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.