PHOENIX RISING: MR JAMES MUHAMMED TAYLOR

       Imagine a vibrantly functioning “Reentry Zone” in an area of Phoenix where inmates are permitted to prepare for their release through the different projects they have developed for the betterment of themselves?  Well in reality, these activities have long been permitted by progressive minded administrators at Graterford over the years in support of an orderly functioning institution.  And we have not lost any of that support here at SCI Phoenix. 

      Picture this in your mind’s eye.   See yourself returning home into a thriving business-driven Reentry Zone of your own making for Returning Citizens in an ideal area of the “hood” in Philadelphia where you live based on the social reform programs developed by prisoners while in confinement.  Hold on to that picture.

         As Chairman of the Lifers Commutation Committee. I am reaching out to a few men of integrity who would be willing to work with me on the above idea as a project of the Commutation Committee.  Done correctly, it is designed to produce freedom for many prisoners, and mainly for Lifers through the Board of Pardons by way of direct action.  I believe this should be the number one issue Lifers should be fighting for as we continue in our struggle for passage of a “Parole For Lifers” Bill.

       Another important reason for this project would be in providing strong, focused leadership to the prison population in our new situation here at SCI Phoenix.   This is especially so in the face of those concerned inmates who are taking various actions to challenge the troublesome distractions that seem to be unduly occupying some of our minds here at SCI Phoenix.   That means, we’ve got to be very careful of not letting our emotional, reactive behavior to the things coming at us lure the prison population to sleep, fighting against things that, if won, would only amount to being satisfied with the victory of having placed the yoke of pacification around our own necks in our abject condition of imprisonment, instead of keeping our eye on the real struggle of seriously fighting for our well-deserved and winnable freedom by the legitimate means available to us.

        This means that we’ve got to organize a group of men who are willing to work together for the good of everyone (not only in Phoenix), but for all prisoners around the state.  And in no way should we allow ourselves to come into this new situation here at Phoenix with that same old “crabs in the basket” B.S. mentality which had kept the leadership divided, and from being more effective with our collective program initiatives at Graterford.  Those days are gone, and we must not tolerate it here.  Let’s expose that poisonous mentality at its roots just as soon as it rears its ugly head amongst us, whoever they may be!

          To accomplish this task, the Commutation Committee will act  (independently), not being bound by any particular organization going forward.  The Committee’s job will be to act as the business-driven Reentry Zone’s Clearing House in support of any support system directed at helping prisoners towards freedom and economic stability upon release within the Reentry Zone.  This project would allow individuals from Phoenix to be systematically processed out into a project where each autonomous organization can demonstrate its external program initiatives more effectively  within the area of our Reentry Zone.

          There is acceptance of this idea coming from Prisoners Reentry Advocates.  And the foundation for the Reentry Zone has already been laid by People Advancing Reintegration Recycle Works ("PAR"), an electronics waste recycling business which provides jobs for men and women returning to the community from prison.  Our job will be to help to complete that process through direct action.  To that end, I have selected a credible team of inmates and outside volunteers to work with me in the promotion of this project.

          As an Elder, this is the kind of focused leadership I wish to help provide the prison population here at SCI-Phoenix through the Commutation Committee.

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Mr.  James  Muhammed Taylor  is  a Contributing Editor to IN SEARCH OF FATHERHOOD® and Chair of the Commutation Committee of the LONG INCARCERATED FRATERNITY ENGAGING RELEASE STUDIES – SCI GRATERFORD (“LIFERS Inc.”) (www.lifersincpa.org).