Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison artists salvage more than skateboards thanks to artwork created by the incarcerated population.
“(We’re here picking up) art created by the incarcerated men here,” said a Rodney Rodriguez of Fresno Skateboard Salvage. “(The artwork) will ultimately benefit kids in the Central Valley with brand new skateboards. What makes them special is the original art that these guys are putting on it.”
The artwork is sold at auction, funding new skateboard equipment for disadvantaged youth.
“It’s the art on the old skateboard deck that’s paying for the brand-new skateboard equipment
that we buy for local kids,” he explained.
According to Rodriguez, skateboarding kept him occupied while growing up adopted in a low-income family.
“My inspiration to do this was my own upbringing,” he said. “(I grew up in) a neighborhood that had a lot of gangs and it was skateboarding that kept me from joining (a) gang. I survived some pretty difficult circumstances because I was skateboarding.”
Watch the video (story continues below):
Artwork benefits community, prison population
Lamar, one of the incarcerated artists, said this gives them a chance to help youth follow a different path.
“If we could show our experience and tell our stories, (it could help) deter them away from the lifestyle that we chose,” he said. “We’re automatically going to raise our hand. Sign us up.”
Alphonso said these programs help the artists as much as the community.
“If we’re able to build these (creative) outlets through programs like this (while) being able to give back, it reaffirms the belief that we’re still capable,” he explained. “We have that capacity. It’s not about what I do, it’s about who I’m becoming as a man. The community at home needs to see that.”
Photos and video by Chris Medina, Director (specialist), Television Communications Center
Story by Don Chaddock, Inside CDCR editor
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