We have received much publicity in the Northeast since opening our Prison Art Gallery in Washington, DC, in 2006 for our unique Prison Art Collection. Now the LA Times has featured us in an article about the best places throughout the world to view and acquire art made by imprisoned artists. We look forward to more publicity this winter when we take our new Mobile Prison Art Gallery to art shows and festivals throughout the South.

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery]

We are pleased to announce that we have purchased a beautiful and well-equipped motorhome RV (see below) with funds that the ACLU obtained for us in a settlement with the City of Washington, DC, following the illegal actions of DC police who tried to prevent us from displaying and selling art by imprisoned artists on the sidewalks of DC. Lawyers working with the ACLU successfully argued that the actions of DC police against us violated DC law and our First Amendment constitutional rights.

We are planning a tour of much of our extensive collection of prison art with the mobile unit this winter throughout the Southern states. Would you or your organization be interested in hosting a prison art show in your city? if so, please write or call us at Staff@PrisonsFoundation.org 202-393-1511. Thank you.

[Courtesy of Prisons Foundation]

October is turning into a busy month for our director, Dennis Sobin, but he will get a much-needed rest at the end of it if all goes...wrong.

Dennis will perform classical guitar at the The 6th Annual Foggy Bottom Festival on Sunday, October 19, 2008 at the Eye Street Mall (At the Foggy Bottom Metro, between 23rd and 24th Streets, NW), Washington, DC. (*Rain Date, October 26, 2008 - same time.) Dennis will be performing the works of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Chopin, Scott Joplin, and a unique classical guitar arrangement of the modern classic "Stairway to Heaven." Don't miss this riveting and possibly farewell concert.

The 29th is Dennis Sobin's second important date in October, when he will be put on trial for entering City Hall on three occasions at the invitation of City Council member Phil Mendelson to testify at public hearings. His arrest was the result of actions by Dennis's son Darrin, a political adversary who is employed at City Hall as an assistant attorney general. He used his position and influence to get a stay away order against his father, which he asked the arresting officer and now the judge to interpret as not just staying away from him personally but away from all of city hall. You are welcome to attend Dennis's bench trial as he faces one and half years in jail if convicted of all three counts. It will be held in Judge Turner's courtroom, ground floor, DC Superior Court, 500 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 10 am.

[Courtesy of Prisons Foundation] 

There's a treat in store for you when you click the below YouTube links. One will take you to a video montage of our recent Kennedy Center show "From Prison to the Stage." The other features the best artwork at our Prison Art Gallery. Each beautiful and inspiring video, produced by ex-prisoner Kevin Horrocks, is less than two minutes and is accompanied by the music of ex-prisoner jazz guitarist Dennis Sobin.

Video of Kennedy Center ex-prisoner show produced by Prisons Foundation

Video of outstanding art at the Prison Art Gallery, Washington, DC

[Courtesy of Prisons Foundation]

Please request your free copy of our latest fundraising publication, "Make Money While Making a Difference in Prisons Across America." This is our latest publication, and it's for anyone who wants to operate a Prison Art Gallery satellite sales and information center as a significant fundraising vehicle. Such centers, known as Prison Art Kiosks, display and sell arts and crafts made by imprisoned male and female artists from across America. The Kiosks also offer books, information and literature on ways to improve prison conditions, rehabilitation programs, victim assistance, and the re-entry of released prisoners to society. For a small investment, you or your organization can get a sustantial return. To request your free copy, please email staff@PrisonsFoundation.org.

Call 202-393-1511 to reserve your spot.

Thanks to a grant we received from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Prisons Foundation throughout the year has been conducting free all-day workshops for individuals who wish to become a mentor to imprisoned artists. We are now having our last workshop--a wrap up one that's just half a day long--and invite all to attend, whether or not you have been to a previous workshop. This summary workshop will feature the highlights of previous workshops. The workshop is free and refreshments will be served. It is ideal for anyone who attended any of the previous workshops as well as for new participants who seek to work either as a volunteer or paid staff member in a jail or prison.

Attend this free workshop on Saturday, September 27, 1 to 5 pm. You'll learn what it takes to work in a jail or prison to foster artistic development among inmates. You'll receive this valuable training from experienced correctional officials (from both public and private jails) who have made presentations at our previous seminars. The highlights of their presentations will be show on video. You will also benefit from the insights and knowledge of ex-prisoner artists who will serve as workshop leaders. These knowledgeable people will share their experiences with you in a relaxed and fun setting at the Prison Art Gallery in downtown Washington, DC.

This is a rare opportunity to make contacts and obtain valuable information. You can be part of it all. Whether you're looking for a one afternoon per month volunteer opportunity or a full-time paid career position, you will find this workshop very worthwhile.

Please call us at 202-393-1511 or email staff@PrisonsFoundation.org for more information. Thank you.

For Immediate Release: September 4, 2008

National Organization Decries NFL's $300K Fine for Marijuana Possession

In wake of Faulk punishment, group calling on NFL to stop steering players toward using alcohol -- which can contribute to violence -- instead of marijuana

SAFER circulating on-line petition and delivering letter -- on Friday, Sept. 5 -- to NFL commissioner highlighting hypocrisy of league that accepts millions in alcohol sponsorships and punishes players for using less harmful drug

NEW YORK -- A national marijuana policy reform organization is decrying the fine of more than $300,000 levied this week by the National Football League against New England Patriots running back Kevin Faulk for marijuana possession. Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is calling for changes to the NFL's marijuana policy via an on-line petition and an official letter to Commissioner Roger Goodell that the organization will hand-deliver to the league's head office in New York City tomorrow, Friday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. EDT.

The petition and the letter highlight the hypocrisy of the NFL's excessive punishments for marijuana use by its players, while accepting and promoting the use of alcohol, a much more harmful drug (see http://www.saferchoice.org/petitions/nfl/ and petition language below). According to SAFER, the NFL's policy is steering players away from making the rational choice to use a less harmful substance, and driving them to use alcohol, which has been found to contribute to violent crimes and aggressive behavior.

"The NFL has no problem with players using alcohol and it accepts hundreds of millions of dollars to promote booze to football fans of all ages," said SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert. "Yet the league punishes those players who make the safer choice to use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate. The NFL is driving its players to drink."

The NFL announced this week that Faulk would be suspended for one game and would have two games' salary withheld -- more than $300,000 -- because he was found to be in possession of a few cigars sprinkled with marijuana at a February concert in New Orleans.

"Every objective study on marijuana has concluded that it is far less harmful than alcohol both to those who use it and to others around them," Tvert said. "It is a mystery why Commissioner Goodell and the NFL would want to steer the biggest, toughest guys in the country away from using marijuana and toward using alcohol, which contributes to aggressive behavior and countless violent crimes."

SAFER first publicly criticized the NFL's marijuana policy in October 2007, when it erected a billboard across the street from Invesco Field in Denver that featured an image of NFL superstar Ricky Williams in a Denver Broncos jersey, urging the recently reinstated player to "Come to Denver: Where the people support your SAFER choice." (see story at http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7062771)

WHAT: Delivery of letter to NFL Commissioner calling for changes to NFL marijuana policy

WHEN: Friday, September 5, 11 a.m. EDT

WHERE: NFL Head Office, 280 Park Avenue, New York City

WHO: SAFER Executive Director Mason Tvert

Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to educate the public about the harmful consequences associated with alcohol, as compared to the safer —yet illegal—substance: marijuana. For more information, see http://www.SAFERchoice.org.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

SAFER's On-Line Petition

Players with the National Football League who use marijuana instead of alcohol to relax and recreate are making a rational choice to use a less harmful substance.

Suspending these players and taking away hundreds of thousands (or sometimes millions) of dollars for using marijuana is driving them to use alcohol, a drug that -- unlike marijuana -- contributes to violent and aggressive behavior. SAFER - Safer Alternative for Enjoyable Recreation

Unless the NFL plans to suspend every player who receives a speeding ticket -- which is considered an offense on par with marijuana possession in some states -- it has absolutely no reason to suspend players for the simple use and possession of marijuana. Doing so is not only irrational, but given the NFL's acceptance and blatant promotion of alcohol, it is exceptionally hypocritical.

Marijuana is safer than alcohol and the National Football League's substance abuse policy should be changed immediately to reflect that fact.

# # #

[Courtesy of Prisons Foundation]

We hope that you will be attending this year's exciting edition of "From Prison to the Stage" at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, August 30, at 8 pm. Presented by the Prisons Foundation, it features excepts of plays and musicals written by prisoners and ex-prisoners. If you attended last year's program you know it was a big success, with a large overflow crowd. To accommodate many more people this year, the Kennedy Center has designated the popular and well-accommodated Millennium Stage on the ground level for our program.

"From Prison to the Stage" is presented as part of the Kennedy Center's internationally acclaimed Page-to-Stage Festival. Attendance is free and open to all. Also free this year is an opportunity for justice organizations to distribute their literature during the program. We are pleased to announce that there will be free table space available for this purpose.

The entire cost of "From Prison to the Stage" this year is being underwritten by the program's producer, Lloyd S. Rubin, so no additional funds will be solicited from organizations to help with the expenses. Just spread the word so that attendance will be at an all time high.

If you are a representative of a justice organization, please send a hundred or so pieces of your literature to the Prisons Foundation, 1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20006 a week prior to the event (no signs please). If you can bring the material to the Kennedy Center on the evening of the event (and of course stay for a great program), you are welcome to do so.

Whether or not you plan to bring or send literature, we invite you to be there and to forward this notice to your email list so that we will get the largest possible turnout. This is an opportunity to educate while entertain the public about the talent and humanity of our brothers and sisters behind bars at one of the world's foremost cultural and performance centers, the renowned Kennedy Center. Come encourage prisoners to cast off their second-class citizen status as they provide us with a night of theatrical elegance and excellence.

Thank you for your interest and support.

[Courtesy of Shot Caller Press, LLC]

Hello Everyone,

I want to let you know that we have just completed the book "Cellblock Poetry", which features the 'best' poetry entered into our 2007 contest. I personally want to thank everyone for their support and effort. It is truly appreciated.

Just so you know we are currently holding a writing contest for prisoners and ex-prisoners. We hope to publish an anthology of the 'best' stories and writers once again. We can only do so if we have enough entries to choose from, so please help us spread the word the contest closes August 31, 2008. To get the rules and obtain a copy of the entry form log onto: http://shotcallerpress.com/ and follow the contest link

I would like to remind you all that we are looking for writers and artists to publish. Our goal is to provide realistic and unique insights into prisons and the criminal justice system through the medium of select writings and artwork. Our belief is that stories change the world. We are not a non-profit organization, because we want those who have been published through Shot Caller Press, LLC to know they have accomplished something. We are dedicated to publish the best, marketable writings and artwork.

Our current mission here at Shot Caller Press, LLC is developing an inventory, which means we are in the process of editing and developing several manuscripts written by prisoners, their families and advocates working toward improving our current system. As we continue to develop these manuscripts we will continue to conduct contests for prisoners, their families and others involved, so keep watching for our contest announcements.

If your interested in purchasing a copy of 'Cellblock Poetry' you can do so by going to our web site: http://shotcallerpress.com/store.htm. We use PayPal secure shopping cart for all orders

Thanks again everyone hope to hear from you all real soon,

Theresa M. Huggins
CEO, Shot Caller Press, LLC
theresa@shotcallerpress.com
503-890-1027

We have a new address but our director Dennis Sobin's legal status remains unchanged.

Please note that the new location of the Prisons Foundation is 1600 K Street NW, Suite 501, Washington, DC 20006. It is the same location as our Prison Art Gallery. The move will permit a more streamlined and efficient operation. Meanwhile, the popular outdoor art kiosk and information center of the Prison Art Gallery at G and 7th Streets in Washington, DC will be open seven days a week, 10 am to 10 pm.

News About Our Director

Despite our insistance on a speedy trial, Dennis Sobin's trial following his arrest for attending public hearings at City Hall (see complete details in our original email below) has been put off until August 5, 2008. This poses a hardship since there are hearings and meetings at City Hall that Dennis is scheduled to attend, including one on a new bill to help ex-prisoners.

In the meantime, here are the names and contact information of city hall officials who can transfer the person who falsely instigated the arrest, Dennis's estranged son Darrin Sobin. With such a transfer, Dennis will be able to go to city hall to visit these officials and attend hearings and meetings without fear of further arrest. If you haven't contacted them already, please do so today. They are feeling beleagured due to the many calls and emails they have received, and YOURS could be the turning point.

Adrian Fenty, Mayor
202-724-8876 customerservice.eom@dc.gov (Mayor)
202-724-5556 Carla.brailey@dc.gov (Mayor's advisor)

Vincent Gray, City Council Chairperson
202-724-8032 DSlonneger@dccouncil.us (chief of staff)

Jack Evans, City Councilmember
(new phone #) 202-724-8058 jackevans@dccouncil.us

Phil Mendelson, Chair of Judciary Committee
202-724-8064 pmendelson@dccouncil.us

*************************************************************

Below is the original email that the Prisons Foundation sent with details of the arrest of our director Dennis Sobin at a public hearing at city hall in Washington, DC

Dennis Sobin, Director of the Prisons Foundation, went to City Hall to testify at a budget hearing on the priorities of the Attorney General's Office. This is routine for our director as these hearings represent important opportunities to advocate for alternatives to incarceration and the need for prosecutors to focus on serious crimes rather than non-violent offenses.

One of those prosecutors happens to be Dennis Sobin's son, Darrin Sobin. He and his father have not seen eye to eye for some time. Last year the younger Sobin, Darrin, flexed his muscle as a government attorney by getting a stay away order to keep his father a set number of feet from him. Now he has gone the next step by having his father arrested for stepping foot in City Hall because Darrin has moved into an office in that building.

When Dennis arrived for the hearing, his son knew of his presence because Dennis was on the witness list to testify. Dennis never got to testify because his son had him whisked out of the building in handcuffs and put in jail before a judge could release Dennis. By then the hearing was over.

The building security officers who arrested Dennis have acknowledged that they were pressured to take this action by Darrin. They even went so far to try to appease Darrin, short of arresting his father, by offering to accompany Dennis to the City Council Chambers where the hearing was taking place and stay with him throughout his testimony. But Darrin rejected this.

Darrin has let it be known that if his father returns to city hall for any reason, the same fate awaits him.

It is therefore URGENT that the following officials at city hall be called TODAY to let our outrage be known. Says Dennis, "I don't want my son fired. That would be too extreme and a particular hardship for his children, my grandsons Alexander and Tristan."

We are requesting that Darrin Sobin be relocated to the Attorney General's headqurters a few blocks away. That way our director Dennis can conduct Prisons Foundation business at city hall.

Here are the names and phone numbers of officials at city hall who can make this happen. Please call them TODAY to get their assurance that this will indeed occur without delay. Even if you are not a resident of Washington you can demand action as a visitor who is shocked that such a thing could happen in the nation's capital.

Adrian Fenty, Mayor, 202-724-8876
(This is Adrian's private number so please be brief when talking to him and please do not retain this number for any other purpose. He has been a supporter of the Prisons Foundation ever since his childhood friend Donald Thomas ended up in prison and needed our help.)

Vincent Gray, City Council Chairperson, 202-724-8032
(Next to the mayor, Vincent is the most powerful person in city hall and has a reputation as a no-nonsense official. Dennis worked for his campaign and helped get him elected in 2006.)

Jack Evans, City Councilmember, 202-724-8058
(As chair pro temp, Jack is number three in power at city hall. He also happens to be the councilmember representing Dennis in Ward 2. Still, Dennis cannot visit him at city hall as long as Darrin Sobin is there.)

Phil Mendelson, Chair of Judciary Committee, 202-724-8064
(Phil is an at-large councilmember who chaired the hearing at which Dennis was set to testify and is reportedly upset at what happened there. He can bring about Darrin Sobin's transfer in the interest of justice and democracy.)

On a personal note, Dennis is in good spirits and continues to meet his responsibilities daily as our director....

Thank you for calling the above city hall officials and demanding that action be taken TODAY.

Please call us at 202-393-1511 or email staff@PrisonsFoundation.org if you need further information. Thank you for your help and support in this crisis.

Thanks to a grant we received from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, you can attend a free workshop to become a mentor to imprisoned artists.

The Woodhull Freedom Foundation and Prisons Foundation are launching a new annual fundraiser called Eroticon: Erotic Art from Behind Bars.

Thanks to the overwhelming attendance and positive response to last year's "From Prison to the Stage" production at the Kennedy Center, our next edition of "From Prison to the Stage" (scheduled for Labor Day weekend) will be bigger and better, including expanded seating and a larger stage (tentatively set for Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage). This year's production will feature excerpts from plays written by prisoners and ex-prisoners. There's still time to let us know of a work that you believe is worthy of being included. Please email Staff@PrisonsFoundation.org or call 202-393-1511. Thank you.

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery]

Sun Trust bank will give its money (not yours) to your favorite nonprofit organization, whether the Prisons Foundation or any other 501(c)(3) for the asking.

We recently received a donation from one of our long-time supporters, Bryan Jay Parker, Chairman of International Healthcare Access Group in Washington, DC. Though the contribution was Bryan's doing, it didn't come from him directly but rather from Sun Trust. It's part of Sun Trust's "My Cause" promotion, and it's worth checking out for ours or any other nonprofit. Here are the details.

The My Cause promotion gives individuals a unique opportunity to reinvest in their nonprofits of choice. If you haven't had a chance to take advantage of the My Cause program, you have time. Now through June 30, 2008, you can choose to have SunTrust give $100 to the nonprofit organization of your choice, or receive a $50 gift card when you open a new SunTrust Personal or Business Checking account during the promotion period, accept a new SunTrust Visa® Check Card, make any purchase with the new card, and submit a completed online redemption form by August 15, 2008.

If you currently bank with SunTrust and have a SunTrust Visa Signature® or SunTrust Platinum Visa with SunTrust Rewards Credit Card, or SunTrust Visa Check Card enrolled in the SunTrust Rewards program, you can donate your SunPoints (SunTrust's reward points system) to your nonprofit of choice! Donations can be made in $25, $50, or $100 denominations. The best part of this element is SunTrust has decided to make SunPoints for Charity a permanent component of its SunTrust Rewards program - so you can continue to donate your SunPoints even after the My Cause promotion has ended.

If you plan to participate in the My Cause promotion and open a new checking account by June 30, we encourage you to donate your $100 to the Prisons Foundation. And once you receive your applicable card, or if you already have one, turn your SunTrust Rewards into donations as well. We hope that you will spread the word about the My Cause promotion and the SunPoints for Charity program to your friends, family, and personal and business contacts. The more awareness we can generate among our supporters, the greater the opportunity for us to increase our fundraising easily and effortlessly.

For more information about My Cause and how to get involved, please visit www.suntrust.com/mycause. Or you can contact our own supporter who took advantage of this program, Bryan Jay Parker, Chairman, International Healthcare Access Group, LLC, 601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004 202-434-8900.

We are pleased to announce that our director, Dennis Sobin, has been named to the Board of new National Museum of Crime and Punishment.

Long in the planning, and generous in the funding, the new National Museum of Crime and Punishment opens in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2008, with our own director as one of its distinguished board members. To read the news release issued by the 22-million dollar museum about Dennis and the other board members, please visit http://crimemuseum.org/documents/BoardMembersRelease.pdf.

Located on 7th Street NW (a half block from the popular Verizon Center and one block from the famous International Spy Museum), the innovative new museum is destined to become the "must" place to visit in the Nation's capital. We are proud that many of the most beautiful and unusual pieces of prison art from our Prison Art Gallery are featured at the museum. In addition, the museum's creative gift shop carries many of our prison art prints.

You'll want to be among the first to visit this extraordinary museum. With exhibits such as a recreation of Al Capone's plush jail cell and John Dillinger's actual getaway car, and with equipment that will allow you to get your own authentic mug shots and test your skills at outsmarting a lie detector test, your visit will be both interesting and educational. For more information, please visit CrimeMuseum.org.

Yes, the rumors you have heard are true! Our beautiful prison art has a new 22 million dollar home. Announcing the opening of the National Museum of Crime and Punishment on May 23 featuring many of our most striking and gorgeous pieces.

Long in the planning, and generous in the funding, a new museum opens in Washington, DC, on May 23, 2008. Located on 7th Street NW (a half block from the popular Verizon Center and one block form the famous International Spy Museum), the National Museum of Crime and Punishment is destined to become the "must" place to visit in the Nation's capital. We are proud that many of the most beautiful and unusual pieces of prison art from our Prison Art Gallery are featured at the museum. In addition, the museum's large and innovative gift shop carries many of our prison art prints.

You'll want to be among the first to visit this extraordinary museum. With exhibits such as a recreation of Al Capone's plush jail cell and John Dillinger's actual getaway car, and with equipment that will allow you to get your own authentic mug shots and test your skills at outsmarting a lie detector test, your visit will be both interesting and educational. For more information, please visit CrimeMuseum.org.

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery]

Free workshop by ex-prisoner artists and officials from Washington area jails and prisons on May 17 to train you to become a mentor to prison artists. Call 202-393-1511 to reserve your spot.

Thanks to a grant we received from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, you can attend a free workshop to become a mentor to imprisoned artists. Work either as a volunteer or paid staff member in a jail or prison.

Attend this free workshop on Saturday, May 17, 10 am to 4 pm. You'll learn what it takes to work in a jail or prison to foster artistic development among inmates. You'll receive this valuable training from experienced correctional officials (from both public and private jails) while also benefiting from the insights and knowledge of ex-prisoner artists who will also serve as workshop leaders. These knowledgeable people will share their experiences with you in a relaxed and fun setting at the Prison Art Gallery in downtown Washington, DC. Everything you need for a productive and nourishing day (including an authentic jail meal) will be provided free.

This is a rare opportunity to make contacts and obtain valuable information. Plus, we have received word that the workshop will be covered by major media. You can be part of it all.

Whether you're looking for a one afternoon per month volunteer opportunity or a full-time paid career position, you will find this workshop very worthwhile. Meet the people who make hiring decisions while finding out what it takes to be effective in the challenging setting of a jail or prison.

Please call us at 202-393-1511 or email staff@PrisonsFoundation.org for more information. We are also setting up a schedule of additional workshops to accommodate everyone who may be interested. Thank you.

Here in Mexico's capital, several thousand people gathered at the Alameda Central, a large park in the historic center of the city, to celebrate Global Marijuana Day. Punks, Goths, hippies, and members of all the other "urban tribes" that constitute the youth counterculture of one of the world's premier cities came together for a day of respect, tolerance, music, and above all, to call for the legalization of the sacred herb.

Of course, it's not just the youth cultures of Mexico City that we're talking about here; it's the global cannabis culture. Cannabis Nation knows no boundaries. In many respects, I could have been standing in Memphis or Malmo or Madrid or Mombasa or Minsk--the t-shirts and slogan are the same, the concerns roughly identical. I'll say this for the global prohibition of marijuana: It has created a global culture of resistance that supercedes national identities or barriers.

The music and musicians were spot-on, but lyrically and rhythmically. Some of the songs were pure celebration:

We're going to the beach and I wanna smoke
We're going to dance and toke

Some of the songs were highly politicized and, naturally, critical of the US. One rapper compared Bush ("creating hell on earth") with Hitler and Hernan Cortes, placing him squarely in a particularly Mexican pantheon of villains.

Speaking of politics, one of the great battles going on in Mexico right now is over the government's efforts to privatize Pemex, the state oil monopoly. For many Mexicans, Pemex is a symbol of the Revolution a century ago that overthrew foreign domination. After the Revolution, the Mexicans expropriated the foreign oil companies; now they fear the government is going to give the national oil industry back to the foreigners. One sign at the march tied that struggle to the struggle for marijuana legalization:

Mariguana y petroleo
Eso es nuestro patrimonio

Marijuana and Oil
That's our patrimony

The police presence was minimal, and as far as I could see, there were no problems and no arrests, although pot-smoking was open and frequent throughout the day.

I took lots of photos, as you can see. (Sixteen more below the fold.)Sadly, my memory stick got full, and I missed some of the potentially most impressive shots, when the multitude was marching down Avenida Juarez, past the Bellas Artes palace and in front of some of the old colonial buildings in the city center. Still, Global Marijuana Day in Mexico City was a trip. Enjoy the photos, and look for a full report on the action in the Chronicle later this week.

[Courtesy of Shot Caller Press, LLC]

Dear Friends,

Shot Caller Press, LLC announces the next prison contest, Prison Short Story Contest, for prisoners and ex-prisoners. To find out more information follow this link:

http://shotcallerpress.com/prisonstorycontest.htm

Cash Prizes are as follows:

1st Place - $250.00
2nd Place - $150.00
3rd Place - $75.00

At the end of this message is our announcement for the winners of the Poetry Contest and those selected to be published in our next book: Cellblock Poetry. If you want to pre-purchase a book at and pay no shipping cost follow this
link:

http://shotcallerpress.com/store.htm

We would be honored if you pass this message on to anyone who might be interested.

Thank you for all your support,

Theresa Huggins
CEO, Shot Caller Press, LLC
Theresa@ShotCallerPress.com
www.ShotCallerPress.com
503-890-1027

[Courtesy of Prison Art Gallery]

1. Lamont Carey--You know him from HBO where you've seen and applauded him for his riveting work on The Wire and DEF Jam. See Lamont in person on Tuesday, April 15, 7:30PM at My Place Sports Bar and Grill, 12150 Central Avenue, Mitchellville,, MD 20721. You'll get a whole new perspective on the devastating effects of spending years in prison by this incredible spoken word artist and actor extraordinaire. For further information, please call 301-249-5477.

2. Dennis Sobin--He learned to play classical and jazz guitar in prison and now performs in concert at colleges, universities and the Kennedy Center, songs ranging from Scot Joplin rags to Chopin waltzes to Cole Porter ballads. Come meet and hear Dennis on Saturday, April 19, at 2pm at the Prison Art Gallery, 1600 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006. For further information, please call 202-393-1511.

3. Jahi Daoud L. Foster-Bey--A visual artist of extraordinary talent and ability, he creates art that is both beautiful and meaningful, depicting themes that relate to social justice and the hardships he has personally experienced. You can meet Jahi and view his work on Sunday, April 20, at 3pm at the Prisons Foundation mobile art display and information center at the corner of 7th and G Sts, Washington, DC (across from the National Portrait Gallery). For further information, please call 202-393-1511.