With us today is Chris Cabrera, a Minnesota man who is serving a 27.5yr sentence for 2nd degree murder & 1st degree attempted murder.

Chris says he knows first hand the value of the arts in rehabilitation, and that he has moved past the stage where art is simply a personal tool. He has built programs, taught others and fights vigorously to be a voice for the fallen.

For 10 years Chris ran the only full time art program in the State at Stillwater Penitentiary, he wrote the curriculum and handled the $8,000 materials budget. He also co-founded The Stillwater Writers Collective, Deborah Appleman’s book titled “Words No Bars Can Hold” Chronicles its early development.

In Chris’ words:

“There is certainly a 'cream' that rises to the top, so to speak. There becomes a contingency of inmates that no longer represent the general population; they represent it's potential. All this happens not because of the system but despite it. The system as it stands doesn't make you better, it makes you stronger. It's up to us what we do with our strength. Unfortunately too often it's used to continue to victimize those around us because the system perpetuates pain instead of healing it.”