!RADICAL!:Check out our new "Behind the Wall" page where we profile prisoner and ex prisoner artists and justice advocates!
WELCOME TO NEWS YOU CAN USE SPRING 2010
-Historic Poster with Ex-Prisoner Candidateþ
A classic poster for the upcoming DC Mayoral Candidates Debate for 2010 featuring an ex-prisoner candidate (Dennis Sobin) has been released to advertise
for the event. Please click below for a full-sized copy that you can print, copy and distribute to help promote this important event. If you find yourself in
Washington, DC, on the day of the debate (Thursday, April 22, 2010, 7-8:30 pm) please bring the poster with you for autographs of the candidate(s) of
your choice!
‘HISTORIC MAYORAL CANDIDATES DEBATE POSTER ’
-HEAR OUR DIRECTOR'S MUSCIAL TALENTS ON-LINE OR IN PERSON!
whether he's in jail or out of jail, our director Dennis Sobin works hard at making beautiful music on his guitar.
Hear him play 20 songs now on YouTube. This week Dennis is playing for the annual Nation's Capital ACLU Bill of Rights Awards Dinner on March 18, 2010,
6:30 pm at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC.
He's taking this gig very seriously, as he does all his performances, whether at the Kennedy Center where he regularly plays or elsewhere.
We captured Dennis at the Prison Art Gallery practicing the set he will do at the ACLU event (the set will also include a number of classical and
patriotic pieces).
Check out Dennis' profile on youtube.com
‘DENNIS SOBIN ’
Even better, come see him live this Thursday at the
ACLU Awards Dinner. For more information about the ACLU awards dinner click the link:
‘ALCU OF THE NATION'S CAPITAL’
-Our First Spring Prison Art Show in Downtown, DCþ!
It's fun, it's free, it's convenient, and it features (live, in person) ex-prisoner artist Jahi Foster-Bey. Join us as we unveil our latest
prisoner-made art and jewelry for 2010. It's happening this Saturday and Sunday (March 13 and 14) 10 AM to 6 PM at the north entrance of the Dupont
Circle Metro in downtown Washington, DC.
Multi-talented artist Jahi Foster-Bey will be on hand to answer your questions about creating art in prison and what it takes to succeed as an artist
on outside. You've seen Jahi perform at the Kennedy Center, viewed his commissioned work in Spin magazine, and seen his extraordinary art on display at
the Prison Art Gallery. Now meet him in person and purchase a unique ring, bracelet or necklace he created for just $15. Come out and show your support,
while walking away with something beautiful.
If you're not going to be in Washington, DC during the weekend, please visit our website art gallery to view and purchase hundreds of works
created by presently or formerly imprisoned artists. Thank you.
-Volunteer book designer and logo designer needed for special assignments
We are currently in need of volunteers to undertake two critical assignments as follows:
1. We are publishing two new books under our Foundation House Publishing imprint. We need someone to design them, using photos of prisoner-made art
and additional photos we have on hand. One book is an autobiographical account of a man transitioning back into society after imprisonment, and the
other is a guide to understanding and helping female and male artists in prison. Please let us know if you have the time, experience and interest to
undertake this important assignment.
2. A logo designer is needed to create a logo for the new and expanded gallery we are planning to open featuring art by imprisoned artists from
across America. Like the art we display and sell of talented men and women in prison at our existing gallery, the new gallery will appeal to a curious
public and justice advocates from around the world, many of whom travel to Washington to visit us. We need a designer to capture the excitement and
significance of this bold new undertaking. For more information about either volunteer opportunity, please contact staff@prisonsfoundation.org
-MOVIE IN THE WORKS ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR!þ
A team of filmmakers are planning to make a movie about our director Dennis Sobin, particularly Dennis's colorful past.
Dennis moved to Washington, DC, from his hometown of New York during the bicentennial year of 1976, and made a name for himself as a political activist
for unpopular causes. At the time, police were rounding up women as suspected prostitutes for merely dressing provocatively, officers were hanging out
in men's bathrooms to solicit and arrest gays, and politicians were condemning adult establishments and advocating censorship of all kinds.
Dennis went head to head with these prudish opponents personal freedoms. He published an uncensored illustrated newspaper Free Spirit and launched a
number of other bold initiatives. He ran for public office on three occasions, once giving away condoms with packaging that read "Play it safe and vote for
Dennis Sobin."
For his efforts, Dennis was repeated arrested and jailed on charges that ranged from obscenity to racketeering. He also endured constant character
assassination with absurd accusations ranging from having sex with animals to "attempted" production of child pornography. On two occasions, attempts at
actual assassination were made, including the firebombing of his home.
The movie being planned about Dennis will look at how he endured the slings and arrows of police and political leaders who exploited a puritanical and
ignorant public. You can be involved in the movie if you remember Dennis from the 1970s or 1980s (he spent the 1990s in prison after a conservative
Southern jury convicted him of trumped-up charges). Please contact us if you have an interest in getting involved.
CONTACT: Staff@PrisonsFoundation.org
An Ex-Prisoner Artist's Scary Halloween incident when he reported to his probation officer!
It happened yesterday to one of the ex-prisoner artists we represent, a brilliant classical-jazz guitarist who learned his craft in prison
and now performs at top venues, including the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The artist currently commands $1,500 per performance
(verifiable).
He reported to his probation officer as he does once a month, a usually non-eventful visit since he leads a quiet life and is always in compliance.
But this time was different. His probation officer told him that with Halloween approaching he would have to abide by certain
conditions. Specifically, he could not attend or give any Halloween parties or even open up his door for trick-or-treaters. In fact he had
to stay home the entire day so that he would not encounter any trick-or-treaters.
"What has this got to do with my probation?" he asked the usually reasonable probation officer.
She answered, "We've researched your background and found that 20 years ago you were charged with a sexual offense."
He said, "That was a minor incident and a false accusation. Besides, it has nothing to do with the reason I'm now on probation: violating a
protective order arranged by my hateful adult lawyer son after I sued him for absconding with my funds."
"Nevertheless," she said, "you must adhere to the conditions we impose."
"These new conditions," he said, "are offensive to me. As soon as I leave your office, I will walk to the chambers of the judge who sentenced
me and ask for an emergency hearing. On the way, I will call the ACLU and ask them to represent me. If they don't,
shame on them. One way or the other, I will ask the judge to hold you and your supervisor in contempt of court for adding unreasonable and
irrelevant probation conditions that the judge never specified."
The probation officer knew how unpredictable and vindictive this particular judge could be. She believed there was a remote possibility that
she and her boss could go to jail over this.
After a meeting with her supervisor while she politely asked her probationer to wait, her demand for special Halloween conditions was
withdrawn. He could do whatever he pleased that day, in or out of disguise, as long as he didn't confer with that devil of a judge or enlist
the aid of those angels of retribution known as the American Civil Liberties Union.
Scary Halloween stories are fun, but we like them when they have a happy ending, as this one did.
Thank you for supporting the more than 300 presently and formerly imprisoned artists we represent. It gives them the confidence to stand up for their rights and fight the injustices they often face.
-OUR DIRECTOR TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE!
The letter here is being circulated by our director, Dennis Sobin, to his many friends and supporters. As a tax exempt nonprofit organization that
maintains good relations with all candidates and office holders, we cannot endorse Dennis's candidacy. But we will be preparing and widely publicizing
the results of a questionnaire to go to all candidates that will ask their views on the need to change laws that penalize victimless behavior, their plans
to reduce incarceration, their commitment to effective reentry programs, and related subjects. We encourage all nonprofits to do the same.
"Please help send me to DC City Hall without fear of my being arrested there again."
Dear Friend,
My name is Dennis Sobin and I am director of the Safe Streets Arts Foundation that operates the Prison Art Gallery in Washington, DC, and produces the
annual "From Prison to the Stage" show at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Last year I spent six months in jail for going to testify at a public hearing at DC City Hall at the invitation of a councilmember, but not with the
permission of an assistant attorney general there who has stated his hatred of me and had told me to stay away.
The assistant attorney general is my son who has not forgiven me for questioning his honesty when he was in private law practice. "Mismanaging" my
savings at that time, he was sued by me. He retaliated by having me arrested when I went to City Hall to testify because he was in the building and had
a personal stay away order against me. Even though I did not see him or try to see him while there, he had the law on his side and he directed his fellow
assistant attorneys general to prosecute me.
It's not entirely my son's fault. More so, I blame politically-minded judges for enforcing laws unfairly. My experience with the law is that it is often
enforced harshly against the poor, the powerless and the politically unconnected. No wonder so many of us are in jail and that America leads the world in
incarceration.
It wasn't the first time I went to jail. Now age 65, I've been an activist for many years, having spent time with such notables as Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. and Bobby Kennedy. As with King and Kennedy, my life and freedom have been put on the line on several occasions. Like Blacks in the Jim Crow
era I've been attacked by sometimes prejudicial media, like Jews in the Nazi era I've been made to register as an undesirable, and like outspoken people
in all eras I've been punished repeatedly and severely.
In the 1980s I became a political candidate in Washington, DC on three occasions: for School board, city council, and mayor. Some parts of my platform,
such as decriminalization, educational innovation, health improvement and jail reform, were later adopted by the city. But not enough of them, as my
recent arrest and imprisonment for visiting City Hall to testify, as all citizens have a right to do, shows. Now I am asking for your help so that I can
return without fear of another arrest and more time in jail.
When a person cannot go to her or his own City Hall to attend or testify at a public hearing-even when invited to do so and placed on a witness as
I was-our laws, judges and democratic process are in need of serious overhaul.
This has led to my decision to run for public office again. Even if I do not win but only make a good showing, the consciousness of voters and the
conscience of lawmakers, government attorneys and judges will be positively influenced. But to accomplish that, I need your help.
I invite you to join my Election Committee. The Committee will help me decide what office to seek and what issues to address. As a member, you will
help me spread the word that all citizens, whether young or old, black or white, rich or poor, must be treated with respect and dignity. To become a
member, without cost or obligation, please write or email me.
The next time I go to a public hearing or meet with officials-whether senators, congress members or President Obama himself-I want to go there as your
representative. I hope to hear from you. Together, we can work for the cause of justice and for a government that respects all of its citizens.
Thank you.
Most sincerely,
Dennis Sobin
725 24th St. NW,
Apt. 611
Washington, DC 20037
DennisSobin@Yahoo.com
-2009 KENNEDY CENTER EVENT A MASSIVE SUCCESS!
The 2009 Prison to the Stage event held at the Kennedy center was a massive success! We apologize for not having seating available for all of the more than
700 people who came to our two-and-a-half-hour program of prisoner-written plays
at the Kennedy Center last night. The turnout was even larger than our optimistic expectations, with people occupying the inner stairs of the theater and
standing five deep in the rear at one point to see these outstanding plays presented by Washington's most talented (and socially conscious) actors.
The six-page printed program is already becoming a collectors' item. We are offering the few we have left to our supporters (minimum donation of $25
when you call 202-393-1511 and use your credit card).
Thank you for your tremendous support. It means more to the men and women on the inside and to their loved ones on the outside than we can say.
Here are the plays that were presented FREE on Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009 from 7:30 to 10 pm during our "From Prison to the Stage" program on the
Millennium Stage of the Kennedy Center, Washington, DC. with your support:
1. The Love That Divides by Hakim M. Abdul-Wasi, Music by Inner Voices
"A man returns home to his Christian family after converting to Islam while away, only to find his family upset and unaccepting of his new beliefs."
2. One Fine Day in Inferior Court by Alex Friedman
"A wacky judge, a clueless defense attorney, a bloodthirsty prosecutor and a hapless defendant fall over each other in this courtroom farce."
3. I Am a Woman on Death Row
by Kathleen O'Shea,
Music by Lorri Carter
"Not one woman but dozens on death row in America today tell their stories of hope and survival."
4. Reading Slim by Raymond McGee
"A hostile prisoner resists taking advantage of educational opportunities in his prison to hide his inadequacies, including a shameful secret from his past."
5. Homeward Bound by Richard Dyches,
Music by Dennis Sobin
"About to leave his correctional institution, a prisoner finds that his shortcomings are still in need of correction as he prepares to face his wary wife and confused son."
6. Time In by Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble and the women of York Correctional Institution.
Music by Women of the Cross
"Story, song and dance about the heartaches and triumphs of women in prison."
RUNNING LIST OF CURRENT ARTICLES. UPDATED FOR SPRING 2010
PRISONS FOUNDATION.ORG
1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20006. E-mail: Staff@PrisonsFoundation.org
Phone: 202-393-1511
Notice: The Internal Revenue Service has determined that the Prisons
Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization
and that, in view of its official nonprofit status, contributions made
to the Prisons Foundation are deductible to the fullest extent of the
law.
