New Beginnings For Onje
Donation protected
Onje Keon Pierce is a very good friend of mine. He has been in prisons in Texas for the last twenty three years of his life. He grew up in Hawaii and Texas. He has taught himself about African traditional religion, ancient history, American and African history, tarot, feminism, queer philosophy, social justice philosophy, mindfulness meditation, tattooing, ancestor healing, poetry, drawing, sculpting, and fashion alterations. He says he has treated prison like college and has managed to read endless sci-fi, fantasy and horror while at it.
He has now been granted parole and is working through the daunting task of securing a safe place to live. He must either wait in prison (could be months) for a spot at a halfway house that will take him without money, or he will have to pay around $700 dollars to get a spot at one now. After this is done, he must start looking for jobs with a criminal record and disabilities during a pandemic in order to continue paying $700 each month. Additionally, he will need to buy new clothes, a phone with a bill, glasses, mental and physical health care, toiletries, transportation, and any supplies he will need for work. He is also an active artist and hopes to continue his practice as well as work with mediums he has not had available to him in prison. All of this costs money! People without money are criminalized and put back in prison! Onje has the right to start a new chapter of his life, but there are no structures of support for people in his position. He has evolved and healed despite the oppressive circumstances he has lived with for so long. He has grandchildren that he wants to support. And he wants to support himself. He wants to give back with his art and his collected wisdom. He deserves to express new sides of himself. He deserves to have the financial ability to keep himself from going back to prison.
We are asking for whatever you can donate to support this transition out of prison and into this new chapter of his life.
Please note, I am listed as the beneficiary because Onje cannot start a bank account while still in prison. I will withdraw the money and hand it over to Onje when he is able to get his own bank account. Until then, I will take care of any expenses such as his first monthly payment at the halfway house.
You can also show support by buying a educational art zine of many of Onje's artworks:
https://snakehair.com/shop/prison-worship-orishas-vodoun-and-mpungos-by-onj-keon-pierce
Or you can buy a t-shirt, tote bag, print, etc with one of Onje's artworks printed on it here:
https://onjekeonpierce.threadless.com/
Or just take a look at his work on his deviant art page:
https://www.deviantart.com/onje-keon-pierce
Or you can write him where he is at right now:
Onje Keon Pierce
Smith Unit 818537
1313 County Rd
Lamesa, TX 79331
He has now been granted parole and is working through the daunting task of securing a safe place to live. He must either wait in prison (could be months) for a spot at a halfway house that will take him without money, or he will have to pay around $700 dollars to get a spot at one now. After this is done, he must start looking for jobs with a criminal record and disabilities during a pandemic in order to continue paying $700 each month. Additionally, he will need to buy new clothes, a phone with a bill, glasses, mental and physical health care, toiletries, transportation, and any supplies he will need for work. He is also an active artist and hopes to continue his practice as well as work with mediums he has not had available to him in prison. All of this costs money! People without money are criminalized and put back in prison! Onje has the right to start a new chapter of his life, but there are no structures of support for people in his position. He has evolved and healed despite the oppressive circumstances he has lived with for so long. He has grandchildren that he wants to support. And he wants to support himself. He wants to give back with his art and his collected wisdom. He deserves to express new sides of himself. He deserves to have the financial ability to keep himself from going back to prison.
We are asking for whatever you can donate to support this transition out of prison and into this new chapter of his life.
Please note, I am listed as the beneficiary because Onje cannot start a bank account while still in prison. I will withdraw the money and hand it over to Onje when he is able to get his own bank account. Until then, I will take care of any expenses such as his first monthly payment at the halfway house.
You can also show support by buying a educational art zine of many of Onje's artworks:
https://snakehair.com/shop/prison-worship-orishas-vodoun-and-mpungos-by-onj-keon-pierce
Or you can buy a t-shirt, tote bag, print, etc with one of Onje's artworks printed on it here:
https://onjekeonpierce.threadless.com/
Or just take a look at his work on his deviant art page:
https://www.deviantart.com/onje-keon-pierce
Or you can write him where he is at right now:
Onje Keon Pierce
Smith Unit 818537
1313 County Rd
Lamesa, TX 79331
Organizer and beneficiary
Ariel Claborn
Organizer
New Orleans, LA
Ariel Claborn
Beneficiary