Mission
The Poetic Justice Project advances social justice by providing opportunities for prison arts project alumni to deepen their art practice, bringing home their experiences of incarceration, debunking stereotypes, and engaging communities in person-to-person exchanges in safe and supportive learning environments.Â
Vision
WJA’s Poetic Justice Project (PJP) began in 2009 with the vision of unlocking hearts and minds by engaging formerly incarcerated people in the creation of original theatre that examines social justice, crime, punishment, and redemption. We are expanding on the success of PJP to engage our Prison Arts Project visual arts alumni as they are being released from prison and contacting us for opportunities to continue to share their unique experiences through the creation of art, as a tool for recovery from trauma, and to shine a light on the humanity that endures through mass incarceration.
By creating sanctuaries for art and community, and opportunities for exhibitions and performances, we break down walls and build bridges for people subject to the trauma and stigma of incarceration. In the process, and with an emphasis on process over product, we build community, belonging, connection, resilience, agency, meaning, confidence, and income for participating artists. Following the lead of who we serve, we offer skill building around the business of being an artist and access to and support around new technologies.
Our Stories
Deborah Tobola
As a child, Deborah’s unlikely journey began with meals in the cafeteria of the California Men’s Colony, where her father worked. That initial connection to the world behind bars eventually led her to earn an MFA in creative writing and return to the same prison as a driving force behind the Poetic Justice Project. Raised by a father who saw her as an intelligent individual in her own right, Deborah’s life was shaped by mentorship, persistence, and a deep sense of social justice, attributes she now channels into her mission of transforming lives within the California state prison system.
Guillermo Willie
Guillermo’s journey, which began with youthful curiosity and misguided choices, led him down a path of addiction and frequent arrests. Once a young man who attended church, carried books, and lived with his loving family, he found himself in a relentless cycle of drug-related offenses and incarceration. The story explores how one person’s decisions, like the bricks of a self-constructed prison, led to decades of confinement, offering a profound reflection on the power of personal beliefs and the consequences of life’s unexpected turns.
Leonard David Flippen
Leonard David Flippen IV was born into a life of privilege as a military brat, exploring different cultures and adapting effortlessly. Yet, when his family circumstances changed, and he found himself in the challenging environment of Atlanta’s projects without a father figure, Leonard embarked on a path that would lead him into a world of crime and a yearning for authority. His journey from a sheltered upbringing to the gritty streets of California as a member of the Crips is a compelling tale of transformation, resilience, and the complex factors that shape one’s destiny.
Tina Grace
Tina Freeborn’s childhood was a paradox of total freedom within a suffocating net of neglect and poverty. Fending for herself and her younger sister amid hunger and filth, Tina became the de facto parent at a tender age. But at just 12 years old, a glimmer of hope emerged when a compassionate adult stepped in to rescue her from a life devoid of guidance and thrust her into the embrace of a normal home. The story of Tina’s resilience and the transformative power of one caring individual will compel you to delve deeper into her extraordinary journey.
Bull Chaney
Fredrick “Bull” Chaney, a formidable figure at 6’3″ and 263 pounds, might evoke a sense of curiosity and caution upon first glance, much like the arrival of a pit bull into a playground. Yet, behind this imposing exterior lies a remarkable journey of transformation. From a troubled past marked by drug dealing and prison time, Bull emerged as a devoted husband, an involved father, and a beacon of hope for fellow ex-convicts in his community, challenging preconceived notions and inspiring positive change. The tale of his redemption and impact promises an inspiring narrative worth exploring further.
William Brown
Within the landscape of a man’s body, marked by life’s experiences, lies a story waiting to be unveiled. In the case of William Lamar Brown, a brilliant young student from a challenging neighborhood, it all began with a burning desire to live up to his family’s high expectations. Yet, as adolescence led him down a different path, he found himself entangled in the complexities of gang life, with an unexpected scar etched by the one person he least expected. The tale of William’s transformation, woven with pressure, aspirations, and an unexpected twist, invites you to explore the depths of his journey and the bite of a sister’s love.
Carolyn Taylor Hitch
Caroline Taylor-Hitch’s life, once mired in teenage addiction and a sense of aimlessness, took a dramatic turn when she discovered her love for acting. Against all odds, her passion for the stage became her anchor, pulling her away from the brink and back into the classroom. With a map of California before her, she took a leap of faith and let fate decide her destination, landing in Santa Maria, setting the stage for a new chapter in her quest for a happier life.
Cooper Wise
Cooper Wise’s search for a feeling that truly fit him led him from the neon lights of theater stages to the dark corners of heroin addiction. As a bright young talent in Las Vegas, he found solace in acting, but the lure of drugs took him to a college in the Pacific Northwest, where substance abuse took hold. Now, back in Las Vegas and struggling with addiction, Cooper faced a painful realization: going home didn’t bring the solace he desperately sought.