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Jamal Bakr is a first-generation Palestinian-Mexican American. He is a published author and poet. He is a professional writing tutor, educator, and violence preventionist. He was raised in the Back of the Yards community and works for the Firehouse Community Arts Center in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood as an outreach advocate. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Christian Ministry from North Park Theological Seminary’s School of Restorative Arts. He is a restorative justice advocate wo believes in transformative alternatives to student disciplinary approaches and stopping the school to prison pipeline. He is passionate about helping his students discover and amplify their identities and voices through writing by developing policies to assist reentering citizens, advocating for comprehensive gun reforms, and creating an equitable parole system. Learn more about Jamal through his publications: "Prison: The New Frontier of Collaborative Learning" School of Restorative Arts June 2022 Graduation Speech Sermon: "Saving All of Me" |
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Sherron Dillon holds a master’s degree in Restorative Justice Ministries from North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) and is a Writing Center Teaching Fellow. He teaches writers about essay structure. He is also an Adult Basic Education (ABE) TA, as well as a Barber College Supervisor. Sherron is a transformative justice advocate who works to help individuals to establish discipline within themselves as a means of becoming better versions for their communities. Learn more about “Sosa” through his Feather Bricks publications:
"Transformation" p.6 Vol. 17 Co-editor of "The Power of Education," vol. 19 "Hidden Gems" p.4 Vol. 24 |
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Tim Giles was born and raised in Central Illinois. He enjoys camping, hiking, skydiving, and pretty much anything that’s done outdoors. He spent 9 years serving in the Marine Corps and traveling the world. Currently, Tim is a North Park Seminary student and is working towards his master’s degree. The writing project that he is working on is a book of short stories, similar to his “Moonlight Furlough.” Learn more about Tim through his Feather Bricks publications: "Get to Know My Cellie" p.11 Vol. 11 Co-editor of "The Power of Education," vol. 19 |
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Nestor "the boss" Gomez was born in Guatemala and moved to Chicago undocumented in the mid-80's. He is a 82 times Moth Slam winner, 3 times Chicago Moth Grand Slam winner, 2022 Milwaukee Grand Slam winner and 2022 National Storytelling Association Grand Slam winner. He is also the creator, producer, curator and host of 80 Minutes Around the World a storytelling show that features the stories of immigrants, their descendants and allies. |
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Robert John holds an MA in Restorative Justice Ministry. He is a Writing Advisor always willing to help as well as an aspiring author. Robert’s writings are filtered through the lens of his experiences in the school-to-prison pipeline, the juvenile justice system, and the Illinois prison system, with the hope of giving voice to young people currently affected by those same systems today. He believes in creating knowledge through conversation and collaboration. In writing from both sides of the moon, Robert hopes the knowledge created in this space can be shared on the outside (the other side of the moon) where it could potentially positively affect anyone who comes into contact with it. Read more by Robert:
"I Watched My Neighbor Die a Preventable Death Due to Scorching Heat in Prison" in Truthout "Collaboration" p.14 Feather Bricks Vol.1 School of Restorative Arts Graduation Speech May 2023 55:10 |
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Kenneth “Ananyah” Key is an MA graduate and a Writing Advisor certified in restorative justice peace circle facilitation. He is also a published author and artist with innovative ideas on how to reorganize and structure carceral spaces to make them more inviting and accessible to all writers. Read more by Ananyah: Essays Published in Prison Journalism Project Art and Poetry in Minutes before Six Humans of San Quentin Inmate Blogger |
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Robert Maury is from Chicago, Illinois. He earned his MARJAM (Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Ministry) degree from North Park Theological Seminary, which includes the following core certificates: Foundations Courses (Ministry Education), Transformative Justice, Restorative Justice, and Pastoral Care Practices. Robert loves meeting and helping others. He is an avid reader, aspiring writing theorist, North Park Writing Advisor, and he completed Peace Circle-Keeper Training sponsored by Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation. He believes in the power of one person to effect a positive change in human relations. |
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Thomas Mills has been intentional in displaying a spirit of humility and a renewed hunger for higher education, which led him to earn a Master of Arts in Restorative Justice Ministries in 2023 from North Park Theological Seminary. He received high honors on his journey to understand biblical and contemporary applications of redemptive and transformative justice. He uses his inherent ability to apply hard work, dedication, and resilience to re-envision ways to best serve his communities. Being a restorative justice practitioner, he whole-heartedly believes in collaborative conversations as an important tool to develop communal ideas and perspectives. As a pastoral care specialist Thomas is equipped spiritually, mentally, and emotionally daily to counsel his peers and mentor the next generation to overcome past traumatic experiences and present tribulations in hopes of fostering a brighter tomorrow.
Read more by Thomas: "Memory" Feather Bricks p.20 Vol. 1 "Dedication" Feather Bricks p.19 Vol. 22 "Another Appetizer, Anyone?' Feather Bricks p.5 Vol. 24 |
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Scott Moore holds an MA in CM/RA (Christian Ministry with a Restorative Arts track form North Park Theological Seminary. He is certified in Peace Circle Keeping, Addiction & Recovery Mentorship, and Stress Management. As both a Growth Group Leader and Pastoral Care Team member, Scott utilizes his passion and training by serving others in all matters of addiction, conflict resolution, and trauma & healing practices. Professor Moore is also a certified Writing Advisor who teaches both incarcerated and free students in the basics of writing. Check out his publications: “Collaborative Learning in a Prison Context” in Axis: the Blog” “Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One: Sir Isaac Newton Walks into a Prison Writing Center” in Vol. 11 of Feather Bricks. "Get to Know My Cellie" p.29 Feather Bricks Vol. 19 |
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Melissa Pavlik (she/her) holds an MFA in Fiction Writing from Columbia College Chicago. She is the director of the writing center and an associate professor at North Park University, an adjunct instructor through Lewis University's Prison Education Program and the City Colleges of Chicago, a member of Illinois Coalition for Higher Education in Prison’s steering committee, and a volunteer facilitator with Reading Between the Lines. Melissa has been working with writers in prison since 2018. Read more by Melissa: Three Cs of Stateville: A Writing Center in Prison Writing, Incarceration, and Healing in the Writing Center An Essay about Teaching 'The Essay'; Kewanee Horizons Vol.78 |
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Steven P. Ramirez is a current student earning a master’s degree in Christian Ministry with a Restorative Arts track through North Park Theological Seminary. Steven is a Writing Advisor with North Park University’s writing center. He is an artist that loves to create with different mediums. He has a servant’s heart and enjoys to laugh. Along with the many gifts God has blessed him with, Steve plans to use his barbering skills to reach at risk youth, to mentor and minister the gospel. Steven hails from the south suburbs of Chicago, comes from a large family, and has a young adult daughter. He loves the outdoors, plays many sports, and enjoys cooking. Fun fact: Steven was born on Christmas. Lean more about Steven’s work: Humans of Life Row: Steven Ramirez |
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Benny Rios Donjuan, A.K.A. Donjuan Ríos #R26343, was born and raised in the Pilsen community of Chicago. He’s earned an MA in Christian Ministry and Restorative Arts through North Park University and Theological Seminary as is currently earning a BA in Conflict Transformation and Transformative Education through Northeastern Illinois University. Benny is a son, brother, cousin, friend, educator, writing advisor, writer, and an artist, among other things. Above everything, Benny is a follower of His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who lives a life of love, fights against injustice, and seeks healing for harmed people and communities. Read more of Benny’s work:
Humans of Life Row: Benny Rios Advent: Hope in All Circumstances "Unlikely Alliances in a Prison Writing Center" "Are Rights Truly Self-Evident?" "A Writing Center in Prison: The Value of Collaborative Learning" in WLN from The Long Term 1 from The Long Term 2 Blessing from Benny |
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Rayon Sampson [email protected]) is a poet whose debut collection, also called Writing from Both Sides of the Moon, is forthcoming. Learn more on Instagram: writ.112sampson and read more of Rayon’s work: "Reciprocity of Learning: Building with Someone" Co-Editor of Feather Bricks Vol. 4 "Celebration of Others" p.20 Feather Bricks Vol. 24 That Makes Total Sense Podcast Episode 133 |
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Todd C. Smith has earned his Master of Arts degree in Christian Ministry/Restorative Arts from North Park Theological Seminary. He has gone on to become a Writing Advisor, a guest editor, a collaborator, and a peer instructor, as well as a graduate of the Rebirth of Sound Music Studio Program. Prior to incarceration, Todd used writing as a means to further business and for basic communication; in other words, writing only when necessary. His education and adventurous spirit helped him discover another side to writing. The diversity of his writing is exhibited by his spoken word pieces, non-fiction essays, business plans, how-to manuals, and a financial literacy/business course curriculum. He no longer writes only when necessary, but can often be found furiously scratching his pen across paper in an attempt to catch his fleeting thoughts. He credits is newfound joy in writing to his friends and fellow writers from the WRIT 112 class. Read more by Todd:
Co-Editor, Feather Bricks Vol. 16 Graduation Issue Feather Bricks Vol.17 |
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Marshall Stewart: In the Prison Industrial Complex (PIC) called Stateville, Marshall Stewart is known for sharing his liminality as an Ojibwe tribal member who is seasoned by his Mexican-American adaptive roots that fostered his inner drive to serve others in English, Spanish…or even in Ojibwe. Marshall’s lenses allowed him the endurance during COVID to earn a BA in Organizational Communication and Resource Development for Non-Profits and an MA in Restorative Justice Ministries, all in the last six years. Marshall is found daily stewarding dataum as a Writing Advisor and serving as a reference librarian. His love for others is magnified by the Gospel he lives, preaches, and sings about. He fuels his Christcentric joy through the growth of others in the PIC—just don’t let him draw diagrams for your academic needs, as he does in every class, or you may lose your joy 😊. Read more by Marshall:
A Window into Legal Writing PNAP University Without Walls Photo-Collaboration Mourning our Losses "Turabian Time" p.30 Feather Bricks Vol. 7 "Turabian Time" p.29 Feather Bricks Vol.13 |
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DeCedrick A. Walker is an MA graduate and Writing Advisor who has served as a Theology Teaching Assistant and Feather Bricks Senior Editor. He is a hip-hop artist, poet, and trauma-informed street analyst trained and experienced in de-escalating conflict and brokering peace. His article “Writing, Incarceration, and Healing in the Writing Center”
was published in The Peer Review (Autumn 2021, co-authored with Melissa Pavlik). You can read an excerpt from his essay, “An Outlook from Within” in the August/September 2020 edition of Feather Bricks; moreover, check out his regular column “Here’s a Thought” in Feather Bricks. He is no longer his past, he is his present, and he is redefining his future. Learn more about and read more by DeCedrick Walker: Alternative Voices Project Link Tree What it Took to Overcome the Hopelessness of LWOP in Prison Journalism Project "Michael Broadway's Death Shows that Stateville's 'Inhumane' Status Goes beyond Decrepit Buildings" in Stateville Speaks School of Restorative Arts May 2023 Graduation Speech 48:10 |
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