Second Chance Pop-Up Exhibit of Art and Entrepreneurship

Mar 25

Written By Elsewhere Living Museum & Artist Residency

Second Chance: The Creative Impulse of the Judicially Challenged

A National Second Chance Month Pop-up Exhibition of Art and Entrepreneurship by The Reentry Expert and Elsewhere

April 1-9, 2022.

Elsewhere Living Museum and Re-entry Expert are coming together to put on a pop-up exhibit to showcase talent of those who are formerly incarcerated in the arts and entrepreneurship. This week-long event is aimed at highlighting the work formerly incarcerated citizens have been doing since their re-entry to society. It is also a chance to build bridges, enlist the services, and share the experiences of what life is like incarcerated and life after one is released.

Victor Vincent Jr. found himself on the other side of the law caught up in a web of police stations, courtrooms, addiction and eventually prison. For him, incarceration became a revolving door. Like many others who are caught in the prison system, prison starts to feel like home. After every release, the doors are slammed shut, boarded up and “the streets” seem to offer what society will not. Opportunity. After some time, Victor promised himself he would outwork and outdo any and everyone around him when given the opportunity. When he made it, he would create a blueprint to help others achieve success after incarceration. He went on to create the nonprofit 501(c)(3), The ReEntry Expert, Inc. to assist those who want to be successful after incarceration.

Elsewhere makes a conscious effort to be a community-minded and anti-racist institution, acting as a platform for community organizing and activism. Executive Director, Matthew Giddings, and Victor Vincent hit it off when they were both participants in the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium Executive Leadership Academy. Soon after, they got together and planned out this event as a way to promote businesses and artists who have experienced incarceration.

The pop-up event will feature artwork, live music, a car show, and businesses who will be vending and sharing about their services. Visitors will have the opportunity to sit down one on one with people who are formerly incarcerated to have conversations and ask questions as a way to destigmatize incarceration. There will also be a series of presentations and group conversations that bring a variety of perspectives to the subject.

Anyone who is judicially challenged or provides related services is welcome to participate in the event whether tabling, vending, displaying art, or performing. They can contact Elsewhere at museum@goelsewhere.org or fill out this form.

This event is a way of participating in Second Chance Awareness. According to GEO Re-Entry Services and the National Reentry Resource Center, Second Chance Month is an initiative recognized in April by policymakers, corrections staff and leaders in criminal justice to highlight the challenges incarceration brings to people transitioning back to their communities. The initiative was created to bring attention to the reentry efforts outlined in the Second Chance Act of 2007, which was signed into law in 2008. National Reentry Week, the first nationally recognized awareness campaign, was in 2016 and saw more than 550 reentry-focused events, which has expanded to an annual, month-long initiative in 2017.

2nd Chance Schedule

Friday, April 1, 6-9PM - Opening Reception and Award Show

6:00PM & 8:00PM - 1:1 Table Talk sessions
7:00PM - Victor Vincent (The Reentry Expert) & Dana Daughtry (Gate City 180)
7:45PM - Judicially Triumphant Awards: William Brown (City of Greensboro) & Nicholas Bright (Chessman's Organization)

RSVP FOR 4/1

Saturday 4/2, 11AM-8PM - CAR SHOW/LIVE PERFORMANCE