Jason
The Father, Graduate, & Artist
Jason
The Father, Graduate, & Artist
Jason
The Father, Graduate, & Artist
“All I’m really asking my neighbors and community to do is to see me again, as human, not a label.”
—Jason, FRRC Member
“All I’m really asking my neighbors and community to do is to see me again, as human, not a label.”
—Jason, FRRC Member
Healing comes in all shapes and sizes. For Jason, a formerly convicted person (returning citizen) who lives in Central Florida, it’s with his camera lens or art.
Through the University of Central Florida, he uses the healing power of those two art forms to transform the lives of currently incarcerated persons. As a returning citizen and teacher, he knows that any form of education is associated with reduced recidivism. But housing, jobs, and education barriers make it difficult for people to move forward and successfully reenter society after a conviction.
Healing comes in all shapes and sizes. For Jason, a formerly convicted person (returning citizen) who lives in Central Florida, it’s with his camera lens or art.
Through the University of Central Florida, he uses the healing power of those two art forms to transform the lives of currently incarcerated persons. As a returning citizen and teacher, he knows that any form of education is associated with reduced recidivism. But housing, jobs, and education barriers make it difficult for people to move forward and successfully reenter society after a conviction.
FRRC is advocating for higher education reform, so currently and recently incarcerated individuals have a pathway to qualify for in-state tuition.
FRRC is advocating for higher education reform, so currently and recently incarcerated individuals have a pathway to qualify for in-state tuition.
Like Jason, according to statistics, two-thirds of incarcerated people say they would like to return to school after their release but face many barriers.
Thankfully, Jason found a school that gave him a second chance and went on to graduate from Valencia College and received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from UCF in Emerging Media. He also volunteers with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He says he could be called many things, but he prefers father, a graduate, and an artist. This story is a reminder of the power of second chances.
Like Jason, according to statistics, two-thirds of incarcerated people say they would like to return to school after their release but face many barriers.
Thankfully, Jason found a school that gave him a second chance and went on to graduate from Valencia College and received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from UCF in Emerging Media. He also volunteers with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He says he could be called many things, but he prefers father, a graduate, and an artist. This story is a reminder of the power of second chances.
“My love depends on which aspect of my art, my photography, my conversation that I have, through the visual lens of photography.”
“My love depends on which aspect of my art, my photography, my conversation that I have, through the visual lens of photography.”
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“All I’m really asking my neighbors and community to do is to see me again, as human, not a label.”
—Jason, FRRC Member
Healing comes in all shapes and sizes. For Jason, a formerly convicted person (returning citizen) who lives in Central Florida, it’s with his camera lens or art.
Through a partnership between the University of Central Florida and the Florida Prison Education Project, he teaches the transformative power of art to currently incarcerated persons. As a returning citizen and teacher, he knows that any form of education is associated with reduced recidivism. But housing, jobs, and education barriers make it difficult for people to move forward and successfully reenter society after a conviction.
FRRC is advocating for higher education reform, so currently and recently incarcerated individuals have a pathway to qualify for in-state tuition.
Like Jason, according to statistics, two-thirds of incarcerated people say they would like to return to school after their release but face many barriers.
Thankfully, Jason found a school that gave him a second chance and went on to graduate from Valencia College and received a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree from UCF in Emerging Media. He also volunteers with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition. He says he could be called many things, but he prefers father, a graduate, and an artist. This story is a reminder of the power of second chances.
“My love depends on which aspect of my art, my photography, my conversation that I have, through the visual lens of photography.”
More Stories
