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“Until the lion writes his own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.”

The Soy Autor writing process was developed in collaboration with young people at-risk of, victims of or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017, this innovative program launched at Cook County Jail with young men awaiting trial for violent offenses. Through the process of drafting, revising, illustrating and publishing memoirs, the Authors’ Circle develops reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie, conflict resolution and positive self-projection.

In collaboration with:

Cook County Sheriff’s Office

Home Mario Wright

October 22, 2010. One of the best days in my life. Over two months premature, Mario Ramon Wright II came into the world.

There were so many doctors and specialists in the room but that didn’t bother me.

I wasn’t worried at all when he came out not making any sounds. I thought back to when my mother told me that at birth I hadn’t cried or made any sounds.

The doctor came back and explained that he was taken to the NICU in another part of the hospital. Everything was ďŹ ne; the doctors just needed to run some tests and monitor him closely.

I walked into the NICU not knowing what to expect, wide eyed, my heart pounding.

I heard babies screaming and I see some of them in incubators, hooked up to dierent machines. I calmed down a bit when I made it to him, no incubator, no machines, just an oxygen tube and heat lamp over him.

I picked him up and held him close.

Four days later, once his breathing was up to 100% and he was holding his own temperature he was brought to the family room where his mother and I had been staying. Since she was on bed rest and being monitored herself, she had been unable to visit him.

He would have to stay in the hospital unnl he was up to ďŹ ve pounds with his bowels working properly.

So over the next 3 days I would feed him, change his diapers, and hold him against my chest and talk to him.

“I love you man and as long as I live I’ll be here for you to talk to me and ask me about anything and teach you everything and protect you,” I would tell him.

I am from The Earth From sticks and bricks.

I am from the Stone Terrace,

hot, cold, warm.

I am from Crab Apple Trees full of green leaves and sour apples.

I’m from taking trips and dark lips

from Kathy and Maurice.

I’m from the staying connected and sticking together From Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful.

I’m from Arkansas and Louisiana,

steak and fish

from the Life Changing.

The Grave.

Under the end table in Granny’s room, you can be close in proximity and yet so far away.