Breaking Bread

In part 2 of the Michael Bell podcast Michael goes into how he was convicted for a crime he didn't commit, what life was like in prison and the SHU, to how he taught himself the law and was able to get out of prison and so much more. Make sure to check out: https://www.resilienceequalsbrilliance.com/ https://theplace4grace.org/ https://lockedin.info/

In the last podcast of season three, Michael Bell stops by the studio to share his story of how he was raised by young parents and an abusive father. By age 8 Michael was full committed to the lifestyle outside of the system, gang life and in the system by age 12. He shares about his experience at a camp for juveniles, being homeless, selling drugs, thriving in his criminality to survive, to sharing about a teacher that believed in him and so much more. Checkout: https://www.resilienceequalsbrilliance.com/ https://theplace4grace.org/ https://lockedin.info/

Three months fresh out of prison, Chris stops by the studio to share his story with DeeMarie. Chris talks about how things started going down hill when his dad left, getting into drugs at a young age and getting into a Vietnamese gang. He shares how he reacted when his dad came into his life and his passing, how his best friend was murdered, his life crime, and how he changed on the inside to the point of contfronting his best friends killer on the inside and forgiving him. He is a new coach for Locked In CEA Inc. and looks forward to giving back to society in positive ways.

ARC (Anti Recidivism Coalition) is in the building! David Garnica stops by the studio to share a meal with DeeMarie to talk about how he was raised and how his lifestyle lead him to catch a case on a double murder. He shared how a conversation with his mother helped him to turn his life around and how he was able to get out even with a double murder. He shared all the work he does with ARC and how he goes back into the level 4 yards (prefers those yards) to help the men inside to change their lives around. David shares all the wonderful things ARC does for returning citizens and emulates what true change looks like. His message is one of hope and one you don't want to miss.

In this part 2 episode Artie shares with DeeMarie all the amazing things he is doing since getting out. He shares how he first got into Hollywood peeling bottle labels and how worked his way up to being a site scout. He shared how knowing his worth and having a work ethic has helped him get back to his dream of when he was a little kid. He shares how he is not only involved in Hollywood, but he is an author, writer on a new show, works with the prosecutor aliance, goes back into prison to help the men inside, and speaks all over for events, podcasts, and is just an advocate for a better justice system. This episode has so many incredible nuggets of wisdom and is a true inspiration of a life changed. You need to watch this episode, follow Artie Gonzalez and support the things he is doing. Check out our website: https://lockedin.info/ Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UCbUGwIM_cp34cLwzbSiiihQ Follow Artie on Instagram @theartiegonzales Go to his website: https://www.artiegonzales.com/ Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Artie-Adventure-Isolation-Adventures-Emotions/dp/B0C2S5MY54/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q3XDLHQWUG1U&keywords=lil%27+artie+and+the+adventure+of+isolation&qid=1693168283&sprefix=lil+artie+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1 Check out: https://www.manifestworks.org/ https://www.reevolutiongroup.org/ https://www.insideoutwriters.org/ https://prosecutorsalliance.org/

In part one of this podcast, Artie Gonzales shares his story of how he was raised by a 16 year old mother, getting into fights in school, and how violence was normalized. He shares about not having any positive roles models growing up other than his grandmother and how she would encourage him and his dreams of being in Hollywood. She nurtured Artie and helped him to believe in himself to where in 6th grade he was doing college work. Artie went into how when he lost her at age 13 from cancer and how his life was over for him. He shared how at 13 he got caught up in the criminal lifestyle and how the gang gave him permission and a means to express himself. By 16 he was heavily into crank and how it took over his life and it lead to his commitment offense that lead him to prison. He was tried as an adult and given a 19 to life sentence. He served a total of 21 years of that sentence with 8 years being in solitary confinement due to how dangerous he was to the general public. Artie goes into so much more that this is a much watch podcast. Check out our website: https://lockedin.info/ Follow Artie on Instragram @theartiegonzales Go to his website: https://www.artiegonzales.com/ Buy his book: https://www.amazon.com/Artie-Adventure-Isolation-Adventures-Emotions/dp/B0C2S5MY54/ref=sr_1_1?crid=Q3XDLHQWUG1U&keywords=lil%27+artie+and+the+adventure+of+isolation&qid=1693168283&sprefix=lil+artie+%2Caps%2C146&sr=8-1 Checkout:https://www.manifestworks.org/https://www.reevolutiongroup.org/https://www.insideoutwriters.org/https://prosecutorsalliance.org/

Raymond stops by the studio to share a meal with DeeMarie and tell his story of how the abuses at home and not feeling love in the home lead him down a path of crime and destruction which eventually lead him to prison. He shares about his drug use of meth, alcohol and maraijuana that started at the age of 16 to shooting heroin in prison and how after committing his crime he was on the run in Mexico for 2 years before getting caught. While in Mexico he continued his criminality and even talked himself out of an arrest with a judge. He shared about his time in prison and what turned him around to make the change and kick drugs. Raymond talks about the work he is doing now as a Drug and Alcohol Counselor and bringing hope to people. Follow us at: www.lockedin.info

In this half we continue the conversation with Dr. Jones on adverse childhood experiences and the strategies education is using to help those children suffering from ACEs. He discusses the top 4 issues in education today as well as the pressures that he has faced to work harder because he is a black man. He shares his responsibility to those that paved the way as well as how he is responsible to those that come behind him. Dr. Jones shares what he loves about this generation coming up and how they are active in social justice and fighting for right and how he gets to be a part of their path and journey. He shared a story of students doing a walk out to protest school shootings while he was principal, and how he was a part of the students’ activism but doing it safely and responsibly and creating a safe space within education. Dr. Jones shared what he in doing now in the county of Riverside in student services doing restorative practices and what the new AB2598 bill is and what that focuses on. Check out our website at: https://lockedin.info/

Dr. Jason Jones, Director of student services and Leadership in Riverside Office of Education stops by the studio to talk about what got him into the work he is doing now for the County. He shares in this part I episode about how he wanted to be of help to others, how education is the great equalizer. He spoke on how he first started out in gang outreach and connect them to drug counseling and school to come back into the community better. From that job he went into teaching and realized how much his outreach was needed in the classroom which transitioned into counseling. He shared how teaching is more than just content and dug into all the different complexities in the system that leave students behind especially students of color to the training of teachers in equity, restorative practices and social/emotional intelligence. He shared his story on he was surrounded around gangs growing up and that gang culture was idolized but a teacher helped him along the path to applying himself along with praying parents. He shared turning points that helped to divert him from the gang life. Check us out at: https://lockedin.info/

Tara zooms in with DeeMarie to talk about transformational coaching and well being. She shares what that is, gives examples of breathing exercises, shares her work with The Compassion Prison project and doing healing circles on the inside with the men. Tara shares what she did before finding her true calling with transformational coaching and how doing this work on the inside is some of the most meaningful work she has done. To see more about Tara's work go to: https://www.tara2point0.com/ To see more about the Compassion Prison Progect go to: https://compassionprisonproject.org/ To see more about what Locked In is doing go to: https://lockedin.info/

Founder of Jesses's Place, Jesse Suarez, stops by the studio just weeks after getting released from prison to talk with DeeMarie about the abuses he faced when he was a child and how that lead him to the streets. He shares how the police beat him so bad he was left with fractures in his face, how he was released from prison, but was still so caught up inthe gang culture that it lead him back to prison for his life crime. Jesse shares how in the hospital he found the Lord and completely changed his life around. He shares about how his organization Jesse's Place started and talks about all the amazing things his new organization is doing. Visit Jesse's Place: https://www.jessesplace.org/ Visit Locked In: https://lockedin.info/

Remy stops by the studio to share with DeeMarie his story of how his lack of identity and self esteem lead him towards gang life. He shares how he was sentenced to life without the possability of parole in his early 20's, to losing someone close to him while he was incarcerated, to how he lost hope and tried to commit suicide several times and it failed. Finally realizing he needed to change to how he was able to get out and spread a message of hope now in the streets. He has a powerful testimony and story you don't want to miss. If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide there is help. Please contact The Suicide Prevention Hotline at: (800) 273-8255 or just dial 988 to be directed to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. To find out more about Locked In go to: https://lockedin.info/

We start season 3 of Breaking Bread with a new logo created by a man inside and new background. Our first episode of the season starts with the recently released Co-Founder, Director of Programs and Lead Trainer for Locked In CEA Inc., Van Houston. Van shares his story of how he learned abuse by watching his mother's boyfriend, how he was reading at a 7th grade level, used manipulation to get his way, to how he got incarcerated and was okay with staying in prison and putting his city/gang on the map, to how older guys inside took him under their wing, to how his mom flat lining was a key moment that lead him to truly start changing his life, to how he started Locked In, what life is like outside after serving 27 years and to healing relationships with his kids and so much more. Check out what Locked In is doing at: https://lockedin.info/

Returning from season 1, Graham shares with DeeMarie about rehabilitation, what that looks like in prison, and who actually is in charge of rehabilitation. He shares his views and ideas on the abolishment of prisons and police and how he sees this being possible. He also shares on what his organization, Initiate Justice, is doing on passing laws and legislature to help reform some of the most traumatizing aspects of prison.    To learn more go to: https://lockedin.info/  Initiate Justice: https://www.initiatejustice.org/

Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco stops by to chat with DeeMarie about what made him go into the field and how an encounter with a cop when he was young changed his life. He goes into the stats on women officers using de-escalation more than their male counterparts and how he believes we need to arrest more to help with the drug epidemic and so much more. Check out our website at: https://lockedin.info/

In part II Gilbert shares how he began to use his time in prison to educate himself learning that the system isn't broken but designed this way, how an encounter with another man inside got him to start mentoring youth and that he had to turn into a man of action and not just words, he tells of how changes in law gave him the chance to be able to go to board for release, and talks about what he is doing now and why he chose to go back into prison to help men inside. Gilbert shares his heart regarding the men inside that he learned from and are doing just as much as he is and how they are not able to get out due to the governor having final say, and how a lot of what he does is for those men inside. You don't want to miss his story from trauma and brokenness to redemption and living amends.    To learn more about Locked In go to:https://lockedin.info/  Hear us on Anchor, Spotify, and Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Bread/dp/B0B5FG6S93/ref=sr_1_9?crid=9X51CET85U3&keywords=Breaking+Bread+podcast&qid=1661713691&sprefix=breaking+bread+podcas%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-9

Gilbert stops by the studio to talk with DeeMarie about his story. He had so much to share that was so good we had to break it up into two segments.  In part I Gilbert talks about how his father was never in the picture, raised in a house where gangs and drugs were the norm, was taken away from his mom at age 8 and taken to the infamous MacLaren Hall, how he got into the gang lifestyle and how he got in deeper and deeper as he went through the system, how police abused him, how a counselor on the inside used him to beat up other people incarcerated, how his life crime was a miscarriage of justice, and so much more.    Gilbert's story is heavy, but in part II next week you will see how he used it and through an opportunity from a guy inside and education changed his life completely around and how he is changing lives on the outside. Truly an inspiration of a life changed.    Check us out at: https://lockedin.info/ Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LockedInllc2021/ and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lockedin_cea/?hl=en

Gabby stops by the studio to talk about being the first Hispanic woman in office for Riverside, how it has not been easy, why it has taken so long and how it is not something to be proud of. She shares on what the city is doing about the homeless population and how to help students and teachers feel safe going back to school with the rise of gun violence. She also talks about her work in school counseling, what that is, how to help those with mental illness, and when schools need to refer out for help.  Website: www.riversideca.gov  Email: gplascencia@riversideca.gov Check out what Locked In is doing at: www.lockedin.info 

We have well sought after teacher and speaker Kazu Haga talking with DeeMarie about finding his way and purpose, non-violence, the misconceptions about it and the doubts on how it can solve conflict, gun violence in this country, his work in the prison system, and his non-profit East Point Peace Academy. 

Krystal is a community member of Riverside that stops by the studio to talk with DeeMarie about her organization Melanin Youth Foundation and all the programs it is doing for the youth in Riverside County with the hope and drive to spread to other counties. She talks about why she got into this work and why she took initiative to fill in the gap, why volunteering is important, what our youth struggle with most, and her backpack giveaway happening in July. to check out more of her organization, sign up for the programs, volunteer or donate check out her website at: https://melaninyouthfoundation.com/ Watch the whole video at: https://youtu.be/fLGg0ZkXffI Check out our website at: https://lockedin.info/