Welcome, Beat readers and writers, far and wide! This special issue comes at a truly remarkable time for our community. Amidst the global pandemic and shelter-in-place orders that have been defining the social and economic aspects of our lives, we’re also experiencing an incredible political moment, inescapable on every front. Right now, our country, states, cities, and schools deeply consider what it means to live in an anti-racist society, one that each of us feels just and equitable being a part of.
Since January 2020, we’ve been working to compile and publish the outstanding submissions we’ve received in response to our latest art and essay contest, Visions of Reform. These submissions are heartfelt, personal, critical, and emotional to engage with. We’re incredibly humbled by this collection of writing and artwork, and to be able to provide a space for them to exist in together. For this contest, we asked our Beat community:
Is a world without incarceration possible? Think about what led you to where you are now: the people, resources, places that were or weren’t on your side. What changes would you make to the policies/laws that govern our freedom? There have been many reforms made to the criminal justice system that have given some people an opportunity to be released and others the chance of being locked up. If you were the governor or had the ability to make changes to the system, what would you do? Share your stories about what you need to thrive, as well as what you envision reform to look like for all of us to live at our fullest potential.
The Beat Within, along with our partner National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), uplift the powerful thoughts and opinions of those who speak from experience. The responses generated from this topic will move you, and they give all of us the courage to fight for a better world. Their voices have always been – and continue to be – at the forefront of our collective struggle for liberation.
First off, We would like to thank the Art for Justice Fund for supporting this project and this very special issue on reform. We’d also like to thank NICJR for their support in bringing this special issue to fruition, as well as our judges, staff, and volunteers for their time in carefully reading and considering each piece.
We’d of course like to thank our writers and artists, who poured their hearts and souls into these wonderful essays and artwork, who make The Beat Within the deep and transformative publication that it is. We are honored to share your truth, and to journey with you forward into the world, strengthening our roots of compassion and resilience. The Beat is here, loud and clear, for you.
Since January 2020, we’ve been working to compile and publish the outstanding submissions we’ve received in response to our latest art and essay contest, Visions of Reform. These submissions are heartfelt, personal, critical, and emotional to engage with. We’re incredibly humbled by this collection of writing and artwork, and to be able to provide a space for them to exist in together. For this contest, we asked our Beat community:
Is a world without incarceration possible? Think about what led you to where you are now: the people, resources, places that were or weren’t on your side. What changes would you make to the policies/laws that govern our freedom? There have been many reforms made to the criminal justice system that have given some people an opportunity to be released and others the chance of being locked up. If you were the governor or had the ability to make changes to the system, what would you do? Share your stories about what you need to thrive, as well as what you envision reform to look like for all of us to live at our fullest potential.
The Beat Within, along with our partner National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (NICJR), uplift the powerful thoughts and opinions of those who speak from experience. The responses generated from this topic will move you, and they give all of us the courage to fight for a better world. Their voices have always been – and continue to be – at the forefront of our collective struggle for liberation.
First off, We would like to thank the Art for Justice Fund for supporting this project and this very special issue on reform. We’d also like to thank NICJR for their support in bringing this special issue to fruition, as well as our judges, staff, and volunteers for their time in carefully reading and considering each piece.
We’d of course like to thank our writers and artists, who poured their hearts and souls into these wonderful essays and artwork, who make The Beat Within the deep and transformative publication that it is. We are honored to share your truth, and to journey with you forward into the world, strengthening our roots of compassion and resilience. The Beat is here, loud and clear, for you.