tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5492647068286766482024-03-04T23:09:05.415-08:00LACEO Art & OutreachL.A.C.E.O is a nonprofit organization located in Graterford Prison, Graterford PA. This blog is hosted by Centro Pedro Claver, a Philadelphia non profit as outreach to youth and the local community through art and "How to Play the Game" booklet. All writings, information, art, and personal stories were compiled by L.A.C.E.O. and its members.Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-433750356689798642008-12-15T12:47:00.000-08:002008-12-15T12:54:21.788-08:00Free Free Freed at Last Essay by Robert RiglerThe garden he took care of for twenty years took care of him. The younger prisoners used to laugh at him when they would see him smiling and talking to the flowers as he weeded and hoed. They would ask: " What's up Old Timer?" His answer: "These flowers take me out of here sometimes and I don't feel like I'm in prison, I am free."The count was off by one man; it was Old Timer. Everyone said the Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-55751845750182931912008-11-24T10:03:00.000-08:002008-11-24T10:15:15.085-08:00Colored Pencil #4 by Luis Suave GonzalezJohn A. Pace was 17 in 1985 when he was charged with robbery, aggravated assault, and possession of an instrument of crime PIC. Because his victim passed away 10 days later, he was re-charged with robbery, murder, and PIC. Prior to his arrest for this crime, John had never been convicted or incarcerated for a crime and he had a known drug problem, for which his high school principal sought to getCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-44739997457243667832008-10-28T08:28:00.001-07:002008-10-28T08:34:54.597-07:00Juvenile 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 aCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-63001515181717687622008-06-17T11:16:00.001-07:002008-06-17T11:17:48.690-07:00The Storm: Angel OrtizCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-79582259511753732332008-05-13T11:49:00.000-07:002008-05-13T12:18:44.302-07:00Juvenile 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 Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-9099834614651213542008-04-16T11:54:00.000-07:002008-04-16T12:56:19.916-07:00A Link to Unity: Lee Fox and Luis Suave GonzalezWhether 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 Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-18946977146935192422008-04-02T13:04:00.000-07:002008-04-02T13:06:55.042-07:00"La Encontraron Muerta" Angel OrtizMixed Media Collage Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-60992626833407135992008-03-08T15:34:00.000-08:002008-03-08T15:40:36.441-08:00Juvenile Lifers for Justice Part IIWhat 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 experiencesCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-52471493289997115842008-02-20T07:19:00.000-08:002008-02-20T07:23:52.035-08:00Neteru: by K. Kabasha Griffin-ElCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-59335893078976271982008-01-30T13:49:00.000-08:002008-02-13T07:38:39.533-08:00"The Super Bowl Creed" by Chuck ZehringThe Super Bowl Creed( A Pro Football Player's Prayer)Yea though I walk through the valley of theshadows of the billboards of corporate greed,I shall fear no evil because the lord of competition is with me,His tax-payer,subsidized, team manager, doctor, and life-flight helicopter comfort me, He hath revealead to me that my head is my helmet and even though an occasional concussion confuseth me andCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-21019785313750014072008-01-22T16:36:00.000-08:002008-01-22T16:50:57.828-08:00Introduction to Juvenile Lifers for Justice: Part IHow many members in Juvenile Lifers for Justice?SCI Graterford has approximately 70. Statewide there are over 330.When was JLJ established?In November 2005 JLJ was established after the Human Rights Watch published their report in October of that year. The US Supreme Court decided Roper v. Simmons in March of that same year. The report "The Rest of Their Lives"(Human Rights Watch) brought Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-75552110603129337192008-01-22T16:23:00.000-08:002008-01-22T16:35:33.203-08:00Juvenile Lifer: Colored Pencil by Suave Gonzalez Colored Pencil drawing of Thomas Tomoney. Thomas was 16 years old when he was charged with murder. Growing up in North Philadelphia, he found himself in a great deal of trouble when he was 13 years old. During this particular time, gang wars in Philadelphia were prevalent and Thomas found himself in many fights because he was from a rival neighborhood. This led to him being placed in reform Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-77640532810681955762008-01-08T17:52:00.000-08:002008-01-08T17:56:27.736-08:00"My Thoughts" Felix RodriguezCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-27219217152829854482007-12-26T13:48:00.000-08:002007-12-26T13:57:13.419-08:00What Does Art Mean to Me: K. Kabasha Griffin-ElWhat does art mean to me?If I had my way, Art would be a proper nounIt's much more than a person, place, or thingArt is universalMuch more than even a global thingWith Art I can travel through the cosmosAnd even become a starI can travel through timeI can even be rebornI can make a mistakeAnd create a new slateI can Cre-ateWith Art I can be the big "G" o dIf it's to beIt's up to meWith Art I can Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-62099346910892351832007-12-10T13:39:00.000-08:002007-12-10T13:46:06.228-08:00Poem: WAR Poet: Chuck ZehringWAR(for Line and Sami)(read in the manner of the spoken word)There's been a war raging for the past 400 yearsthe goal of which has been money and privilege for someat the expense of other's life, limb, and tears.There's been a war raging for the past 400 yearsagainst the people who look like you by people who look like me;all just grease for the slave machine's gears.There's been a war raging Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-12477529972186437222007-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:002007-12-04T10:49:42.365-08:00"Nemesis" Acrylic & Oil Collage(c) Angel OrtizCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-18964044490314620312007-11-16T18:21:00.000-08:002007-11-16T18:32:12.753-08:00Prison Life Stories PRISON LIFE STORIES DO YOU HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER, RELATIVE OR FRIEND WHO WAS INCARCERATED? HOW HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN IMPACTED BY IT? TELL US YOUR LIFE STORY IN FIVE MINUTES & BE PART OF A DOCUMENTARY for WYBE Channel 35! Termite TV Collective is group of video artists who create a series of videos called “Life Stories”. In our latest Life Story Project, we want to Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-24839749414535833082007-11-13T15:32:00.001-08:002007-11-13T15:33:56.428-08:00American Justice-Acrylic & Coffee by "Suave" Gonzalez (C)"Suave" GonzalezCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-81173041686963774932007-11-06T10:24:00.000-08:002007-11-06T10:26:25.933-08:00Graterford Art ExhibitCome and join us for the Juvenile Lifers exhibition at Centro Pedro Claver November 7, 2007 5:30pm-8:00pm.Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-84943693461118143162007-10-31T12:34:00.000-07:002007-11-07T15:23:12.661-08:00Real Rap: How to avoid the trap Part IIIf you are a leader you should use the influence you have over your peers/homies to start a club or youth group. Your group can be for recreation, study group, or a support group where everyone helps each other with their problems.Choose constructive outlets for your talents/skillsCan you draw? How about play music? Maybe you're a rapper or poet. If not, what would you like to do? Take time to Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-86436932370203133322007-10-30T09:10:00.000-07:002007-11-07T15:20:08.161-08:00Real Rap: How to avoid the trap Part ISecrets of the game....Here are things you can begin to do to reduce your chances of becoming a juvenile lifer.Beware of who you hang out withAre you around people who really care about your future? If your homies aren't encouraging you to achieve your goals in a positive way, then they aren't your homies. If your friends aren't trying to go where you're going, then how can you walk together? To Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-35315327062283029262007-10-22T09:29:00.000-07:002007-10-22T09:30:22.290-07:00Mural Arts project reaches out to communityhttp://www.philly.com/philly/news/local/10699382.htmlCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-405636680208028222007-10-15T19:39:00.000-07:002007-10-15T19:41:19.234-07:00Balloon reads: Man, I got so many issues I don't know what to do. HELPCentro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-41476983835397033582007-10-03T11:21:00.000-07:002007-10-03T11:22:08.324-07:00How to Play the Game bookletFor anyone who requested copies of the booklet: there is no cost for the booklet. Please send us your contact information. Thank you.Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-549264706828676648.post-10162343499050178372007-09-28T13:18:00.000-07:002007-09-28T13:29:40.181-07:00How I Became a Lifer( Luis's Story)When I was 16 years old, I thought I knew it all and nobody could tell me anything. My mother tried to talk to me many times, warning me about what could happen if I didn't live right. I didn't listen and I had to learn the hard way: by losing my freedom for life. I know how it is to be in your shoes, when you feel like giving up and taking short cuts, but is it really worth it? Would it make Centro Pedro Claver, Inc.http://www.blogger.com/profile/17215399254764764823noreply@blogger.com1