子垃圾收集商之一，同时也是一家社会企业，为面临就业障碍的人提供就业和培训.
• Twin Cities R!se 的使命是“通过个人赋权来改变那些受到种族或社会经济障碍影响的人的生活”, career training and meaningful employment.”
• Ujamaa Place 通过各种服务和资源，帮助失业或未充分就业的男性，以及由于不稳定或监禁而尚未拥有稳定工作的男性进入劳动力市场. 
• We Are All Criminals 是一个明尼苏达的非营利组织，致力于挑战社会对“罪犯”的看法.” 

Series on justice-impacted resources.

本文是“公平机会”系列文章中的第二篇，旨在提高人们对受司法影响的个人就业需求的认识，以及愿意为这些归国公民提供有意义的就业机会的雇主的利益. 关注即将发布的内容，详细了解正在积极工作的区域提供商和资源, 以及从他们的互动中直接受益的企业和个人. Justice-impacted individuals and local employers can contact Ramsey County Workforce Solutions for assistance.