Back to the Start

Established in 2022, Back to the Start is a new non-profit that empowers incarcerated people to write and produce their childhood stories to raise public awareness and galvanize support for systemic changes that ensures children can reach their full potential. These powerful narratives underscore the need for critical investments in early childhood and family resources, providing a platform to advocate for upstream policy solutions at the intersection of childhood poverty, trauma and systemic racism. Our writers highlight the cradle-to-prison pipeline which compels us to rethink the current narrative of "blaming the individual" and focus instead on solving system failures.