From a life in prison to an inspiring leader, producer, and storyteller.
MEET ARTIE GONZALES
Artie Gonzales is the creative who almost never was. A juvenile-tried-as-an- adult at age 16, he spent 21-years of a Life sentence in the California prison system, eight of which included housing within Pelican Bay’s notorious super-max Solitary Confinement unit. It was here that he evolved past the brutality of his surroundings and the highly political stature he held as a gang leader, committing himself to rehabilitation and non-violence.
Released as a model prisoner by the Board of Parole Hearings in 2015, he dedicated himself to building a new life. Applying the same acumen and intelligence that helped him survive the inhumane conditions of our prison system, he has become a leader in his community, an advocate for legislative reforms, and a member of several social justice organizations. After graduating from a Hollywood-oriented workforce development program, ManifestWorks, he rose through the ranks from production assistant to writer, producer, and author of “The Unseen Shackles.” He is the Creator and Executive Producer of the anticipated series, “Lessons From A Lifer,” which seeks to shift the culture between the system-impacted and Society by highlighting universal wisdom and commonality. His platform challenges preconceived notions about what it means to be “System-Impacted,” and creates a fresh narrative as a new voice for this generation of bold storytellers.