Barrios Unidos Prison Project
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The Santa Cruz Barrios Unidos Prison Project is dedicated to providing cultural and spiritual education, support, and hope to incarcerated individuals. The Project advocates for prison policy reform and programs that reduce recidivism, support re-entry, and re-unifies families.
We work with the community to empower our incarcerated brothers and sisters by reconnecting them to their family, culture, and spirituality, through correspondents, educational programming, and special events. We also provide opportunities for those who are incarcerated to give back through artwork, poetry, stories, or spoken word. Testimonials of Incarcerated Individuals “It was powerful to hear from a lifer who paroled. It was inspiring. Just seeing people who have been in our shoes and succeeded in their freedom is very powerful. It gives people hope to see men who have gone back to their communities and made a positive impact.” Incarcerated for 16 years. “Every time I come to Barrios Unidos it has a positive impact on my life. How I see myself and what I need to do make my life better." Incarcerated for 3 years. “I like the fact that they took the time out of their busy day to come to the prison to speak to me. What they said pulled at my heart strings. I am honored and really appreciate what Barrios Unidos does.” Incarcerated for 20 years. |
The Goal of the Prison Project is to eradicate the violence that plagues our communities and our institutions and promote peace, hope, and opportunity.
“When I first came to Barrios Unidos I didn’t know what to expect. What you gave and continue to give is a joy I can’t put into words." Incarcerated for 30 years. “ I love Barrios Unidos. They are our bridge to stopping the violence amongst our youth.” Incarcerated for 15 years. “I like the human compassion that Barrios Unidos speakers have and are willing to share with us in the name of peace, love and change.” Incarcerated for 12 years. |
Barrios Unidos' Prison Cell
The Barrios Unidos Prison Project has constructed a prison cell that can be utilized to teach and inform diverse segments of the population: youth, judges, educators, policy makers, and community members. In constructing an interactive prison cell, we hope to bring insight and awareness on the realities of incarceration. It will provide an opportunity for individuals to step into the environment, giving a sense of what it is like to be incarcerated. We hope to encourage people to support alternatives to incarceration policy and legislation.
The model is a traveling interactive replica of a prison cell and visiting room. We are bringing the model to schools, universities, courthouses, conferences, and other educational events. It includes literature on the consequences of incarceration, prison policy, the prison industrial complex, alternatives to incarceration, the economics of incarceration, as well other pertinent information and statistics. Not only are participants able to sit in the confines of the cell, to add to the sensory experience, the participants hear audio recordings of the on-going, day-to-day sounds of prison life.
Click HERE to view a variety of articles and reviews on the prison project and prison cell.
The model is a traveling interactive replica of a prison cell and visiting room. We are bringing the model to schools, universities, courthouses, conferences, and other educational events. It includes literature on the consequences of incarceration, prison policy, the prison industrial complex, alternatives to incarceration, the economics of incarceration, as well other pertinent information and statistics. Not only are participants able to sit in the confines of the cell, to add to the sensory experience, the participants hear audio recordings of the on-going, day-to-day sounds of prison life.
Click HERE to view a variety of articles and reviews on the prison project and prison cell.
