A Voice 4 the Unheard

Pushing For Purpose

A Voice 4 The Unheard fights to give a voice to the voiceless by shedding light on social injustice in America that extends throughout prisons and various aspects of our legal system. Our organization is inspired by the real life experiences of John Bunn, who spent 17 years of his life in prison for a crime he was wrongfully convicted of. At the age of 14, John was sentenced as an adult. He was illiterate at the time, and completely powerless to the biased and unfair criminal justice system. The criminal justice system failed John in the same way it fails many other individuals, both guilty and innocent. As a non-profit based in New York we are striving to create environments that amplify the voices of the forgotten, and inspire hope to those stranded within the systems of inequality that persist in America.

We have targeted children and students from primary schools to tertiary education, in an effort to protect the freedoms and ensure the future success of individuals, families, and communities that need resources and education. By partnering and collaborating with other wrongfully-convicted individuals who are also dedicated to educating our youth, A Voice 4 the Unheard has been able to share powerful stories that resonate with our audiences regardless of their age. We lay bare the realities of violence and life in prison while also sharing personal accounts that magnify the resilience of the human spirit and our ability to overcome the circumstances we find ourselves stuck in.

A Voice 4 the Unheard seeks to aid prisoners as well. Although they have been convicted and deemed ‘criminals,' they are still guardians, siblings and part of a greater community which would benefit from their rehabilitation. Unfortunately, our prisons are infested with negativity and crime and often end up doing more damage than good to its occupants. Through our literacy and book club programs, we are giving prisoners a healthy outlet for growth and even opportunities to send literature back to their loved ones allowing them to connect to and preserve their family units.

OVER-POLICING AND LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCES HAVE TARGETED AND DISPROPORTIONATELY WOUNDED PARTICULAR COMMUNITIES. THESE COMMUNITIES NEED BETTER TOOLS TO UNDERSTAND AND OVERCOME INEQUALITIES IN OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. FURTHERMORE, ONCE WE, AS A SOCIETY WHICH MEANS TO EXEMPLIFY DUE PROCESS IN LEGAL PROCEEDINGS, DECIDE TO SEND SOMEONE TO PRISON WE MUST PROVIDE THEM WITH THE TOOLS NEEDED TO BREAK FREE FROM CYCLES OF NEGATIVITY AND VIOLENCE.

AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT WE WAREHOUSE UP TO 20,000 BOOKS AND DISTRIBUTE THEM TO STOCK LOCAL BOOK DRIVES, REFURBISH PRISON AND COMMUNITY LIBRARIES, AND FACILITATE IMPORTANT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, MAINLY TO YOUNG MEN WITH AN INCREASED RISK OF ENTERING IT. SINCE A VOICE 4 THE UNHEARD WAS CREATED IN THE SUMMER OF 2017, JOHN’S STORY AND MESSAGE HAVE BEEN FEATURED ON THE BREAKFAST CLUB, CNN, MSNBC, NY TIMES, THE SOURCE MAGAZINE, AND VARIOUS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PANELS AS WELL AS COLLEGE GRADUATIONS. A VOICE 4 THE UNHEARD HOPES TO REVERSE THE CYCLES OF INJUSTICE THAT PREVAIL IN OUR STREETS AND PRISONS THROUGH LITERACY AND EDUCATION.

Ever since I was kidnapped by the system for a crime, I had no connection to in any way, my life has been based on me proving my innocence. Throughout this nightmare, somehow, God has BLESSED me with a dream. I can’t get back lost years, but if I can somehow be POSITIVE enough within my own struggle, I can become a motivation to a lot of others and help them overcome theirs. I’ve been blessed in so many ways to keep PUSHING FORWARD when I just wanted to give up. But something always keeps me going.

— John Bunn