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Dortell Williams is an inmate at the Los Angeles County California State Prison in Lancaster, California. Dortell has been published in a number of community newspapers, including the San Francisco Bay View, The Final Call and The Los Angeles Sentinel. He mentors at-risk kids through San Francisco's The Beat Within and is an inside correspondent for Families to Amend Three Strikes. You can email Dortell at: dortellwilliams@yahoo.com. For more information about the Honor Yard Program, visit: www.prisonhonorprogram.org

Faith and Hope Beyond Prison Walls

Commentary by Dortell Williams, recorded 8/8/07

Note: Time Sensitive, for an ArtFair in LA on August 18th, 2007

Scroll down for a written transcript.

1) 3:02 MP3 Radio Essay

Update:

Senate Bill 299 sailed unscathed through the Senate Public Safety Committee, the Senate Public Safety Commission, Senate Appropriations and the full Senate. The bill is scheduled to go before the Assembly Public Safety Committee, August 31st, where it is expected to hit turbulence. Old fashioned, traditional letters are requested of the public for legislative supporters of the bill to offset expected opposition.

Faith and Hope Beyond Prison Walls

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How’z zat game go, you know, where someone names a subject and you blurt out the first thing that comes to mind?

How ‘bout prisoners?

Did muscle-bound ghouls and heartless, evil minions stream your imagination? Perhaps big, burly, beady-eyed savages?

That would be a far cry from Cole Bienek, an articulate 37-year old artist who has been down since he was 17. Regrettably, Bienek killed a man during a drug induced frenzy and was convicted of second degree murder. He has been locked away ever since.

Over the years he’s taught himself to paint, write Sci-Fi and do a number of other commendable things.

Bienek is part of the glue that holds the club, Artists Serving Humanity (ASH) together; a group of like-minded prisoners who paint for charity, aesthetics and hobby.

To date, they’ve raised over $50,000 for local charities, primarily benefiting children.

On August 18, 2007, the men of ASH will join with the Office of Restorative Justice, of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and its Partnership for Re-Entry Program (PREP) to present a benefit art fair; featuring the California Art Club. The benefit is called “Faith and Hope Beyond Prison Walls.”

This wonderful collaboration invites you to come view, and perhaps purchase, a colorful array of beautiful, high-quality oil, acrylic and water color paintings, to support a safer society by encouraging men to reform their lives.

“What I get out of painting and contributing to society is hope, and a chance to give back. I believe in action that goes beyond words of sorrow,” says a sincere Bienek.

PREP offers support to prisoners re-entering society, along with their satellite group, “Families of the Incarcerated.”

Amalia Molina, the head of “Families” – dark-haired and sun-kissed in complexion – has been involved in prison ministry for six years. Ms. Molina says softly, “the families of prisoners are virtually invisible, but in reality they are sentenced along with their [incarcerated] loved ones… and the children are affected too – over 200,000 of them.”

For more information on how you can view, or purchase, some of the most captivating art work, ranging from portraits of every kind to paradise-like scenes that are absolutely breath-taking, call Viki Bettaglia at (213) 637-7428 or email her vlbattaglia@archdiocese.org

While names and associations can be a fun game, prison, rehabilitation and human reformation is as serious as it gets.

“We encourage visits because [prisoners] eventually will be paroled, and it’s important for them to maintain ties with their families. If we want them to rehabilitate and [we want to] reduce recidivism, [inmates] and their families need to be [supported],’ says Ms. Molina.

Don’t miss the affair: Viki Battaglia (213) 637-7428 or vlbattaglia@archdiocese.org

Sources:

Interviewed Mary Sean and Amalia Molina, May 1, 2007 during visit.

Interviewed Cole Bienek (CDCR# E-20151) May 4, 2007.