Aaron Kiousis
"The reason I write for this project is for the simple fact that there is some much freedom in creativity even though I am denied my freedom. Although I'm in prison I'm the freest I've been ever, with my work. Through my work I begin to float. Because I strive to create and make all that is Art be it painting, making music, or in this case the written word. I partake in all forms in order to take me away, and puts me on what feels like a different plain."
"My story started in Cleveland, OHIO with street art; a sense of rebellion, I was driven to show the beauty that is and can be made from the ugly. Be it a massive mural or just an inspirational line of words. For three decades I've walked and seen a great deal, and without the forms of art to brighten up the world. I feel my soul would be worn and torn, tattered and frail. I indulge in what I feel is one of the finer things in life, that pairs right along the side with food. All of which is what makes up a great deal that is me, as well as you, It helps to inspire the next or the one after that. Now I will ask what it is to you?"
"The project of ID13 is an amazing way to capture some of the most creative minds that are hindered by being incarcerated in the prison system. I myself am a very creative person and I went through life not meeting as many creative individuals as I have in prison. I feel everyone should have the opportunity to see what I see."
"My story started in Cleveland, OHIO with street art; a sense of rebellion, I was driven to show the beauty that is and can be made from the ugly. Be it a massive mural or just an inspirational line of words. For three decades I've walked and seen a great deal, and without the forms of art to brighten up the world. I feel my soul would be worn and torn, tattered and frail. I indulge in what I feel is one of the finer things in life, that pairs right along the side with food. All of which is what makes up a great deal that is me, as well as you, It helps to inspire the next or the one after that. Now I will ask what it is to you?"
"The project of ID13 is an amazing way to capture some of the most creative minds that are hindered by being incarcerated in the prison system. I myself am a very creative person and I went through life not meeting as many creative individuals as I have in prison. I feel everyone should have the opportunity to see what I see."
Chardon Black
"My name is Chardon Javar Black, and my life has changed. Instead of working for $, I will be dedicated to a cause. My focus is on investing and housing. I’d love to start an athletic corporation to put on shows, and entertain spreading the messages of my focus. I believe strongly in the early importance of financial education, and my goal is to share housing to prove this point. I want to build from my community to overseas. I will start small giving peace and solace to those who need it including myself. My writing is the start of my mind believing the progress, and let this be the reason for all efforts of communication. Who knows what can come out of this. Maybe a movie, or you being able to control your own finances. I just want to help, and hopefully you can help me. This is my purpose for life."
"This group has been the best escape one can get in these confinements. We not only write, but brainstorm on all type of thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. We are a mixed culture of individuals all able to speak our mind on any topic without being politically correct. Free to share or even pass if we wish and just listen to others. There is no feeling like speaking your mind and this is exactly what this ables us to do. I am thankful to all of our volunteers who come from the outside who donate their time to make this possible. We couldn’t do it without you, and the worlds needs to know of this. I thank you for your time and lookout for my work."
"This group has been the best escape one can get in these confinements. We not only write, but brainstorm on all type of thoughts, ideas, feelings and emotions. We are a mixed culture of individuals all able to speak our mind on any topic without being politically correct. Free to share or even pass if we wish and just listen to others. There is no feeling like speaking your mind and this is exactly what this ables us to do. I am thankful to all of our volunteers who come from the outside who donate their time to make this possible. We couldn’t do it without you, and the worlds needs to know of this. I thank you for your time and lookout for my work."
Chris Ledbetter
"My main influence is H. P. Lovecraft. My favorite genres are Weird Fiction from the early 1900s and Cyberpunk from the 80s. My favorite writers include Lovecraft, Robert E. Howard, Ambrose Bierce, Robert W. Chambers, E. T. A. Hoffmann, Algernon Blackwood, Philip K. Dick, Cordwainer Smith, William Gibson, and Bruce Sterling."
"Writers Club and Book Club provide an opportunity to exercise my intellectual muscles, something which is lacking in the prison environment."
"Writers Club and Book Club provide an opportunity to exercise my intellectual muscles, something which is lacking in the prison environment."
Cody Goldeon
"I am not who I was."
E.L.
"I am... originally from the cities of the east coast, currently residing in the Ohio judicial system. I started writing as a freshmen in high school, a hopeless romantic seeking the approval from women through my poems and influential rap lyrics with my comrades. Even then while taunted by suicidal thoughts, empty from the lack of love from someone or self, I knew "He that love not know not God for God is love." It was within this time I realized my passion for writing as well as my true passion for a spiritual connection with Love. So when I write its these thoughts that motivate me. I'm not limited to the here and now. These fences don't stop me from connecting with the unseen controller of all things. I connect with the creator you the reader connect with me and we connect eternally for harmonious moments of time. Even during this lonely metaphorical death called incarceration we still project peace.I'm a single man with no contact with friends or family outside these walls however I know "surely with difficulty comes relief" so I aim to express that relief in my writings."
"I write romantic poems to the fantasy, fantasy poems to humanity,
intellectual poems to stupidity and story lines with humility for all to see.
I am the physical spiritual writer of love and reality.
Read and journey with me to a realm where we are free."
"To me this writers club means so much to me. The passion I have for writing is being strengthened as well as my skills. The fact that Halle and Christopher sacrifice their time and safety to teach in such an unsafe and unstable environment. If I was placed in their shoes I could only imagine this sacrifice as an initial fear followed with a joy."
"It’s like when white and dark chocolate mix over honey roasted peanuts covered with caramel, on a sunny day, on the beach, Margarita in hand, watching children and puppies at play... In other words I really appreciate it. Thank you."
"I write romantic poems to the fantasy, fantasy poems to humanity,
intellectual poems to stupidity and story lines with humility for all to see.
I am the physical spiritual writer of love and reality.
Read and journey with me to a realm where we are free."
"To me this writers club means so much to me. The passion I have for writing is being strengthened as well as my skills. The fact that Halle and Christopher sacrifice their time and safety to teach in such an unsafe and unstable environment. If I was placed in their shoes I could only imagine this sacrifice as an initial fear followed with a joy."
"It’s like when white and dark chocolate mix over honey roasted peanuts covered with caramel, on a sunny day, on the beach, Margarita in hand, watching children and puppies at play... In other words I really appreciate it. Thank you."
Karl Meier
"I just turned 61 on March 9, 2018. I am and have been stuck in a wheelchair for the past 2 yrs. I am currently serving a 4yr sentence for a felony O.V.I. I have traveled all over the U.S. and several other countries. I lived in California, S. Dakota and Alaska and plan to do more traveling when I get out."
Marcus
I am a child of God, the creator of the universe, maker of all things breathing high, and breathing low... He is the great, "I AM" and I am his son, Marcus.
I am my mother's youngest son, I am my son and daughters only father. I am a brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, godfather, brother-n-law, father-n-law, and now proud to be a grandfather. I am a man who takes great pride in loyalty, trust, and honesty. I respect those who give respect, I am a man who respects all races, it doesn't matter if you're black, white, brown, red or green. I am a child of God, I thought I told you! I am filled with love and empathy, not hate or pain... I am a money getter, an entrepreneur, and a do it myself type of man. I am a strategist, a planner, a tactician, and a goal setter. I am up every morning before daylight. My day is already structured before it starts. I know how it will begin, and I have foresight to know how it will end. I am in control of my own destiny. Confined or not "no one controls my thoughts, but me!"
I control my destiny, because I am in control of how I think. If you can think thing's into existence then I have already thought about being "free." Not just mentally, but physically. Physically "I AM" here! However, my thoughts are lining up with my physicality. And once they're completely on the same accord, physically I will be into what I believe is reality! For some this is their reality, because they have not begun to think outside the box. The box is whatever you allow your mind to be trapped in. I am strong, wanted, needed, and believed in. I am gifted from birth... I am a leader, a mentor, an employer and not an employee. In my thoughts, I am the founder of a 501 (c) (3) prison reentry program. I am the president of this nonprofit organization and not a resident. I am the employer of hundreds of people. I am in and out of prison's across Ohio, and the United States, telling my story to hundreds of thousands of incarcerated men, women, and teens. I am changing lives, communities and schools.
I have programs set up for offender's, and ex-offenders. My programs consist of G.E.D testing preparation, study help for truck driving opportunities, pro social skills, NA/AA weekly meetings, dressing for success, basic use of computers, and mobile device's for offender's that have been out of touch with society since the advancement of technology. I am offering housing for those who have no where to go upon their release. I have jobs available to help those pay bills, child support payments, and to make their transition into society a little less complicated. I am working with offender's before they come home. I have my organization approved by D.R.C, and we work with individuals who have 36 to 24 months left on their sentence, or those who have to see the parole board in that same amount of time. I am a solution to the problem of recidivism.... I am currently in the system, and I know what's needed to curve what's going on.
I am not only the president of this thriving and growing organization, I am the owner of multiple real estate holdings. I have residential housing, such a townhouses, condominium's, and apartment's for rent. I own commercial real estate as well, warehouses, vacant land for lease, store fronts and office building's. I have several LLC's, limited liability companies that I hold my property in. I am the owner of a thriving and successful buy here pay here car lot. I also own a high end car lot for those with more cash, and higher credit scores. I am the owner and founder of an affordable furniture store in two separate states. I am a pattern to follow, because in my mind, I am already there. I am already there because I have thought about it, and I have made plans to acquire what I thought....I have a goal and a mission to reach that goal.
My thoughts are serious, because I am serious. "I AM, Marcus, and I AM, a Success!"
I am my mother's youngest son, I am my son and daughters only father. I am a brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, godfather, brother-n-law, father-n-law, and now proud to be a grandfather. I am a man who takes great pride in loyalty, trust, and honesty. I respect those who give respect, I am a man who respects all races, it doesn't matter if you're black, white, brown, red or green. I am a child of God, I thought I told you! I am filled with love and empathy, not hate or pain... I am a money getter, an entrepreneur, and a do it myself type of man. I am a strategist, a planner, a tactician, and a goal setter. I am up every morning before daylight. My day is already structured before it starts. I know how it will begin, and I have foresight to know how it will end. I am in control of my own destiny. Confined or not "no one controls my thoughts, but me!"
I control my destiny, because I am in control of how I think. If you can think thing's into existence then I have already thought about being "free." Not just mentally, but physically. Physically "I AM" here! However, my thoughts are lining up with my physicality. And once they're completely on the same accord, physically I will be into what I believe is reality! For some this is their reality, because they have not begun to think outside the box. The box is whatever you allow your mind to be trapped in. I am strong, wanted, needed, and believed in. I am gifted from birth... I am a leader, a mentor, an employer and not an employee. In my thoughts, I am the founder of a 501 (c) (3) prison reentry program. I am the president of this nonprofit organization and not a resident. I am the employer of hundreds of people. I am in and out of prison's across Ohio, and the United States, telling my story to hundreds of thousands of incarcerated men, women, and teens. I am changing lives, communities and schools.
I have programs set up for offender's, and ex-offenders. My programs consist of G.E.D testing preparation, study help for truck driving opportunities, pro social skills, NA/AA weekly meetings, dressing for success, basic use of computers, and mobile device's for offender's that have been out of touch with society since the advancement of technology. I am offering housing for those who have no where to go upon their release. I have jobs available to help those pay bills, child support payments, and to make their transition into society a little less complicated. I am working with offender's before they come home. I have my organization approved by D.R.C, and we work with individuals who have 36 to 24 months left on their sentence, or those who have to see the parole board in that same amount of time. I am a solution to the problem of recidivism.... I am currently in the system, and I know what's needed to curve what's going on.
I am not only the president of this thriving and growing organization, I am the owner of multiple real estate holdings. I have residential housing, such a townhouses, condominium's, and apartment's for rent. I own commercial real estate as well, warehouses, vacant land for lease, store fronts and office building's. I have several LLC's, limited liability companies that I hold my property in. I am the owner of a thriving and successful buy here pay here car lot. I also own a high end car lot for those with more cash, and higher credit scores. I am the owner and founder of an affordable furniture store in two separate states. I am a pattern to follow, because in my mind, I am already there. I am already there because I have thought about it, and I have made plans to acquire what I thought....I have a goal and a mission to reach that goal.
My thoughts are serious, because I am serious. "I AM, Marcus, and I AM, a Success!"
Michael Derr
"Michael Derr is an aspiring artist/ author. His work varies in seriousness shading from comedic works to the dark ends of his life. He studied creative writing at Ashland University during his time incarcerated at Lake Erie Correctional institution. Mr. Derr is also a rapper known as "DERRTY BAND$" for the group "North Park Mafia". No work is released due to his current status, but he is rumored to have earlier work under the tagline #TRUEN$Y."
Mike Dunn
"Mike Dunn is much of an anomaly; struggling, tortured artist, general derelict, and international man of mystery. He is currently walking down the tail end of a 7 year prison sentence, serving time for the man. Mike likes tattoos, science fiction, philosophy, and dark humor. He dislikes religion and fascism. He also enjoys horrifying onlookers by running through their yards, yelling and spinning around."
Tracy Matthews
"My name is Tracy Matthews. At the time of writing this biography I am incarcerated. I am from Warren, OH. A lot of my work is based off my experiences as a substance abuser and what those experiences were like becoming sober while incarcerated. My works of poetry are also very symbolic to things I have gone through in different parts of my life and also while incarcerated. I will be released in August of 2017 so my works will be to this time and from that I will submit works based on my transition into society. I would love for those that read my works to get into a mind of an addict and experiencing new things as in terms of emotions and things that have been long gone since using and are now coming back. And most importantly, my freedom is physically taken but my mind is free and I am free from the bondage of addiction."
"This group to me allows me to enhance my creative thinking in aspects beyond just writing. I go back to my housing area still thinking how I can open my mind up even more through poetry and characterization. This is also therapeutic for me considering my situation I am currently am. I really like the ID13 project and the idea my family can read and I plan upon my release in a couple months to continue to help on the outside."
"This group to me allows me to enhance my creative thinking in aspects beyond just writing. I go back to my housing area still thinking how I can open my mind up even more through poetry and characterization. This is also therapeutic for me considering my situation I am currently am. I really like the ID13 project and the idea my family can read and I plan upon my release in a couple months to continue to help on the outside."
Wesley Dirmeyer
"My name is Wes and I'm a 30 year old convict serving a seven year sentence. I got into writing because I wanted to write lyrics. My family has always been musically inclined and some can even play multiple instruments. I wanted to get into music in a different way and that’s through words. Songs can do so much that people don’t even realize. It can change your mood, pass time, and possibly even change the world. That’s how I want to make an impact and am striving to better my poetry and creative writing in order to do so. This change I want to make not for myself but for my two little girls at home who are my world so I want to better theirs!"
"The writers club has helped me in a lot more ways that I originally thought it would. It has helped me to look deeper into myself and extract thoughts and ideas I never knew existed within me. Not only has it helped my writing but helped me to realize a few thoughts and themes in my life I wasn’t aware of in the past. I love the prompts and ideas the professors bring in for us and can’t wait to work further."
"The writers club has helped me in a lot more ways that I originally thought it would. It has helped me to look deeper into myself and extract thoughts and ideas I never knew existed within me. Not only has it helped my writing but helped me to realize a few thoughts and themes in my life I wasn’t aware of in the past. I love the prompts and ideas the professors bring in for us and can’t wait to work further."