Seems like every time I go to class, I end up sitting in a circle with a bunch of dudes scared to death of drugs and alcohol. All they talk about is this fear and never really move to any solution other than come back to class. Once you quit class you'll relapse and begin using again. I haven't been to class in nearly six weeks and I'm playing one hell of a game to chess. Not to mention I now teach guitar to a group of eight prisoners who are learning to play an instrument for the first time in their life. We sit around and laugh, learn and find peace in music.
Now that's being rehabilitated. We don't talk about drugs and fears in music class. We overcome all the negativity by not focusing on it, but rather putting our focus on freedom through music. For this very reason the music program has been titled The Freedom Music Program. The beauty of this project is not just the music for me, but the chance to truly change my life. To walk away with a sense of accomplishment after I have taught someone how to free their mind. What I found is a different way to change my life and rehabilitate myself.
When I see these men pick up their guitar, I see a smile stretch across their face as well. I'm reminded of the first time I sat in the music program and picked up a guitar and made music. Most prisons do not offer a music program. I spend five years in Department of Corrections before I made it to this prison where they have music. Even then, they nearly closed the program just a few months ago. What a blessing that God had different plans.
The recidivism numbers are what they are because Florida prisons have removed most of their programs designed to help inmates. You can teach a man to build a cabinet, repair an A.C. unit and treat waste-water.....but if he still has anger issues and institutional mental setbacks, he'll probably re-offend and be sent back. Look at the percentage of recidivism.
Now put a little music in that man's life...let him find some peace while he's out there struggling at his 9 to 5 and see how that mix works. I mean why not try something new? What they're doing now isn't working out. During the six some year I've been incarcerated, I can't count how many people I have seen leave and go home. Only to come back a year later.
I don't want to be that guy. Right now I'm finding a reward by teaching music. I'm finding peace through giving my knowledge of music to another man and helping him find his very own peace. It truly is better to give than to receive. I believe in music and given a chance I believe music will prove itself valuable to the rehabilitation of prisoners. I know what it's done for me.
1 comment:
I can't even tell you how much it puts a smile on my face and in my heart to picture you holding a guitar in your hands again. That really blesses me. You really are an artist, and making music is the best for the soul.
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