Pittsfield Freedom Project
Reclaiming freedom of expression: an act of rebellion in a system threatened by creativity.
Pittsfield Freedom Project is a live performance project, integrating storytelling, music and movement—created and performed by men who have been impacted by the criminal justice system.
Through the arts, the cast explores:
how the drive to connect and create is inherently human.
how these drives may be limited or suppressed within the system.
how creativity persists within the darkest corners of our system—creativity, self-expression, and freedom of thought as liberation.
losing and finding yourself behind the wall.
divisions within Berkshire County and the persistence of stigmatization.
how they may use their voices, stories, and creativity to spread awareness, education, reduce stigma, and advocate for growth.
The creation and performance of The Pittsfield Freedom Project is in itself an act of rebellion, self-expression, and freedom.
Stories will be integrated with original music by Berkshire-based musicians; cast members will collaborate with composers, forging new relationships and creative partnerships.
MEET THE CAST
“We are still people, not animals, yet we are often abused by the system. It needs to be an environment that doesn't use pain and punishment to fix the problems with crime. My story of being a youthful offender at the young age of 17, sentenced to 18—20 years, holds the tale of a young boy who had to grow up and be nurtured (not by my mother or father) but by a violent system that caused me grief and missed out opportunities of individual growth. I was left to figure a lot of things out on my own. Thankfully I did.
I continued to educate myself even with all the violence around me. I became my own man. Now that I'm released 18 years later as an adult, I am taking my first steps in becoming a man that matters in society. The adjustment is sensitive but beautiful. I take each day as a reminder of what I been through, to use it as a driving force to pave my own way through life after incarceration.
My name is Tyson and I am the story of my life.”
Tyson
“The reason why I would love to share my story with the public, is due to the fact that I owe my grandmother my life. She has passed away last year. Her and my auntie had family problems on both sides of the spectrum, so I had a taste of both sides of the railroad. She raised me to be a man.
Between all my young childhood accomplishments, there was still the Dark side that had took over and brought me down a path of destruction. Not only to myself, but to all those who came in contact with me. As a result of my actions as a young man, I found myself incarcerated for 13 years straight with a furlough of 10 months.
During my incarceration, I rediscovered who I am as an individual with the many men that I connected with while incarcerated and various chaplains, and the fact that I still believe in God help laid the foundation for my life’s work.
My story is a story of Hope, sadness, and pain, but in the end victory, or shall I say freedom. Due to the fact that I will not allow my past or certain circumstances to dictate the outcome of my future. It is not going to be easy, but you must believe in yourself first and foremost. I want to be able to tell how I was able to reverse my cycle.”
Kareem
Primo
“I’m honored to share my story to show the possibilities of returning to society and becoming productive in that society. This project is important because there is a lot of work to make this possible for others. To get more resources on the inside, and to address the disconnect between applying the proper resources needed to help inmates coming out of jail and entering back into society. ”
“I want to share my story because I feel like my life has been a journey and it continues to grow. At 43-years-old, this is a way to express myself. I am raising a baby pretty much on my own, with no real experiences in life other than being incarcerated. Sharing my story will be a self-reflection and an accomplishment.”
Johnel
“I want to share my story because I think it’s important for everyone to understand how indiscriminate the social issues of homelessness, addiction, incarceration, etc. are. How they can and do affect people of all demographics and how quickly one’s life can change.
Additionally, I’d like to shed light on the human side of these people and issues. Try to change the mindset that ‘these people are a problem,’ to a realization that these are people with solvable problems.”
Brandon
Dashine
“A story of a kid who had a dream but was derailed by the streets. But that didn’t stop me from coming back and giving back to my community that I once sold drugs and did crime in. For kids to see that and understand that with the right information, you don’t ever have to experience what I experienced. Get an education or a trade before you lose your life to the streets, violence or crime. With my second chance, I created Beat the Streets, 413 Youth Inc.”
“My story has a lot of hurt, pain and frustration with some highlights of good. But it does show that you yourself can make the second chances that no one wants to give you. This system is meant for people of color to fail. It was built around not just race but also class, but in such a manner that it is racially motivated. My story proves that even a small city kid who grew up here in the mountains could go places no one imagined and how I let it all go for what matters most. Family.”
Terance
Performance, talk-back, action…
Cast members experiment with various modes of creative expression in order to develop, share, and perform their story with a broader public.
Fully embody the creativity, connection, and freedom that is denied behind the wall.
Challenge stereotypes and stigmas that are persistent within Berkshire County.
Foster and develop relationships between individuals and communities within Berkshire County who rarely talk to one another; uniting communities that may sometimes feel worlds apart.
Cast members collaborate with Berkshire-based musicians and composers to integrate stories with music.
Utilize lived experience and personal expertise to advocate for more effective prevention and policy.
Raise awareness, educate, and foster vital public dialogue throughout Berkshire County—led by those who have been directly impacted.
Inspire and motivate the younger generation who may be susceptible to community violence.
Advocate for tangible changes, and:
Mobilize Berkshire County to realize those goals—Violence Prevention Committee and beyond.
Freedom of Expression.
How do you define freedom? Justice?
Why does freedom of expression pose a threat to the system?
How and why does the system rely on dehumanization?
What does it mean to be dehumanized, and how does it feel?
How are creativity and connection hindered behind the wall, and what does it mean to reclaim them?
What does it mean to fully reclaim freedom of expression, and freedom itself?
How are stigmas perpetuated in Berkshire County?
What tangible changes can be made?
Uniting Berkshire County…
Performances and talk-backs strive to unite Berkshire County around:
a broader conversation of prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation
underlying root causes of crime
health and wealth disparities
life behind the wall
how our current system operates
advocating for change in the community and the system
reentry and reintegration into the community
holding systems accountable for their role in perpetrating harm
Audiences will have an opportunity to hear directly from the cast—how they got there, what it was like, and where they’re going. They will learn from their expertise and lived experience.
Talk-backs will invite cast members and audiences to talk directly to one another. They will engage in vital public dialogue around root causes, our system, and possible avenues for reform.
Next steps.
Performances and talk-backs will culminate in a list of goals and action steps to collectively work towards. Audience members will be invited to continue collaborating with cast members and partnering stakeholders.
Chaos Theory has partnered with the City of Pittsfield’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the creation of a Violence Prevention Committee. This Committee will be comprised of community members with lived experience. They will create an independent agenda, and work with stakeholders to implement that agenda.
Cast members of the Pittsfield Freedom Project will be invited to participate in this Committee—offering a tangible platform to apply their lived experience, their vision, and advocate for some of the changes they want to see realized in our city.
Bridging Divides, Healing Communities: thanks to the Berkshire Taconic Foundation for allowing us to create a forum integrating Williams College students, and men impacted by the criminal justice system. Participants shared their experiences behind the wall—as an incarcerated man, and as a volunteer—questions and concerns, and opportunities for growth. We contemplated freedom, justice, community, inequities, and how Berkshire County can do better.