Juvenile Lifers #3 Colored Pencil by "Suave Gonzalez"

Mollo Figueroa

In 1991 when Mollo(Moyo) Figueroa was just 16 years old, he was one of four participants involved in a homocide. At 16-and the youngest of the four defendants, and the only juvenile, he was misled by his public defendant into believing he would only serve 17 1/2-35 years. Under the advisement of his attorney Mollo pled guilty to first degree murder. Mollo was coerced into making a statement while his aunt(who was illiterate) was present.

Since being sentenced to life without parole, Mollo has tried twice to appeal his conviction. His counsel has being uneffective has gone unheard by the appellate court. For the last fifteen years Mollo has completed several different programs, like: Citizenship, Conflict Resolution, and End Violence. Mollo currently works in the wheelchair restoration shop where he restores wheelchairs for third world countries.

The Storm: Angel Ortiz

Juvenile Lifers 1: Colored Pencils by "Suave Gonzalez"

"It is extremely difficult explaining to anyone about the intellectual and spiritual changes that take place within the teenager who is destined to become a man in prison. A man that is condemned to die in that very institution. "

Erik VanZant was 14 years old when he broke into his neighbors house and fatally stabbed her. No psychological examination was performed to determine his competency prior to his hearing to remand him to the juvenile court system. His case remained in the criminal court and a jury found him guilty of first degree murder. Erik's second request for Post Conviction relief was recently denied by the State Superior Court.

Nevertheless, since his imprisonment he has endeavored to educate himself by taking courses in business and criminal justice. He is planning on registering in the spring with Villanova University to continue his studies. Erik has also been trained to facilitate Restorative Justice workshops. He has completed programs in Impact of Crime(a class that shows the effects of crime from a victims perspective), a Character Development course, End Violence(a course in leadership and transformational thinking, a Citizenship Program, Alternatives to Violence workshops, and Drug awareness groups. Erik has always taken a pro-active approach to rehabilitating himself and is currently the coordinator of the Juvenile Lifers for Justice.

A Link to Unity: Lee Fox and Luis Suave Gonzalez

Whether we are English, Spanish, or Spanglish, we're striving to have our voices heard. From city streets to prison blocks, our voices have been silenced. Not any more. Blinded by the Ghetto American Dream and a false sense of reality, we as a people have been stagnated. However, no longer do we wear blinders, we now stand united, see what's around us, behind us, and what lies ahead of us.
In every aspect of unity, we are utilizing every tool and form of expression and dedicating it to forming and informing a Latino front/movement. We are opeing our eyes, dispelling the lie and the rise of our own unbeknown demise. We hear our people cries and we now strive to make a change. We are, L.A.C.E.O. Latin American Cultural Exchange Organization.
Dating back to the early 70s formerly known as L.P.R.O(Latin Prisoners, Rights Organization) L.A.C.E.O. was formed and has had a long history of community service within the institution. As the years passed, we branched out into the communities we came from and reached out to make a difference. Our organization, despite being formed and ran behind penitentiary walls is in partnership with Centro Pedro Claver, Lighthouse, Norris Square Neighborhood Project, 503 Coorperation, Village of Art, Art for Justice, Correspondence to Christ, and many more community groups, dedicating our time and skills no longer silencing our voice to promote community unity.
Too many of our Latino youth are fallng through the cracks of the Crminial Justice System and ending up in Juvenile Detention Centers and adult prisons. It is the responsibility of those who help create this dilemmma in our community to reach back and help rebuild our communiities. Those of us, who have experienced the effect of being caught in the street game must help erase the limited vision our youth have become accustomed with, if we are to create a better quality of life.
Prison(s), crime(s), and drug(s) have become so pervasive and so insidious it's now threatening to destroy the Hispanic community. Over the last decade, despite all efforts to the contrary, the problem has become progressively worse. Hispanics and African Americans are the major victims of crime, primarily victimized by other Hispanics or African Americans. The only solution to this problem, law enforcement tells us is harsher and longer prison sentences. Longer prison sentences do not deter crime.
L.A.C.E.O. has taken a non-traditional approach, and offers other alternatives instead of incarceration. We advocate for fairness in justice, contribute to the welfare of the elderly and shut in, act as a conduit for inmates/family through our community suporters, assist in job placement after release, beautify our community using art, un-muting the silenced voice, and most importantly, making a change for the better.
We are more that just an organization, we are the foundation to building a structure of Latino love, unity, and proper representation of Boriquen.
If you wish to know more or want to become a link in the chain of unity known as L.A.C.E.O. please contact Centro Pedro Claver , Julia Lopez, Executive Director 215-227-7111

"La Encontraron Muerta" Angel Ortiz

Mixed Media Collage

Juvenile Lifers for Justice Part II

What types of Community Service does JLJ(Juvenile Lifers for Justice) perform?
Members of JLJ are committed to several outgoing community outreach projects. Some of them are: (1) mentoring adjudicated youth from the Mitchell program at St. Gabriel's youth facility in making postive lifestyle changes. (2)Developing a youth crime prevention booklet that is based upon our collective life experiences. This is our warning to them about the consequences of a life of crime. (3) Participating with the Mural Arts program of Philadelphia in the creation of murals. (4) Being active in social justice forums with local university professors and students that deal with reforming the criminal justice system. (5) In addition, many of our members attend college and have esteemed jobs within the prison, such as: tutoring other prisoners, painting murals, translating for both non-English speaking inmates, and volunteering in programs that involve changing the prison and community.

Neteru: by K. Kabasha Griffin-El