Color Your Story Onto Mine Until You Can Color Your Own
Color Your Story Onto Mine Until You Can Color Your Own
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About Newborn University:
Newborn University is a transformative prison ministry designed to support incarcerated individuals in navigating personal growth, understanding their emotional experiences, and envisioning new futures. Through Social Artistry for Mental Health, participants are guided through self-reflection, emotional literacy, and creative expression as a means of finding hope and self-empowerment.
Program Structure:
- Emotional Literacy & Nonviolent Communication: Participants develop the skills to understand and communicate their feelings healthily and effectively.
- Art for Healing: Creative sessions provide a therapeutic way for participants to process trauma, recognize growth, and visually document their journeys.
- Testimony Events: A platform for sharing stories of transformation, helping build community support and preparing for life beyond incarceration.
Impact Stories:
Read inspiring stories of change from participants who have redefined their lives through Newborn University’s programs.
Support Our Work:
Your contributions help us continue this life-changing work. Consider donating or partnering to support Newborn University.
At Newborn University, we believe that true change comes from within. The images below capture a powerful example of this journey from a participant at the Mark H. Luttrell Correctional Facility in Tennessee.
The Surrendering Identity," captures a pivotal moment of inner conflict and readiness for change. Created by an incarcerated citizen we will refer to as "Aspiration", a participant in Newborn University's "Caterpillar Behavior to Butterfly Testimony" program, this image reflects his "caterpillar" stage—the identity he held before and at the time of his incarceration.
In the piece, Aspiration depicts himself as a young teen, dressed in gang attire with a red shirt and blue jeans. His face is partially obscured, a symbolic gesture of the shame and fractured identity that marked his earlier years. His arms are lowered, and he holds a gun pointed downward, an element that holds deep significance. The downward-pointed gun signifies a stance of inner surrender—representing his subconscious readiness to release old, destructive patterns and open himself to something greater. Through this pose, he communicates a desire to disarm the negative influences in his life and break the cycle of behaviors that once defined him.
This image serves as a powerful visual of Aspiration’s journey, highlighting his emerging awareness of how past traumas affected his self-worth and choices. For the first time, he is beginning to pinpoint these buried emotions, recognize where they reside within him, and acknowledge the possibility of transformation. His journey from “Caterpillar” to “Butterfly” embodies a profound commitment to self-acceptance, surrender, and growth—a step toward redefining his identity and life path with courage and resilience.
After engaging in Newborn University's Caterpillar Behavior to Butterfly Testimony program, Aspiration began to explore new aspects of his identity. His second artwork represents his “butterfly” self, symbolizing the man he aspires to be and is becoming. Here, he is depicted as an adult, wearing a blue suit—a choice intentionally made to contrast with past gang colors. His hands are open, his face is visible, and he wears a smile, showing a sense of presence, self-assurance, and peace.
This transformation speaks volumes: the smile, a beard showing maturity, and hands unclenched and free from weapons reflect the healing he has found. Aspiration describes feeling happiness and pride as a positive influence on his family and peers. With the support of guided self-reflection, life skills training, educational resources, and a nurturing environment focused on growth, Aspiration has redefined his identity. His new behaviors are rooted in self-worth, resilience, and a commitment to progress. He now actively engages in building a positive future, emerging from his cocoon of past traumas and destructive choices.
Aspirations’s transformation is evident in a heartfelt note he wrote to the program facilitator, expressing gratitude for seeing and interacting with his "butterfly" self. In his words, he thanks Newborn University for giving him the tools to recognize and nurture the potential he now sees in himself. As he moves forward, he is dedicated to making positive choices, advocating for others, and participating in life as his "butterfly" self. This journey has allowed him to step into a new chapter of life, a testimony to his inner resilience and the power of self-discovery.
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Through the "Caterpillar Behavior to Butterfly Testimony" curriculum, incarcerated citizens like Aspiration gain the skills and insight to break free from old patterns. This journey is more than art; it’s about building self-worth, confronting past traumas, and using those experiences to create a foundation for growth. Being in a Level One facility that values rehabilitation has allowed participants to reconnect with their true potential and emerge from their cocoons ready to fly.
"First Love Yourself" (FLY) is at the core of this transformative work. At Newborn University, we’re honored to facilitate a platform where individuals can find healing, purpose, and a pathway to freedom from the inside out.
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