“According to an old Native American proverb, there are two wolves in each of us. The good wolf, and the bad wolf. And whichever one we feed is the one that will survive.  

I myself have fed both. I’ve fed the bad wolf to the point that I was living like one. I treated everything and everyone like a potential meal. Until eventually my journey with the bad wolf led me to prison. It wasn’t in prison that I found the other wolf, but it was in prison that I learned to care about it.

My experience on the inside has shown me how to nurture a side of me that had always been there. And its because of that nurturing that I’ve been trying to show others that’s its ok to feed the good wolf…”

Read the full post after the jump!

This new regular feature, written by Alvaro Cumberbatch, will be comprised of musings of a formerly incarcerated man who is currently in the process of building his own better future.  Having served six and a half years on the inside, Alvaro has a unique inside/out perspective to share with our readers.  Comments and questions are encouraged!!  To learn more about Alvaro, please scroll to the bottom for a full profile.

Check out this week’s edition of the DRCPP Weekly Email Update, available here!

The economy’s still struggling, and millions of Americans are desperate for work. And there are some people who are stuck with an even harder time than most.  “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”  If you have to check “yes” next to that question, you’ve probably just said “no” to a job.

In Connecticut, a group of activists decided to challenge the question. Sam Alcoff and Rodolfo Piana went to visit and to hear their stories.  (Check out the full post to view the video!)

Community Meetings at “the Castle” + the Genesis of The Castle Play

Producing, directing, and touring with the play The Castle, which also I conceived and wrote with the help of the four cast members, has been a rewarding experience for me. It is the journey of three men and a woman, all of whom have been in prison and who arrived at The Fortune Academy to reclaim their lives…

A very important Human Rights bill that will help thousands of New Yorkers with criminal histories fight illegal discrimination has passed the Legislature. But there is still another critical step: Governor Paterson must approve and sign the bill into law!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TODAY: PLEASE CONTACT HIM AND TELL HIM TO SIGN S4687/A8012 INTO LAW WHEN IT REACHES HIS DESK.

On July 7th at 1pm and July 15th at 4:45 the David Rothenberg Center for Public Policy has partnered with LaGuardia Community College to offer a Certificate of Relief From Disabilities and Certificate of Good Conduct Clinic for formerly incarcerated people who need assistance with the application process.