This is the complete read-only archive of Beyond the Curve’s earlier blog: 47 reflections, milestones, advocacy posts, and community conversations preserved in their original context.
These posts and conversations reflect Beyond the Curve’s earlier work, including the experiences and voices that helped shape our journey. They are preserved for visitors to browse and read. The archive is available for reading only; comments and publishing are no longer active.
Watch the first-person video storiesFive journeys · thirteen connected video postsShowing all 47 archived posts
By Tristan Darshan For those of you who do not know, new parole commissioners have been appointed to the New York State Board of Parole. This would seem truly exciting initially to anyone that is appalled by mass incarceration or affiliated with parole injustices…
Read this postA Call To Justice: The Next Generation Parole Problem By: Tristan Darshan When one hears the word ‘justice,’ what does one associate with it? Most would agree that the country hailed as the standing defenders of true justice is the United States of America. Yet…
Read this post“The Welcome Home From Family" by Joseph Cabrera It is the last visit before you are going to be released. Your family is there, and the occasion is truly a joyous one. After the visit, you go back to your unit and resume counting the days until you are set free.…
Read this postBy Wilbert L. Cooper - Vice.com "The day you were born, there was a pine box and a prison cell built with your name on it." Throughout my childhood and adolescence, my father said that to me countless times, especially just as I was walking out the door. The first…
Read this postby Russell Berman - theatlantic.com “They’re either going to be released and go back to the streets and go back to a life of crime, and go back to being a menace to society, or they’re going to be released with some real skills and possibly even a college degree…”…
Read this postOn the evening of April 21 in Building 21 at the Fishkill Correctional Facility, Samuel Harrell, an inmate with a history of erratic behavior linked to bipolar disorder, packed his bags and announced he was going home, though he still had several years left to…
Read this postBeyond The Curve shared a link . The Men Who Should Have Been Free by The Marshall Project Revisiting “The Innocents,” one of the first photo series to explore the lives of the wrongfully convicted. Click here to read more about "The Men Who Should Have Been Free"
Read this postInteresting article... Beyond The Curve shared a link . What You Need to Know About Body Cameras by The Marshall Project Click here to read more about "What You Need to Know About Body Cameras"
Read this post"Fighting for Freedom" by T Darshan Wilson Ortiz talks about how being in the ring keeps him out of prison… One should not underestimate the intensity of training. There is usually some street legend training the apprentice, an…
Read this postCONGRATULATIONS TO WILSON & AIMEE ORTIZ!! Beyond The Curve would like to welcome baby Niyah Ortiz (soooo cute!!!) to our family!! Born to the proud parents, our own Wilson Otiz & Aimee Ortiz on June 18, 2014! Congratulations for bringing a special life into this…
Read this postSee Wilson in action with Seal... Experience a very special bond between man and dog. This is Wilson falling back in love with Seal, the dog that single-handedly changed his life. While incarcerated, and while battling levels of depression, Wilson found himself…
Read this postRemembering and Celebrating the Life of Dr. Maya Angelou Dr. Maya Angelou is one of the most renowned and influential voices of our time. Hailed as a global renaissance woman, Dr. Angelou is a celebrated poet, memoirist, novelist, educator, dramatist, producer,…
Read this post... see the progress Geoff has made since coming home in May 2013! We know it takes a community to move an individual forward and we at BTC would like to thank you all for your continued support...
Read this post... These are the kind of obstacles that can make or break a person… do you have any suggestions for Webster on how to deal with this?
Read this postOur Beyond The Curve Member, Geoff has made great progress since coming home... check out Geoff's update!!
Read this postSee the struggles Wilson is going through... Support Wilson with your words of encouragement!!
Read this postCheck out our Beyond The Curve Mentor - Joel Jimenez in the HBO Documentary "The University of Sing Sing" "INSIDE THE MENTORING" BY T DARSHAN Joel Jimenez is the smartest guy in the room who never says too much. His words are communicated in the better volumes of…
Read this postCheck out Webster coming home... read more about Webster from one of our recent blog posts entitled "BUILDING XIII"!
Read this postCheck out Wilson's update in connection with the Puppies Behind Bars Program
Read this postA Story of Hope and Redemption By T DARSHAN The narrow hallways part openly as Elsworth tunnels through. Small in stature, he's not even half as big as the respect he commands. Not in the least bit. Still the inmates line up and file in to pay Elsworth homage.…
Read this postCheck out Wilson's update...
Read this postI apologize in advance for the abrupt ending.
Read this postSee how music was and still is a force in Amin's life...
Read this post's first week home
Read this postEditor: T Darshan At 6:00PM every night, as the Fishkill's facility walkways spring open, an interesting insight into the inmate's orientation also springs to life: some men race to the yard to play; other men walk to school to work. It may not be realized at…
Read this post's update
Read this postAmin's update Working out the stress...
Read this postWe just showed Wilson and Noah reuniting after spending several years apart. Can you remember being away from someone you love? What was the experience like when you were reunited? Talk about it on our blog and let these young men know they are not alone in their…
Read this postcoming home
Read this posttalks about young men being incarcerated and coming home to rise above the struggle… Who would have thought Bill Cosby messed up when he was younger! See what his "light" was as a struggling young adult and tell us about your "light" in hard times.…
Read this post"Being a community member makes me feel empowered because I know I'm empowering these young men... so let's continue to intervene and change lives!" -- Dru
Read this postHere's my week 2 video see this ... +9 -1
Read this post's update
Read this postHere is my week 1 video
Read this postHere is my week 1 video.
Read this postHere is my week 2 video...
Read this postHappy New Year! I am sending you the lyrics to this song that I heard a while back. I was reminded of you when I heard the song again. I hope you are encouraged by the message. The song is called Today by Jonathan Thulin. I know you sit and wonder where you're…
Read this postComing soon!
Read this postForward Living Member Coming soon!!
Read this postForward Living Member Coming soon!!
Read this postForward Living Member
Read this postHere is my Week 1 video
Read this post