I lived most of my life in Harlem, but now live in Rochester, NY. I have been keeping myself busy by making short documentaries about social issues that usually get overlooked by mainstream America. I have 11 years of experience as a documentary filmmaker and an M.F.A. in media arts production.

I am currently working on “Solutionz,” a one-hour program meant to remind communities that the incarceration of a parent has lasting negative effects on a child. My inspiration came from seeing my son who is currently incarcerated. I would leave the prison after a visit and see the kids break down when they got to the other side of the gate. It’s just heartbreaking to see. It really stuck in my mind, the faces of the kids and how they were the victims. What was their story? What did they do to deserve the heartbreak? It touched me as a filmmaker to find out what is going on with these kids.

I am looking to interview male children between the ages of 7 and 18 who have a parent incarcerated for my documentary. If you would like for your child to participate or if you’re a child who would like to participate, please fill out this form [this information will NOT be shared with anyone else]:

My plan is to screen “Solutionz” in prisons so that currently incarcerated parents can be more aware of (and thus more prepared for) the emotional and physical status of their children. I have three young women who I have already shot some footage with in Rochester, but no boys at all. I really need males between the ages of 7 and 18. I am also looking for non-profits to sponsor the film and developing a package proposal. I need to have a fundraiser in NYC and Rochester, so I know I need some space.

Well, I put my beans on the table of what I’m doing and why I’m doing what I do. Not for the money, that’s for sure. As an artist, I love filmmaking. I love it even when I’m broke because it makes me whole. Sharing rarely heard stories with others is priceless for me.

If you have any questions, please post them in the comments section below and I’ll get back to you.

I hope to hear from you. Thank you.

[Update: We have received such a large quantity of applications from people of various backgrounds. We are going through them and will try to get in touch with people shortly. Thank you for sharing your lives and for your interest in helping this publication.]

Have you had a family member spend time in prison?

Family Life Behind Bars is seeking two columnists who can produce a twice-monthly video about his or her experience and provide guidance for others in a similar situation.

No prior video experience or equipment is required. The videos would be about 2-3 minutes long. This part time position will not be sufficient to support yourself, but will provide a little extra spending money.

Click here to see some of our prior columns.

To apply for this position, please send a short email to info@livesinfocus.org describing your personal experience and how it affected your life. Also let me know what ideas you have for a column.

Twenty five years in prison gives a man time to think.

And that’s what Hector Martinez, 55, did after being convicted of second-degree murder, robbery and arson in 1984. He thought about the day when he made his way to a drug house in Sunset Park to buy some heroin, the blaze that he was accused of starting and the chaos that ensued.

It was not supposed to be like this. Martinez grew up in a loving family of Puerto Rican descent, imbued by values of family, God and community. He went to church, got a job at a pharmacy and married a nice girl who spoke Spanish. But he had a double life no one knew about and it eventually caught up with him.

“The way I see it, if I would have continued, I would have ended up with AIDS or killed,” says Hector. “Even after all these years in prison, I’m not angry because this what part of God’s plan.”

In prison, Hector threw himself into work and became a health advocate for Spanish-speaking prisoners. Some had AIDS and he worked with nurses and other staff, to make sure patients’ needs were met, from asking for new medication to softer food from the kitchen.

“In 1984, I saw guys drop right and left,” Hector recalls. “But instead of wasting my time playing pea knuckle, card games and basketball, I got involved.”

Hector was released this March and reunited with his family, including wife Dulce of 30 years. But coming back into the world after a 25-year absence, especially during a recession, is far from easy. He hasn’t been able to get work and subsists on odd jobs and help from his brothers and sister.

Still, he counts his blessings.

“I see guys from back in the day and they’re on methodone, they look horrible,” says Hector. “They’re all dying, they’re on some type of cocktails and they have nothing. And I’m thankful that I’m not in their situation. I have my family and a roof over my head. I’m lucky.”

Karina Ioffee is a student at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, studying business and broadcasting. For more information, please visit her online at karinaioffee.wordpress.com.

Family Life Behind Bars just completed its second year of publication. I hope that you have found the stories of individual lives, the columns and the tips useful in dealing with the separation you are facing from a loved one who is incarcerated.

The project was fortunate to receive technical and editorial support from the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism and funding from J-Lab’s New Voices grant (which is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation). Much of what you see on the site could not have been produced without this support.

The New Voices grant allowed me to purchase equipment that I use in the media training workshops for community members who have been affected by incarceration and to pay the community columnists for their work.

The grant came with a challenge, however. I must raise $5,000 from the public in order to receive the final $5,000 installment from the Knight Foundation.

So I ask you for your generous support. Your donation is tax-deductable.

I must admit that I am not a fundraiser. I am happiest publishing the stories that so many families and individuals have been kind enough to share with us on the site and working with my students who are dedicated to accurately reporting pieces that might help clarify issues around incarceration. But I must also be a fundraiser to be able to continue publishing Family Life Behind Bars.

I know times are tough for everyone because of the free falling economy. But if you have found this site useful and relevant, please consider making a tax-deductible donation. No amount is too small!

Donating is easy and takes just a few minutes. Please click on the “Donation” right now. You do not need a Paypal account to make a donation.

Thank you for your support.

Sandeep Junnarkar
Founder & Editorial Director
Family Life Behind Bars

Alison Coleman, now 58, struggled to support her two children while her husband, Jay, served a 25-years to life sentence in a New York state prison for robbery—-the minimum
for anyone arrested a third time in New York under the Rockefeller Laws.

She grappled with social and emotional isolation, with illness and financial hardship, and she faced the tensions at home that are common between parents and teenagers…but she did so single handedly.

In this segment, Alison describes how she met Jay, how she reacted at his sentencing, and how she struggled to raise their special needs child during his incarceration:

Related:

Jay Coleman Previously in the series: Part I: A long journey from petty criminal to husband and father. Part II: Parenting by phone. Part III: Watching your children grow up from behind prison bars”>video interviews.

In this video column, Davian Reynolds, our 16-year-old video columnist from Brooklyn, reflects on why Barack Obama’s victory in the 2008 presidential election means so much for kids like him who have or have had or might wind up having a parent who is incarcerated. (more…)

Makeba Lavan, the first columnist for Family Life Behind Bars, and I appeared on a television Talk Show on Wednesday to discuss this project and the larger issues of incarceration.

The show, Brian Lehrer Live, is a cutting-edge program that focuses its lens on conversations on the Web and  beyond:

The show examines the affect that internet has had on our daily lives, from candidates fund-raising online to community groups e-organizing, and we want you to come participate in carving out a niche in how the web affects the news.

Brian also has a fantastic radio show on WNYC (93.9 FM, 820 AM and at WNYC.org) called the Brian Lehrer Show. I know that WNYC has a great lineup of radio shows, but I would continue to support them even if the Brian Lehrer show was the ONLY show on that station.

Take a look at the segment Makeba and I were on:

Click to view video

The scary thing is that Mr. Jones’s experience is hardly unique but rather is the norm.

SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS: How well do you think the public defender who represented your family member did on the case?

[Use the comments feature below or call (646) 867-1891 to leave an audio message.]

November 4, 2008–Casimiro Torres, 41, joined millions of Americans today to vote in the general election.  Like many during this historic election, he is voting for the first time.  But unlike most new voters, Mr. Torres is formerly incarcerated.
(more…)

Solitude (click image to enlarge)

REMINDER: DEADLINE TO ENTER IS DEC. 1, 2008

People who have an incarcerated family member naturally cycle through a range of difficult emotions as the years slowly pass. Some express their sadness, anxiety and fear or hope for the future through art, music or poetry.

To honor that great artwork, Family Life behind Bars is launching its inaugural Annual Arts Celebration & Competition.You are invited to enter the artwork you have produced that reflects the emotions you are feeling during your loved one’s incarceration. (more…)