Cincere Knowledge (Jamal Jones) is a 26-year-incarcerated man using art to express his pain and longing for freedom. Despite systemic limitations, he fights to be seen, balancing loneliness with determination to fulfill his dreams.

DeWayne Power Robinson is an outgoing, compassionate individual who believes in growth, education, community, and unity. Through his piece, “My Truth,” he emphasizes the importance of everyone having a voice and the power to tell their own story.

The NPEP x VI 2024 Exhibit features artworks by NPEP students exploring the theme, "What do you want to be known about yourself?" The exhibit highlights the power of art for storytelling and healing, reflecting the concept of "epistemic reparations," allowing students to share and be heard.

The to-scale staples of daily living inside Logan Correctional Center. 

Mark Dixon reflects on his journey from trauma to healing, shaped by witnessing his sister's attack and later becoming an aggressor. Through prison life skills classes, he learned to confront his past, seek forgiveness, and ultimately find healing by letting go of the rage that had defined his life.

Tevin Louis reflects on his experience with survivor's guilt, stemming from the tragic death of his friend and his own incarceration. Haunted by feelings of responsibility, Tevin struggles with the burden of his past choices, grappling with the lasting impact of a life cut short and a future shaped by guilt.

Donnell Green explores survivor’s guilt through his personal journey of trauma and incarceration. He advocates for supportive spaces where individuals can take accountability, express remorse, and heal, while also recognizing the humanity of those convicted of crimes.

Cohort Participants share diverse perspectives on healing, each offering personal insights and strategies for coping with trauma. From seeking balance through meditation and yoga to embracing empathy, self-reflection, and community support, their journeys reflect the ongoing process of healing.

Elbonie Burnside is a restorative justice advocate and writer dedicated to healing harm through preventative, redemptive, transformative, and restorative approaches. In her work, she emphasizes creating safe spaces for dialogue, where both the injured and the offender can be heard and supported in their healing journey.

Elbonie Burnside is a writer whose work reflects on her childhood trauma, resilience, and the effects of emotional and physical abuse. In Mirrors, she explores the impact of loss, silence, and survival in the face of systemic injustice.

Chelsea Raker is a powerful voice exploring themes of confinement, autonomy, and resilience. In Shackles, she delves into the personal and psychological impact of captivity, drawing a vivid picture of both physical and emotional imprisonment. Her words expose the harrowing reality of being trapped, not just in chains, but by societal perceptions and internalized limitations.

Bryan Dean is a resilient voice in poetic expression, channeling the intensity of lived experience into words that resonate. In Pressure Valve, he captures the power of release, transformation, and the hard-earned ability to breathe freely again—unshaken by the weight of past pressures.

D.C. Crite is a courageous and introspective writer who explores the raw journey of self-healing through vivid, emotional storytelling. In Naked, Crite lays bare the layers of shame, pain, and self-discovery—offering a powerful testament to vulnerability as the first step toward true healing.

Anthony Ehlers is a raw and fearless writer who channels lived experience into powerful verse. In What You Made Me, he confronts the trauma of incarceration, mental health, and societal neglect with unflinching honesty—illuminating the scars and resilience of a system’s forgotten.

Miguelangel Garcia is a poet and storyteller whose work explores themes of love, loss, incarceration, and resilience. In A Decade of Pain, he reflects on the enduring power of memory and friendship to sustain the human spirit through even the darkest times.

Paul Forbes is a community advocate and writer dedicated to transforming the relationship between police and marginalized communities. Drawing from personal experience, he highlights the harm of aggressive policing and calls for a shift toward empathy, accountability, and relationship-building to truly protect and serve.

Yaphet Davis is a justice reform advocate and writer who critically examines how the U.S. legal system reinforces inequality. Through personal insight and legal analysis, he exposes how laws protect the powerful while criminalizing the poor, calling for a system that serves all—equally and fairly.

Ian Valencia is a writer and advocate currently incarcerated, whose work explores the impact of poverty, race, and systemic injustice on youth. Drawing from his own experience, he highlights the trauma and inequality faced by Black, Brown, and Native youth caught in the cycle of mass incarceration.

James Hale is an incarcerated writer and advocate whose work sheds light on the devastating psychological toll of solitary confinement. Drawing from personal experience, he challenges the systems that perpetuate isolation and calls for mental health reform in America’s prisons.

Michael Jorgensen is an incarcerated writer exploring the emotional and ethical weight of signing a Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) order from behind bars. His work highlights the harsh realities of prison life and the human cost of systemic neglect.