On August 23rd, after serving over 28 years in prison and appearing before the parole board 4 times, our dear friend Gregory Love was granted parole. A natural born artist, loving father, and beloved son, we have spent the past year getting to know Gregory, being granted the incredible honor to work with him on his journey towards release and rehabilitation. As his time to re-enter society nears, we ask for your support in facilitating this process.

 

In terms of housing, Gregory has been fortunate to gain the support of notable reentry non-profit Exodus Transitional Community, where he will begin his first steps as an informed, impassioned, working member of the community. Greg is also blessed with a wonderfully-supportive family who stands firmly in his corner as he prepares for this new stage in his life. With all of this being said, however, we cannot underscore enough how incredibly difficult of a process that reentry is, especially for someone who has been confined as long as Greg has. He is entering a world and a society that has changed much since he left it over two decades ago, and while Gregory is unwavering in his commitment to staying on the right path, the path itself will not be easy.

 

Throughout his 28 years in prison, Gregory has gone above and beyond to repay his debts to society, which he realizes is a process that will continue beyond his sentence, and into his reentry back into society. While in prison, he became an integral and positive light to his peers and to staff, he engaged in meaningful programs to better himself and overcome his addiction, he worked tirelessly on mending the relationships with his family, and he has dedicated himself to a rehabilitative art practice. Gregory has even created a comprehensive business plan which incorporates his love and passion for art with guiding principles of unity across age, gender, religion, ethnicity, and creed, a project he hopes to embark on once he gets back on his feet. Gregory has done all of the internal and external work to prove to himself, and others, that he is not his crime, and is deserving of a second chance.

 

All proceeds donated will go towards money for clothes, food, rent, the purchase of a cell phone, and towards general re-entry support. While it is in Gregory’s hands to execute his dreams and keep on the right path, every little bit helps as he embarks on this daunting, but hope-filled, journey. Gregory is a humble, kind, and generous man, and we are confident that he will use every tool he is given to bring beauty to this world upon his release.