VBW The Beat Within Vol. 18.41/42

The Beat Within Vol. 18.41/42

Voices Behind Walls

Features poets from Voices Behind Walls.  The Beat Within is a national/international publication of writing & art inside of juvenile detention centers across the country, as well as in other countries.  It was started by a group of incredible justice workers, led by David Inocencio, and the voices of youth who had responded to the tragic death of rapper/MC/actor Tupac Shakur.  I first discovered The Beat Within at the start of my studies towards a degree in Criminal Justice & English when I was participating in the Ronald E. McNair program and doing research for a project I developed called the Violence of Youth, the Presence of the Pen.  Ever since, The Beat Within has been a permanent fixture in each and every workshop and conversation I've had related to our program and issues involving youth outreach, especially amongst high risk populations and incarcerated youth.  I also currently instruct an online course at NMSU's Criminal Justice Department called The Beat Within, A Compositional History of Incarcerated Writing. 

Make Wise Choices / Spice is Not Nice.org

((Make Wise Choices))
by Ruth Rivas feat. Vicente
YouTube click here

In memory of Adam Hernandez, "Make Wise Choices" is a poem written by Ruth Rivas a community advocate & public speaker who runs a non-profit movement called Spice is Not Nice.  Mrs. Rivas recorded the poem earlier this Fall with the Voices Behind Walls program at Aliviane, Inc.'s main office, a non-profit program in El Paso County that provides promotion, prevention, intervention, and treatment services for issues related to substance abuse and mental health.  I first heard about Mrs. Rivas and Adam Hernandez's story through the El Paso Times article titled  "El Paso Mom Campaigns Against Drug Linked to Son's Death".  In September I got the opportunity to attend a forum in which Mrs. Rivas shared a powerful presentation about Adam's life and the importance of raising awareness for drugs that pose life threatening risks for its users and are legally distributed throughout the world.  Mrs. Rivas is a powerful speaker. 

In her poem "Make Wise Choices", I decided to share the audio acapella with a youth named Vicente who is currently incarcerated at the J. Paul Taylor Center.  Vicente started playing trumpet when he was 11 years of age.  In grade school Vicente was placed in the varsity band and promoted to the first chair position and was able to gain a 3rd chair spot for all of New Mexico.  Vicente is self taught on the piano and familiar with a number of other instruments.  He was provided with the audio recording of Mrs. Rivas and asked if he could develop an instrumental to compliment the message of "Make Wise Choices".  With only an old Casio keyboard and a controller interface donated by the NMSU Writers in the Schools program, Vicente was able to develop the instrumental you hear behind Mrs. Rivas poem above.  

For more information on Mrs. Rivas and the movement to make the world aware of the dangers of synthetic drugs like spice please visit Spice is Not Nice.org.  I also encourage that you forward the YouTube video to schools, youth programs, juvenile detention center contacts, non-profits, radio stations, podcasts, and anyone else that could pass on the message. 

Tupac Shakur & YALT

Discussing Tupac ((Dear Mama))

Sending this one out to the youth of the Young Adult Life Transitions (YALT) program in Buffalo, New York.  This week discussed the meaning of Tupac in their lives 17 years after his death, "Dear Mama" as an expression of appreciation for mom, it's relationship to fathers, history + life of Afeni Shakur + Pac's memory through the Tupac Amaru Shakur Foundation, and the samples behind the production of Tony Pizarro's production featuring Joe Sample and the Spinners.  Here is an interview with a young Tupac Shakur discussing life, his mother, and the youth: Tupac Shakur 1988 Interview.

American Hunger

American Hunger

Audio for October 1, 2013.