My name is Artem Vaskanyan. I am an Armenian refugee from Azerbaijan. During the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan my family and I, at age six, migrated to the Russian parts of the former Soviet Union and years later in 1993 we migrated to the United States. At age twenty in the year 2000 I was arrested and imprisoned. During my years of incarceration, my life set me on the path of spiritual and intellectual growth. Because of my drive to persevere, I was able to graduate from Boston University with a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts in 2020, become an activist, a writer & Perot and a published author of three books.
Thank you for listening.
Yours truly,
-Artem
My name is Eddie Mack. And I am 38 years of age. I am a black man raised in a single-parent household. I am currently serving a life sentence for a crime I did not commit under a theory called Joint Venture.
My name is Elbert Newson. I’m currently doing life in prison for murder in the first degree. I have a Joint Venture case: meaning there was a principal, and Joint Venturer and I was the Joint Venture. Plus, I had no principal in my case. To understand Joint Venture would be a miracle.
My name is Amos Don. Fiancé to Joanna Celestin. I am currently serving a life sentence; wrongfully convicted. Presently, I am enrolled in Emerson College. I am also a published poet, a children’s book author, and involved in civic engagement through DonofCreation/Ink from Honey LLC.
Peace Family, My name is Ray Còlon, I am 48 years old and I’ve been incarcerated for 24 years on a sentence of life without parole. I am the Latino Chairman on the Norfolk inmate council. I co-facilitate the Harriet Tubman project and I am enrolled in the Emerson Prison Initiative.
On behalf of Lizard Lounge, we are full of gratitude. We are the class of incarcerated people honored for this privilege to feature our poetry. Often society never witnessed rehabilitation take form. In account are six poets who are somewhat engaged in civic duties and some kind of transformative education/program while incarcerated. Our vision and hope seeks to arise understanding, and gain voting support on the joint venture bill sponsored by state representative Lindsay Sabadosa to abolish the contributing factor towards the mass incarceration of black and brown poverty communities, and the demographic of poor white people. Abolishing Joint Venture theory will unlock the chains of injustice, and allowing the person who never shared the intentions to commit the crime to revive Justice. If tonight moves you in any way, share our story, and let it be because Ink From Honey rehabilitates.
