I was hung in the courtroom because of my race, class, and gender. Black, Poor, and Man! Life really does imitate ART, an Imitation of Lyfe. Yes, Lyfe, intentionally spelled that way to introduce The Holy Breath Conglomerates NFP, Inc's first social initiative: Why Hold our Youth:WHY:Y? thus, LYFE!

The Holy Breath Conglomerates NFP is a non-profit organization that engages and advances justice involved youth through Public Speaking, Art, and Civic Education. Giving them a safe space to creatively express themselves and have their voices be heard from the walls and beyond them.

Why Hold our Youth is a campaign to bring amplified awareness to mass incarceration and excessive sentencing in the State of Illinois. Disproportionate sentencing has historically and currently affected black communities and people.

This entire campaign is inspired by the story of Kevin Gray who was given 77 years for an armed robbery and an original release date of 2072. With his will and determination to prove his innocence and shed light on the injustices that exist in our failed judicial system, he was able to give back 31 years on his own. He found all the supporting cases, his lawyer just filed the paperwork.

Goals:

Provide 72 speaking opportunities, 72 civic education courses, and 72 art spaces to youth who fall in the category of growing up facing serious family, housing, economic, and educational challenges within 72 months for youth ages 5-25.
Provide 72 incarnated individuals in all 28 Illinois State Prisons with moral support, hygiene products, and speaking opportunities within 72 months.
Provide 72 families of incarcerated individuals access to quarterly workshops on financial literacy, policy education, and speaking engagements within 72 months.

Outcomes:

Art supplies, public speaking equipment & software, and digital civic education courses will be purchased to keep 72 youth engaged and out of the justice system.
Pens, paper, and postage, 72 hygienic care packages, and weekly phone calls to have their 72 voices be heard.
Scholarships, educational stipends, gift cards will be given to 72 families to offset the costly effect of prison.

Highlights

Twitter launch in March (Follow us here)
Website & The Holy Breath Podcast launch in May (Join and be a guest speaker)
Official non-profit in June (Donate)
State Civic Organization in July (Volunteer)
Music Snippet by K.I. in August (Tune-In)

We NEED Art Supplies, public speaking equipment & software as well as keeping our Initiative Website up and running for the next 8 months via Nation Builder. Help us have an August highlight by supporting Black non-profits this month!

Imitation of Lyfe

Art is Life

Team Members